The disciples stood before Jesus, eyes fixed on the One who had overcome the grave. Just days before, their world had been shattered as they watched Him suffer and die. But now, here He was—alive. The nails had pierced His hands, but death had no power to hold Him. The empty tomb had changed it all.
Then Jesus spoke: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).
Imagine standing there in that moment. The One who had healed the sick, calmed storms, and raised the dead now declared that all authority belonged to Him. Not some authority. Not just authority over those who believed in Him. All authority in heaven and on earth. What does that mean for us today? It means that every part of our lives belongs to Him. It means that obedience to Him is not a burden but a response to the risen King.
A Command, Not a Suggestion
Jesus continued: “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” (Matthew 28:19-20a).
The disciples had walked with Jesus for years. They had seen Him teach, love, and serve. And now, He told them to go and do the same. Not just in their hometowns. Not just with people who looked and thought like them. All nations. The message of salvation was for everyone.
It’s easy to read this and think of it as a command for someone else—missionaries, Officers, evangelists. But Jesus didn’t limit His words to a select few. If we belong to Him, we are part of this mission. Where has God placed you? Who in your life needs to hear about Him? Obedience to Christ doesn’t always mean going to a distant land, but it does mean being willing to share His truth wherever we are.
Paul later echoed this calling when he wrote: “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). We don’t share the gospel alone; God speaks through us.
Obedience and the Power of His Presence
Maybe the disciples felt the weight of this command. They had relied on Jesus every step of the way. How could they possibly continue without Him? But Jesus didn’t leave them uncertain. His final words were a promise:
“And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20b).
What comfort these words must have brought! Jesus was not sending them out alone. His presence would go with them. And that promise is ours too. Whether we feel strong or weak, confident or afraid, we do not carry out this mission in our own strength. He is with us.
Jesus had said something similar before:
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17).
The Holy Spirit equips us to obey, to share the gospel, and to live out the commands of Christ. When we struggle to obey, we can remember that we are not doing this alone.
A Response to the Risen Christ
The resurrection is more than a moment to celebrate—it is a call to action. Because Jesus lives, we obey. Because He has all authority, we go. Because He is always with us, we trust.
The disciples didn’t hear these words and walk away unchanged. They went. They preached. They made disciples. And because they obeyed, the message of Jesus has reached us today.
Now it is our turn.
Is there an area of your life where you have resisted God’s call to obedience? Is there someone God is prompting you to share His love with? Take a moment to reflect. The risen Christ calls us to follow Him, to trust Him, and to make His name known.
And as we go, we can be sure of this: He goes with us. Always.