Matthew 28:18-20 (ASV)
18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit:
20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
The great commission gives us the last marching orders from Jesus to all His followers. We all have different parts to play in this. All the things Jesus Christ instructed us to do are not done by our own authority using our own abilities but we are to do them under and in His authority and by the abilities, gifts and talents He gives us. He is the one working through us. He is the head and we are His body i.e. His hands and feet.
Today let us look at “make disciples”, the 2nd part of His instructions.
Jesus said “Matthew 4:19 (ASV) And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”. He is the one making us fishers of men as we follow Him. When we follow Jesus Christ we are His disciples. Let’s consider discipleship versus mentoring to define discipleship is. Nowadays people talk about mentoring. It is a more secular principle which has been adopted in the church. The free dictionary defines it as:
“To serve as a trusted counselor or teacher to (another person)” and as “To serve as a trusted counselor or teacher, especially in occupational settings.”. It is more about helping the mentored person to achieve their own goals. Whereas a disciple is one “One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another.” And a “a pupil or an adherent of another; follower”. So being a disciple it to emulate another and to achieve their goals. The goals of the one who is making disciples are adopted by the one being discipled. “John 12:26 (ASV) If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will the Father honor.”.
As followers of Jesus we continue what He has started and commanded us to do as we see in Matthew 28:18:20. To follow Jesus Christ we learn from Him by the Holy Spirit, His word and other who follow Him. “John 14:26 (ASV) But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.”, “John 8:31-32 (ASV) Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; 32 and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”, “Psalms 119:105 (ASV) NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path.”, “1 Timothy 4:6 (ASV) If thou put the brethren in mind of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished in the words of the faith, and of the good doctrine which thou hast followed until now:”, and “1 Corinthians 11:1 (ASV) Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.”.
Jesus specifically asked us to make disciples not just people who believe. Faith is the starting point and out of faith come the walk of following Jesus. As I like to say “Faith has legs”. GOD wants people to follow Him, to follow His example, to obey Him. “Matthew 16:24-25 (ASV) Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever would save his life shall lose it: and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it.”
Making disciples means there be disciples, people who follow. Now Jesus Christ was perfect and we are not. That is why we only follow a person in the way they imitate Jesus which requires people to know Jesus in a personal way. We do not imitate people in the things they do not do according to Christ. Therefore as we disciple people we are not making them clones of ourselves but always point to Jesus Christ, to follow Him, showing them how to know, grow, learn, walk, follow Him. We like Jesus are not to lord over them but to serve them in helping them to follow Jesus. In short, we are actually to make disciples of Jesus and not of ourself. It is all about Jesus, not ourself. We can’t actually do this with our own abilities. We need GOD to work through us, we need His grace to work in us. To do that requires humility and submission to Him. “James 4:6 (ASV) But he giveth more grace. Wherefore the scripture saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.”.
This humility is not only needed by us who are to make disciples but of those who want to become disciples. Therefore there is a need for submission to one another “1 Peter 5:5 (ASV) Likewise, ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another: for God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble.”, “Hebrews 13:17 (ASV) Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit to them: for they watch in behalf of your souls, as they that shall give account; that they may do this with joy, and not with grief: for this were unprofitable for you.”And “Ephesians 5:17-21 (ASV) Wherefore be ye not foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunken with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Spirit; 19 speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.” Maybe we can talk more about church order, submission etc. another time. What is important to know is than one needs to be humble and teachable to make and be a disciple.
Salvation comes by faith in Jesus Christ. Discipleship is the walk of faith. “Mark 1:16-20 (ASV) And passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishers. 17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 18 And straightway they left the nets, and followed him. 19 And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets. 20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.”
Let us therefore decide to follow Jesus and in turn help other do do the same as He asked us.

NOTE: Here is the list of all the devotions on the great commission so far:
The great commission – GO – 2024.06.10 https://missioncommunities.network/2024/06/10/the-great-commission-go-2024-06-10/
The great commission – MAKE DISCIPLES (not mentoring) – 2024.06.11 https://missioncommunities.network/2024/06/11/the-great-commission-make-disciples-not-mentoring-2024-06-11/

The great commission – baptising – 2024.06.12 https://missioncommunities.network/2024/06/12/the-great-commission-baptising-2024-06-12/