In the original Greek, there is one main verb ("make disciples"), three participles ("go," "baptizing," and "teaching"), and one promise ("I am with you always."). Our task as Christians is to make disciples by showing and sharing the Gospel. We show the Gospel by feeding the hungry, working for justice, etc. but we as Lutherans need to do a better job of sharing the Gospel by listening to people's faith stories and being comfortable and willing to share our own.
The most interesting piece of this text is the three participles, indicating ongoing action. In this season of the Sundays after Epiphany, we hear Jesus' invitation to "come and see." But, as Christians, our call is not to "come and see" what we already know, but to "go and be" Christ in the world.
The word "go" is more accurately translated "as you are going." In other words, it doesn't matter where you are...as you are at home, as you are in the grocery store, as you are at work, as you are among friends, you and I are called to make disciples by sharing the good news of Jesus Christ. It's not an easy task, and we're carrying the cross until we draw our final breath; but, we're all in it together because Jesus is with us always, to the end of the age.
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