Go...Invite More

Pete Kersker - Nov 12, 2025

Jesus taught his disciples (students) to "go" long before he gave them their final instructions (Matthew 28:18-20). Sometimes Jesus encouraged them to "go" and do things that would make them holy (set apart with God). Other times, Jesus encouraged them to "go" invite more people to join them with Jesus.

As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matthew 9:9-13 NIV).

Some of the teachers of Jesus' day had a problem with him spending time with tax collectors and other sinners. Jesus did not back down from this ministry, though, challenging (encouraging) the other teachers to "go" and do the same: have mercy on sinners. We see later that many of them did not respond to Jesus' encouragement to "go."

These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. As you go, proclaim this message: 'The kingdom of heaven has come near'" (Matthew 10:5-7 NIV).

Jesus' disciples (students) were a different story; especially those he designated as apostles (sent ones). When Jesus sent them out on a short-term mission trip, they followed his instructions to "go...to the lost sheep of Israel" and declare, "The kingdom of heaven has come near."

After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" (Matthew 11:1-3 NIV).

Jesus regularly encouraged people to "go" invite more to come and follow him. Each response was individual, but the encouragement was the same. Jesus' disciples (students) learned how to invite more people to believe that Jesus is the Christ, and follow him.

Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me" (Matthew 11:4-6 NIV).

Did you know that Jesus encouraged his disciples (students) to invite others?
How does Jesus encourage you to invite others to follow him? Do you?