Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

Before our Lord ascended to heaven, He gave the Great Commission to go and teach all nations (v.19). The word rendered “teach,” in verse 19 in the King James Version, is Greek “mathēteuō”. This word properly means “to disciple, or to make disciples of.” So, the Great Commission is better rendered: “Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations….” (v.19, ASV). The command is to make disciples, not merely converts. This is to be done by teaching, and by administering baptism. What is a disciple? A disciple is someone who adheres to the teachings of another; a follower, a pupil. The idea behind the word disciple is one who aims to be like his master. In this context, the Master is Jesus Christ. We are to make disciples who will be like Jesus and not like us: “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Peter 2:21). Paul wrote we are called to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). Jesus calls us to “make disciples.” But, before we can make disciples, we must be disciples ourselves. Are we disciples of Jesus Christ? Are you a disciple of Jesus? Do you know what it takes to be a disciple of Jesus? Here is our Lord has to say about being a disciple: "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:27). Bearing a cross does not mean primarily having hard times. Yes, our Lord says: “In the world ye shall have tribulation” (John 16:33). The people living in the time of Jesus know what the cross signifies. Under the Roman rule, the cross means death by crucifixion. Hence, bearing the cross means going to Golgotha. It means dying with Christ. What does it mean to die with Jesus? There are two ways: 1. Dead to the old self. Paul wrote: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). A disciple is dead to the old attitudes of envy and strife and jealousy and anger and selfishness and pride; and turning to follow Jesus in newness of life. He aims to be like his new Master. 2. Dead to the world. Paul wrote: “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ” (Philippians 3:7). Paul mentioned some things he had achieved before his conversion. At one time all those things were important to him. But because of Christ, he decided that they were worth nothing. Don’t talk about dying for Jesus if one cannot be dead to the world. Which is easier - to die to the world or to die for Jesus? We all love life and when we have to face death, few will not deny Christ. Even the great apostle Peter denied Christ because he loved his life (Matthew 26:69-75). A true disciple is dead to the world. His old self is crucified with Christ at Golgotha. His world is crucified with Christ at Golgotha. Paul’s life was never the same again when he became a disciple of Christ (Galatians 2:20). He did not do the things he used to do. He was a changed person; he did only the things that pleased Christ. Paul became a disciple of Jesus. What about us? Are we disciples or mere converts?