The last words Jesus spoke before his ascension encouraged his disciples to bring the gospel to the nations. In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus commands his followers to “make disciples” by their “going,” “baptizing” and “teaching to obey” what Jesus taught them. Jesus assumes his people will be sharing the gospel, an assumption seen in Luke’s record. In Acts 1:8 Jesus predicts their role in the coming days. They were going to be “witnesses” of Christ “in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (probably a call to evangelize the Gentiles).
Most people gravitate toward these two verses when talking about reaching the lost. And my guess is that Matthew 28 is the key source of motivation for any evangelistic ministry. That said, two more verses should hold a greater weight for understanding how the church can reach the lost, especially in a society less and less impressed with a direct approach to sharing the gospel. Both verses are found in John’s gospel.
The background for both statements come from the Upper Room (Jn. 13-17). The intimate dining scene opens with Jesus washing his disciples’ feet and concludes with his lengthy prayer, before they head out to the Kidron Valley where he’ll get arrested.
When Jesus predicted Peter’s denial, he gave the command to “love one another” (13:34). While Jesus claimed the command was new, it was actually re-envisioned from Leviticus 19:17-18. The punch is that Jesus said the quality of discipleship is measured in love. If we learn to love the people around us, the world will take note. Most people are starving for relationships based on acceptance and tolerance. When we experience God’s love in our life and graciously offer it to others, such witnessing will act as a magnet to those seeking something deeper in their lives.
The second verse emerges from Jesus’ prayer. As he’s interceding for the church unity, he’s hoping that the church’s harmony will not only confirm Jesus’ role, but prove to the world that God loves them (17:23). The tighter the unity, the more the church’s presence points to Jesus. When the church finds the grace to stay unified, the world believes that God really does love them.
Throughout history, the church has struggled with its witness. While we’ve been good about bringing a doctrinal message to the world (i.e. going, baptizing and teaching) and we’ve been willing to share our faith (i.e. witnessing), we’ve struggled with a passion for unity. The list of “doctrines” that separate churches and groups seem to never end. It’s almost like we look for a way to divide instead of looking for a way to maintain unity. I can almost hear the pushback now, “But God commands ______.” Yes he does. But Jesus prayed for unity, and the world is looking for a group of followers who are willing to love, accept and forgive. They’re looking for Jesus in the hearts of those who claim to follow Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)