“Therefore go 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

Jesus’ command to His disciples when He met with them after His resurrection and before ascending to the Father was that they go and make disciples, that they baptize them in the name of God–the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Jesus did not ask them to baptize them in the name of the Pharisees or Sadducees. He didn’t ask them to baptize them in the name of the Sanhedrin.

The Sanhedrin was the ruling council of the Jewish people. It was made up of Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees were mostly middle class while the Sadducees were aristocrats.  They were the religious leaders at the time of Jesus. They represented the Law of God but Jesus rebuked them numerous times.

When Jesus commanded His disciples to baptize others, He told them to baptize them “in the name” of God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Can you imagine a time when the church – committed followers of Jesus, would go by the riverside and baptize thousands “in the name” of God? No church name, no denomination, no distinction of class, race or social status. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  What would it look like? How would it affect your sharing the gospel?

Jesus prayer for His disciples, for us, was that we would all be one, just as the Father and He are one. John 17

What can you do to promote the unity of the church? How can you encourage committed followers of Jesus to focus on sharing the gospel for the sake of humanity? Build up God’s kingdom and not anyone else’s kingdom?

Go and make disciples of Jesus. Go and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Pray Psalm 133 John 17:23 Colossians 3:12-14

Heavenly, Father, how pleasant and good it is when Your children live together in unity. Help us to put aside our worldly differences and realize that we are all created in Your image, redeemed by Your Son’s sacrifice.

Bring us to complete unity that the world will know that we are Your children, loved by You.

Holy Spirit empower us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Help us bear with each other and forgive one another just as the Lord forgave us. Let your perfect love, O God, bind us all together in perfect unity.

God, help us to obey your command to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We will do it as one body.

The Body of the Most High! (click on the link to worship in song)