Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 

Matthew 28:19

In his Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20), Jesus’ followers are sent into the world to baptize and make disciples. But how do we do that? When in doubt, it’s always worth returning to our source – Jesus – to see how he made disciples.

Jesus made disciples by calling them to follow him and catching people up in God’s mission of love and mercy and grace. Once they were caught up in the mission, Jesus blessed them. Not because of anything they’d done but because they were present and listening and seeking his power. And then, as the community around him grew, Jesus taught them.

Jesus’ first teaching at the start of Matthew’s gospel orients those caught up in his ministry toward the surprising places where God’s presence is revealed. Not within palace walls or religious structures, not within systems of power which use force to oppress. God’s presence and God’s blessing, Jesus taught, is among the people who receive his word.

So calling, blessing, and then, teaching – this is how Jesus made disciples. In the coming weeks and months as we work our ways through Matthew’s gospel, we will see again and again that much of Jesus’ teaching and mission focused on showing mercy in word and deed to those most in need of it.

As fellows members of the body of Christ, this is the work before us — to continue calling each other to the renewing waters of baptism, to continue blessing each other not for our accomplishments or success, but simply for our presence in Christ’s body; and then teaching each other through words and deeds the holy work of making God’s mission of love and mercy and grace visible to the world through our lives!

This is the work of making disciples and we do it with Christ’s promise ever before us – I am with you always to the end of the age! (Matthew 28:16)