Before Jesus returned to his home in heaven, he left instructions to his disciples. It would be the final phase of the grand plan to recover and take the whole of creation back to God.     

Rev Dr Betia says, “About fifty generations of Christian workers have been doing the task. But accomplishing only 75% of it is not good enough! The Bob Betia and his generation failed in accomplishing the task! I have not done enough to see the return of Jesus in my lifetime.

With a little encouragement and seriousness, the next generation hopefully, will be able to accomplish the mission! His instructions provide a new set of Christian Worker skills that will enable the Gospel of Jesus to reach the ends of the earth.”

And what were these instructions?

1. Review of the Last Command

The last command of Jesus is recorded in six different versions in the New Testament – once in each of the four Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John – and twice in the Book of Acts.

Rev Dr Betia suggests a simple way to analyse and compare the different versions using the 3Ws and 1H. You know what these are: the 3Ws are the What, Who and Where questions. The 1H refers to the How question.

Let me explain. I will read extracts from the 6 versions of Jesus’ Last Command. As I read, listen carefully for the What, How, Who and Where.

Focus on:

1. WHAT is the specific task that Jesus tells us to do?
2. HOW is the task to be done? In other words, what’s the method?
3. WHO are the people that we are to reach out to? We need to do research and learn more of that community so that we can convey the message in a way that the people could better understand. Try to meet their needs and help them reach their aspirations and dreams. You have the key – Jesus!
4. WHERE is the specific area that Jesus wishes us to go? We must work within the scope of our specified responsibility.

There you have it! Wherever possible, listen for the What, How, Who and Where. Don’t worry if the answer can’t be found in the passages – not every question can be answered.

Ready? Let’s listen ….

The book of:

Matthew 28:18-20

18. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Did you get the answers to the What, How, Who and Where?

I am sure you did!   Let’s go through it together.

WHAT is the task? Make disciples.

HOW do we do that? Go, baptize them, teach them to obey.

WHO are the people we are to reach out to? All nations (that means our extended family).

WHERE do we go? All nations (meaning all peoples).

That’s very clear in the Bible passages, wasn’t it?

Now, let’s listen to the book of:

Mark 16:15-18

15. He said to them, “Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

WHAT’s the task? Preach the Gospel.

HOW do we do that? Baptize believers.

WHO do we reach out to? All creation.

WHERE do we go? All the world.

Now the book of:

Luke 24:46-48

46. He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things.”

WHAT is the task? Preach repentance and forgiveness.

HOW do we do that? Preach in his name; witness.

WHO do we reach out to? All nations.

WHERE do we go? Begin at Jerusalem.

Next, the book of:

John 20:21-23

21. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” ²²And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

WHAT is the task? I am sending you (meaning we are Jesus’ messengers).

HOW do we do that? Forgive or do not forgive.

WHO do we reach out to? The Word is silent on this.

WHERE do we go? To the world.

Now we come to the book of:

Acts 1:7-8

7. He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

WHAT’s the task? To be Jesus’ witnesses.

HOW do we do that? Be His witnesses.

WHO are the people? All peoples.

WHERE do we go? To Jerusalem, all Judea and Samaria, to the ends of the world.

And finally:

Acts 26:15-18

15. “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ “‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶ ‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen of me and what I will show you. ¹⁷I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

WHAT’s the task? Be Jesus’ servant and witness.

HOW do we do that? Open eyes, turn people from darkness to light, from power of Satan to God.

WHO do we reach out to? Jews and Gentiles.

WHERE do we go? The Word is silent in this passage.

2. In this podcast script, a chart with bible verses and comparative analysis – what we have discussed – is included.

Comparative Analysis of Jesus’ Last Command

3. Observations

The Last Command was given to the disciples at one specific place, one specific forum, and at one specific time. All the disciples heard the same thing as they were all together. However, when they wrote their own books, each presented the Command in his own unique way. The writer of the book of Luke was, of course, absent but he had recorded what he had carefully researched and wrote out Jesus’ command in his own distinct way.

Although the presentation styles and emphases of the writers were different, the message is the same. When we take all the accounts and compare them, we will understand the command fully. 

Several observations are noted:

1. The focus of the message, methodology, target community and specific areas are different. But no human being is left out. Followers of Jesus must go to every person in every place on earth.
2. Each writer has his own emphasis and style of doing things. There is no uniformity in evangelism and missions. Each witness must develop his own style and method with which he/she is comfortable.
3. Each writer has his own objective. The outcome of the individual tasks may differ but God’s final objective of bringing His people back to Himself, is met.
4. Each writer is serious and passionate in doing the task and encourages readers to be of the same mind and heart.

Jesus has left a task to be completed. His return will be determined by when His Last Command is accomplished.

We now hear from Rev Dr Betia: “He wants to speak through His disciples to every person in every spot in the world so that they will receive the same thing He prepared for Adam and Eve, that is to enjoy the very best in life eternally.

The requirement, however, remains the same – living under His authority and Word, demonstrated in obedience.

One will have to Simply Listen ….”