Now there are two terms you probably didn’t expect to hear together: “Ferris Bueller” and “The Great Commission.” You’re saying to yourself, “How could those two things possibly be related?” We’ll get to that, but first, a little background.
If you haven’t seen the movie, Ferris Bueller is the titular character in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” The 1986 movie revolves around a single day in Ferris’ life. On this particular day, he decides that he’d rather enjoy the spring day than go to school. So, Ferris calls in sick. As a senior in High School, who can’t identify with that? What follows are multiple misadventures and hijinks resulting from Ferris’ attempts to both cover up his lie and experience anything and everything he can on this “Day Off.”
I don’t recall thinking very deeply about the movie when I first saw it years ago. It was just a lot of fun. Still, those who analyze these things suggest it was more than just fun. They say it had a point. The point being: Make every minute count while you have the chance. Carpe Diem!
At the end of the movie credits roll. You think it’s over, but not quite. Ferris returns on camera as if emerging from his bedroom to get a drink of water (or whatever). Dressed in a bathrobe, he peers into the camera quizzically, “You’re still here?” he says. Still looking intently, he continues, “It’s over. Go home.” As he turns to leave, he looks back, and with a shooing little wave of his hand, “Go”, he says.
We’ve become pretty accustomed to this little trick, haven’t we? We wait through the credits of a movie to see if there are any surprises. Sometimes, there are little stories of what happened to the characters later in life (I love those). Other times, we get a clip, a precursor, to the next movie in the series. The purpose is to get us to come back. Here though, there is no ongoing story. No hook to make us come back. Ferris, with a little wave of his hand, like shooing a small child, simply says, “Go.”
You might be catching the connection between “Ferris Beuller” and “The Great Commission” by now. While Ferris chides the audience for just sitting there and tells them to get out of their seats and go, we, as believers, have a command to “go” as well. It is hard to read the Great Commission and ignore the command to “Go.” It isn’t what Ferris intended, but it is what Jesus intends for us.
He says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mat 28:19-20).
Some might say, “What are you talking about? That command isn’t for me; it is for missionaries. I’m not called to ‘go and make disciples of all nations.’” That would make it simple, wouldn’t it? That might let a lot of us off the hook. However, there is some controversy about the translation of the word “go.” Some scholars are adamant that this simple word should actually be translated “as you go” or even “wherever you go.” Changes things a bit, doesn’t it?
Those who stand on “go” as a command to do global mission work are concerned that changing this translation would reduce the sense of urgency for global missions. I pray that never occurs. May it never be! But our call is to make disciples and baptize everywhere. In faraway places and in our neighborhoods.
However, this particular word within the Great Commission is translated; the whole Bible teaches that disciples are made both by being sent out, like a missionary, and impacting others wherever we are “as we go.” We are to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Pet 3:15). It is time for us to get out of our seats, yes, like the end of a movie, and go. Not just some of us, but all of us. In far-off places, of course. The whole world needs to know. But also, right around us. In our neighborhoods, at our workplace, at our schools, everywhere we go. People need to know about Jesus.
Of course, as believers, going to church and Bible studies are important. They’re good things. Reading our Bibles, listening to podcasts, and learning from Christian teachers. All good stuff. These are things we can’t neglect. Even reading short, encouraging articles by pithy writers (see what I did there?) is good. At some point, though, we have to do something. We have to get out there and impact the world we live in for Jesus.
So, there isn’t much else to say except, as Ferris Bueller put it, “You’re still here? Go!”
Written by David Foucar
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Christian Grandfather Magazine
Featured Image by Peggy from Pixabay
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