The Mountains Are CallingSample

Go Change the World: The Mountain with No Name

For three years Jesus had invested his life in a small band of believers. He taught them. He lived with them. They shared meals together, experienced the good and the bad together. They had climbed a few mountains together, literally and figuratively. And before returning to his Father, Jesus had one more mountain in mind for them. Scripture doesn’t name this mountain in Galilee, so we’ll call it “the mountain with no name.” Mount No-Name. There he commanded them to go into the world and make disciples.

Can you imagine the emotions and thoughts the disciples had at this time? They’d witnessed Jesus die on the cross but then were suddenly sitting across from him eating a meal. What was next? Would he deliver God’s people from Roman rule? Would he invoke his full authority and put them in charge? They were ready for action and were committed to do whatever Jesus instructed. 

And just look at his instruction. He’s not giving them a small task here. His mission statement is bold and audacious. Go into the whole world and make disciples. And though many have taught that the command in this passage is to “go,” the emphasis in the original text is actually on “make disciples.” 

Based on the verb tense and wording of the Greek text, Jesus was saying: “As you go, make disciples. As you baptize, make disciples. As you teach, make disciples.” We may not be able to cross the oceans to share the gospel, but we can cross the street. It may not be possible for us to walk across certain borders to share the change Jesus has made in our lives, but we can walk down the hall to share with a coworker. 

The Great Commission is for everyone. Sharing the good news of Jesus and making disciples is the mission for a server in a restaurant or the CEO of a company. As you go about your day, you pray for ways to intentionally share with and invest in the people around you. This is what changes the world; we are all missionaries in the sense. We go every day. And as we go, we pour what we have learned and know into others: this changes the world. 

What would it look like for you to focus on making disciples right where you are this week?

If you enjoyed this 5-day devotional from Jarrett Stephens, be sure to check out Jarrett's book, The Mountains Are Calling .  For an opportunity to receive a complimentary book, please click here.