Come and See - Go and Tell - The Great Commission
by Mark Parsec(350)
Blogz
Have you ever noticed the behavior of some women after they have just been engaged? What do they do? They tell all their friends, and neighbors and women at the office! They say things like, “You’ve got to come and see my beautiful ring! Go tell Annie to come and see it. Go tell Bonnie to come and see it. Go tell Connie to come and see it.”
Come and see – Go and tell!
Have you ever noticed the behavior of some men when they have bought a new car? What do they do? They drive it around, and show it off to their neighbors and friends and say things like, “Hey, you’ve got to check out my new car! Go tell Al to come and see it. Go tell Bob to come and see it! Go tell Clint to come and see it!
Come and see – Go and tell!
Have you ever noticed the behavior of a husband and a wife when they have just had a new baby? What do they do? They tell all their friends and family, “Come and see our new baby! Go tell the Anderson’s to come and see! Go tell the Benson’s to come and see! Go tell the Carleton’s to come and see!
Come and see – Go and tell!
Yes, we all know what it is like to receive something new in our lives. It is exciting! It is stimulating! It brings us so much joy and happiness that we can’t contain ourselves. Sometimes we want to tell the whole world! Besides, what kind of person would want to hide their engagement ring, their new house or their new child from their friends?
Yet, that is exactly what some people do when it comes to Jesus Christ. They feel their relationship with the Lord is a personal matter, nobody else’s business. They keep their faith to themselves. With some people, it is almost as if they are embarrassed or ashamed to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Well, for such people as these, the words of Jesus should ring loud and clear when He said in Luke 9:26…
" For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”
If you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, there is no reason to be embarrassed. If your life has been transformed by the resurrection power of Jesus Christ in your life, there is no reason to be ashamed. If you were lost and now are found, if you are sinner who has been forgiven, if you love the Lord Jesus and follow after Him then you should not feel uncomfortable, uneasy, awkward or distressed.
In Romans 1:16a, the Apostle Paul said, “ …I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes…”
No… if you are in a healthy relationship with Jesus Christ, then you should be just as excited and happy as a woman who has just been engaged, a man who has just bought a new car, or a couple that has just had a new baby! You should be able to say, “Come and see, go and tell… what Jesus has done in my life!
In addition, this is not just a suggestion, it is a Biblical principle set forth by both example and command.
We have a wonderful example of “Come and See – Go and Tell” in Matthew 28:5-7. Jesus had just been crucified and buried when women came to the tomb and…
5 The angel said to the women, " Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you. "
Therefore,… by example we see that from the very beginning, after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, believers were instructed to Come and See – Go and Tell. And what did the women do? Exactly as they were instructed… They told the disciples that not only had Jesus been raised from the dead but to go see for themselves. Then the disciples also came to see, and subsequently they went to tell others.
Yet, it was not just the angel of the Lord or the disciples of Christ that told us to Come and See – Go and Tell… Again and again Jesus said things like, Come! Follow me! I will make you fishers of men! But, Jesus also instructed us to Go and Tell in what is known as the Great Commission. In Matthew 28:16-20, the Word of God tells us…
16 But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. 17 When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, " All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 " Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. "
In Matthew Jesus instructs us to:
1. GO make disciples of all nations.
2. To baptize them.
3. To teach them to observe Christ’s commandments.
If we have come to Jesus as believers, if we follow Jesus, if we are His disciples, if we embrace the title of “Christian”, then it is our duty and responsibility to Go and Tell others how they can become disciples. Jesus did not request us to do this, He commanded us to do this.
In the Gospel of Mark, 16:15, the Great Commission is presented to us in these words…
15 And He said to them, " Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 " He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.”
Jesus instructed believers to Go tell ALL the world, to preach the gospel to ALL creation.
The word “preach” comes from the Greek word kerusso, which means to proclaim, to publish, to herald… to cry out. It is a testimony and confession of faith. It is an indispensable part of the formula of salvation in which the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 10:9...
“ that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
There is no such thing as a Quiet Christian. There is no such thing as Silent Salvation. If you have been saved by the grace of God through your faith in Jesus Christ then you are required to tell the world the good news.
Sadly, I have had some people say to me, “But… I’m not a preacher. I’m not an evangelist. That’s not my job. That’s the preacher’s job. The preacher is supposed to grow the church.”
Well, for those of you who feel that way, I’ve got some good news and some bad news for you. The good news is… yes, that IS the preacher’s job. The bad news is as “believers”… YOU are called to be preachers. And that may sound like bad news, but it is really good news.
YOU are commanded to preach the Gospel to all creation.
YOU are instructed to make disciples of all nations.
YOU are Ambassadors for Christ.
YOU are Kings and Priests
The Apostle Peter put it this way in 1 Peter 2:9…
“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
If the Lord has called you out of the darkness and into His marvelous light then you need to proclaim it to the world! In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus said…
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Article submitted Saturday, April 17, 2010 & read 163 times.
Leave Your Comments:
» left by Marijo Phelps from mountain meadow (142 days 12 hours ago.)
Keep on telling it like it is and encouraging all to take that commission seriously - time is SO short and there are many who need to get out of that valley of decision and onto the solid rock!Respond to this comment
» left by Mark Parsec(350)
Hi Marijo,
Thank you for your encouragement. I am grateful that you are my sister in the Lord.
God bless you,
Mark
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» left by Jose Condemarin (142 days 11 hours ago.)
Mark,Great article, it is absolutely true what you mention. As for me I am not ashamed to tell in public that the Lord is my savior.Thank you,Respond to this comment
» left by Mark Parsec(350)
Hi Jose,
Thank you for your comments. I am glad to hear that you are not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ!
God bless you,
Mark
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» left by Kim Condemarin (142 days 10 hours ago.)
Mark,
To have a knowledge of God , and his plan for our eternal happiness, now that is something to proclaim! Thank you Mark, another great article, keep them coming!
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» left by Mark Parsec(350)
Hi Kim,
Thank you for your wonderful comments. Keep spreading the message!
God bless you,
Mark
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