The Great Commission from Genesis to Revelation

From the beginning, human beings were created to be disciples—that is, devoted followers of our Creator who listen to his word and reflect his character in the world. We were commissioned to make more disciples, too, through being fruitful and multiplying (Gen. 1:28). When we listened to the serpent, we abandoned our apprenticeship to our Father and became the devil’s disciples: trusting his word by doubting God’s, learning from him to follow our own ruinous path east of Eden instead of walking in the way of obedience leading to the tree of life.

In response to this treachery, God made a surprising announcement of grace toward his wayward image-bearers: even in the midst of judgment, he will bring mercy through one of us—yet one who will not fail like the rest of us. The seed of the woman will crush the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15). God stuck to his purpose despite all appearances that the serpent was winning the battle with the seed of the woman, as we read of increasing wickedness leading to judgment through the flood (Gen. 6–9) and the scattering of the nations at Babel (Gen. 11).

Finally, in Genesis 12, we meet Abraham, commissioned to “go” (v. 1) out into the world as the wandering pilgrim through whom the Lord intends to bless all the families of the earth. To Abraham, God gave not only his covenant promises but also the sign and seal of circumcision and the call to pass on his faith to every subsequent generation as an everlasting heritage (Gen. 17). The apostles’ commission in Matthew 28 to be disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus is no departure from or rejection of Abraham’s commission in Genesis 12. It’s the fulfilment of God’s promise to bless the nations through Abraham as the father of the faithful—not merely to believing children of natural descent, but to all who fall on the mercy of the God who justifies the wayward and rebellious by faith alone (Rom. 4).

In a sense, the whole Bible is a footnote to Genesis 1–11.* In the same way, the whole history of the church is a footnote to the Great Commission. From Abraham to us, the promise has only shifted from future to past-and-future tense: the seed of the woman has already crushed the head of the serpent and will one day come again to make all things new. Disciple-making has only expanded in scope: All those who were once far off have been brought near through the blood of Christ (Eph. 2:13).

Scripture’s fulfilment in the Great Commission will also lead to Scripture’s culmination in the New Jerusalem. All who have believed the good news from every tribe and tongue scattered at Babel will be reunited before the throne of the Almighty and the Lamb. Those barred from the tree will eat freely (Rev. 7:9; 22:2). The earth, once flooded in condemnation, will one day be flooded with glory (Hab. 2:14). In the meantime, whether in blessing or persecution, let’s continue to follow the Master who went before us and promises to guide and protect us as he gathers his disciples through us as his church. To the ends of the earth. To the close of the age.