In this passage Jesus tells his disciples to go into all the nations and make even more disciples. All the nations seems like a tall order seen as there are no cars, planes or trains that can help them travel. There is no internet to spread the message faster. Mobile telephones have not been invented. This surely is going to take their whole lives. I guess that is the point.

There is an old story of a young boy on a beech throwing star fish back into the sea. Thousands of them have been washed up on the shore but he is throwing them back in to save their lives. A pointless task you might think but the boy knew that for all of those he couldn't save he had at least been able to save one or two.

I don't think Jesus never intend the disciples to try and travel the length and breadth of the world. He knew that it would take longer than their whole lives to spread the message to the whole world. However I think he wanted them to share the message with everyone they came into contact with. Jesus heart is that everyone might have the opportunity to hear this life changing message. One by one.