The Great Co-mission
A lot seems to be made of mission. Complicated methods of how we should go about it are multiform, seeking to be true to the ‘Great Commission’ Jesus entrusted to the church.
But at its heart, being in God’s mission doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as Paul’s exhortation: ‘We believe, therefore we speak’ (2 Corinthians 4:13). When we look closely at Scripture, people meet Jesus, and they are empowered to speak about him.
In John 1:45, after meeting Jesus, ‘Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph”.’ Nathanael too, upon meeting Jesus briefly declares, ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel’ (v49). Both Philip and Nathanael are brought to a confession of faith with their mouths, a testimony and witness of who Jesus is.
Read John 4. The Samaritan woman who meets Jesus at the well also speaks. What happens as a result?
Indeed, a confession of faith does not go without an action to follow it.
What do the disciples do in Luke 5:11? Note well Peter’s confession at 5:8.
This is the same Simon Peter, who would preach at the first Pentecost, and ‘those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day’ (Acts 2:41).
Notice how faith and baptism are inseparable. See the baptism of the Ethiopian Eunuch in Acts 8:26ff.
Recall the start of John 4 – it begins with baptism.
Meeting Jesus Christ brings forth a confession of faith that he is Lord, and we are unworthy sinners, ready to repent and give up everything, in order to pursue him and his gifts. This is the kingdom of heaven! (Matthew 13:44ff).
Notice how baptism is central to the Great Commission. Read Matthew 28:19–20.
Notice Peter, now as an apostle, when he writes, ‘And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you – not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ’ (1 Peter 3:21).
As we are baptised in his name, we carry his name with us, certain in faith that no other name grants salvation (Acts 4:12), no other name has the authority to forgive (Matthew 9:6). He becomes the precious cornerstone of life itself (1 Peter 2:6–8), we are his pupils, his disciples.
Through words (confessing his name) and actions (sharing his love), we are his ambassadors of reconciliation in all facets of our lives (for those troubled consciences), keepers of the mystery (for those downcast and lacking in hope), light in the world (for those in darkness) and salt of the earth (for those who need to taste and see that the Lord is good). And it is in this name we come full circle and baptise all peoples.
And it is this name, the name into whom we are baptised, the baptism that saves!
See 1 Peter 3:21.
And he promises to be with us, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
Walking in this newness of life, in forgiveness, hearing his word, and receiving his sacraments, we receive the grace of Jesus Christ and respond to it; we pass it on, we speak it, we act it, in our everyday lives.
Mick Hauser is an Australian Lutheran missionary, who has served as a lecturer at Martin Luther Seminary, Lae, Papua New Guinea since 2015.
For more mission-focused bible studies, visit www.lcamission.org.au/category/resources/bible-studies/
