The testing of faith continues. Place yourself in the scene of Matthew 28. Judas has killed himself, so you are now one of eleven apostles. You disbelieved the women who first reported Jesus’ resurrection (Luke 24:9-11). You were huddled behind locked doors, fearing those who killed your Master. Then Jesus came and showed you His risen body and told of your mission (John 20:19-29). He met you again in Galilee. You worshipped Him, but some of you still doubted (Matthew 28:17). Yet to you—who have proved your weakness—Jesus gives His bold command to impact the entire world: “Make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).
“Disciples” are devoted followers. Disciples imitate and obey their Master.
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. (Matthew 10:24-25)
Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24 cf. Luke 14:26-27)
If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples. (John 8:31 cf. John 15:7)
By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:35)
Discipleship always involves learning, understanding and applying a master’s instructions. Remarkably, this Master directs this process to take place in “all nations”—all people groups. At a minimum, there are 2,000 such groups. Yet— while translating and adjusting as needed (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)—true disciples are to be replicated across all cultures and all languages. From the beginning, Jesus anticipated impact on the entire world (John 1:20; 3:16; Matthew 24:14; 26:13). He knew that, while He worked within one culture’s customs and issues, His followers would spread to all cultures. Disciples, therefore, must be able to separate what was cultural and incidental from the essentials of discipleship. For example, Jesus washed His disciples’ feet. Though cultural (a custom of that place) and incidental (feet happened to need cleaning), that set an example (John 13:13-17). We follow that example, not by turning their local custom into a ceremony, but by seeing needs and helping people, even in humble, menial ways. On the other hand, Jesus took baptism (already a custom for some Jews) and elevated it to apply consistently worldwide. As Paul said, there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5).