If you have been around a Christian church for a while you have probably heard mention of the Great Commission. It has maybe even been used to urge you to support a mission program.
What is often referred to as the Great Commission are Jesus words recorded in Matthew 28:19-20. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Jesus gave this instruction, some refer to it as a command, after His resurrection and shortly before He ascended into heaven.
We believe that something that is often missed when looking at or considering the Great Commission is that there also is a Great Command. We believe that the Great Command is at least as important as the Great Commission, maybe even more important.
Ideally, they go hand in hand.
In John 13:34 Jesus is recorded as saying, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” Notice that Jesus refers to this as a command. That is why we call it the Great Command.
If we follow this command and love one another then we, the church, will be strengthened so that we can also strive to fulfill the Great Commission and to do so out of love.
The Great Command is needed to properly carry out the Great Commission.
God bless, Michael