Come Be My Follower - Jehovah's Witnesses Official Media Web Site

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“COMEBEMYFOLLOWER”
seeds of truth. Now there is a harvest to reap, and the
crop is abundant. Many responsive ones need to be gathered
as disciples. (John 4:35-38) How does Jesus meet
this challenge? On a mountain in Galilee, shortly before
ascending to heaven, he gives his disciples a commission
to find more workers, saying: “Go therefore and make
disciplesofpeopleofallthenations,baptizingthem...,
teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded
you.”—Matthew 28:19, 20.
3 Thatcommissionliesattheveryheartofwhatit
means to be a genuine follower of Christ. Let us, then, examine
three questions. Why did Jesus issue the commission
for more workers? How did he train his disciples to
find them? How are we involved in this commission?
Why More Workers Were Needed
4 When Jesus began his ministry in 29 C.E., he knew
that he was starting a work that he would not finish on
his own. In the short time he had left on earth, there
wasalimittotheareahecouldcoverandthenumberof
people he could reach with the Kingdom message. True,
he confined his preaching mainly to Jews and proselytes,
“the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15:24)
However, those “lost sheep” were scattered throughout
the length and breadth of Israel, a land covering thousands
of square miles. Besides, the rest of the world field
would eventually have to be reached with the good news.
—Matthew 13:38; 24:14.
5 Jesus recognized that much work would remain to be
done after his death. To his 11 faithful apostles, he said:
“Most truly I say to you, He that exercises faith in me,
4, 5. Why would Jesus not finish the work that he had started, and
who would have to carry on the work after he returned to heaven?