What is the Great Commission? All Authority!

Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Over the next few posts I want to take some time to look at the great commission of Jesus, and what that does, or should mean in our lives.

(This is part 2 of our multi-part series on The Great Commission)

Often, when people quote Jesus’ words here, they start with, ‘Go therefore’.  They no doubt start there because that is a direct command that requires action on our part – Go!

Go!

But if we are to jump off the starting blocks from that command, we miss what I believe is the key part of this message.

All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me

Before we are told to go, we are told something more important – the power by which we are commanded. Jesus doesn’t command us, ‘Go, and I hope it works out for you’. He isn’t saying, ‘Go, and if you do it right, we might just get this done together’. 

He says ‘All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to me‘. All authority.

When we go – we know we go with the power of an all powerful, all knowing God behind us. We aren’t supported by our own strength, or even the strength of those around us who support us in their own way. We aren’t driven by the wind where it will blow – but we go with a purpose and with a power that declares that all authority is given to it.

So before we get to ‘Go!’, don’t forget how you go – you go by the command of one who holds all authority, and will bring about His purpose for His glory. All we need to do is be obedient to that call.