How many times is The Great Commission recorded in the Bible?

The most famous version of the Great Commission is found in the Gospel of Matthew, near the very end of the book. In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus meets with His disciples on a mountain after He rose from the dead. This meeting was super important because Jesus was about to return to heaven.

With divine authority, Jesus gave them (and us) a clear job to do: "Make disciples of all nations." He told them to baptize new believers in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This wasn't just about telling people about Jesus – it was about helping them become followers too.

The best part of this command is that Jesus didn't just give them a big job and leave them alone. He made an amazing promise that He would be with them always, even to the very end of the age. This same promise is for us today when we share God's Word with others.

Jesus gave them power through the Holy Spirit to do this important work. This wasn't something they had to do by themselves, and we don't have to either. When we share the gospel message with others, we have the same power of the Holy Spirit helping us.

Mark's Account

In the Gospel of Mark, we find another exciting version of the Great Commission. Jesus tells His followers to "go into the whole world and preach the good news to everyone" (Mark 16:15-18). This shows us that the gospel message isn't just for some people – it's for everyone!

Mark's account is special because it talks about amazing signs that would happen when people believed. Jesus promised that new believers would be able to speak in new languages and would see God's power in amazing ways. This reminds us that when we share Jesus with others, God's power works in wonderful ways we might not expect.

Luke's Account

Luke, a physician gives us his own version of the Great Commission (Luke 24:45-49). In his account, Jesus focuses on two main things: repentance and forgiveness of sins. Jesus wanted His message of forgiveness to be shared with all people, starting from Jerusalem and going everywhere else.

What makes Luke's version special is that Jesus talks about the promise of my Father – the gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His followers to wait in Jerusalem until they received this special power. This shows us that sharing Jesus with others isn't something we do alone – we need the Holy Spirit's help!

John's Account

The Gospel of John gives us yet another look at the Great Commission (John 20:21-23). In this version, Jesus appears to His disciples after He rose from the dead. He does something very special – He breathes on them and gives them the Holy Ghost (another name for the Holy Spirit).

In John's account, Jesus connects His mission with our mission. He says, "As the Father sent me, I am sending you." He also talks about the power to tell people about the forgiveness of sins in Jesus' name. This shows us that when we share God's love with others, we're continuing the work that Jesus started.

The book of Acts shows us how the disciples actually carried out the Great Commission. Before Jesus went back to heaven, He gave them one final instruction in Acts 1:8. He told them they would be His witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

On the Day of Pentecost, something amazing happened. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit came just like Jesus promised! The disciples received power to be witnesses for Jesus. They started speaking in different languages so everyone could hear about God's love.

When the Holy Spirit came, the disciples weren't afraid anymore. They began telling everyone about Jesus, starting right there in Jerusalem. This shows us that when we have the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be brave in sharing our faith too.

So what does the Great Commission mean for us as Christian women today? Well, we're part of the same mission Jesus gave His first followers! Whether we're at home, at work, or at the grocery store, we can share God's love with others.

Being a witness for Jesus looks different for everyone. If you're a mom, you might share Jesus with other parents at the park. If you work in an office, you might show God's love by how you treat your coworkers. The Kingdom of God grows when we share Jesus in our everyday lives.

Even in the Old Testament, God was preparing for this worldwide mission. He told Abraham that all nations would be blessed through him. This was part of God's big plan to share His love with everyone.

The Apostle Paul shows us what following the Great Commission looks like. He traveled to many places, telling people about Jesus and starting new churches. He faced hard times, but he kept going because he knew how important this mission was.

Today, the body of Christ (that's all of us who follow Jesus) continues this same mission. We might not travel to far places like Paul did, but we can share God's Word wherever we are. The gospel of the kingdom is still spreading all over the world!