Matthew 28:1-20
Monday, 18 April 2022
‘Then Jesus came to them and said, “All Authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.”’ -Matt.28:18-20
Jesus Christ very vividly gives this profound commandment to all His disciples with all the authority vested on Him, commanding the Gospel to be preached to all nations. Jesus Christ the King of kings and the Lord of lords of all the Universe said in Revelation 1:8: “I am the Alpha and Omega says the Lord God ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Authority of Jesus Christ: Jesus Christ has been given authority over all people (John 17:2) and He is far above all rule and authority, power and dominion (Eph.1:21). He was given supremacy (Colossians 1:18)—Christ was the first born to be raised from the dead with a resurrected body who conquered Sin, Satan and Death. On the Cross, peace between God and man was restored through His death. Whoever believes in the finished work of Christ on the cross also experiences this peace in the physical world. Christ was given supremacy in all things in heaven and on earth (Matt.11:27), placing everything in His hands (John 3:35).
So when Jesus said “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me by my Father,” it reveals that when he emptied himself of all his privileges as Son of God (not of his deity) and took on the full reality of a servant, dying obediently on the cross, He conquered sin and death and received the authority. Philippians 2:9 says, “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name…”
Baptizing in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Those who have truly repented of their sin, received and believed in their heart that Christ has died for their sins and rose from the dead, are saved. Such a person identifies himself with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection with a good conscience and outwardly expresses it through baptism. Being baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he publicly declares himself as coming under the authority Christ.
Teaching them to obey everything Jesus Christ Commanded: Jesus Christ, in all His authority has commanded that every believer proclaim the Good news, making disciples, teaching them to obey what Christ has commanded; so that when He comes as King of kings to gather His elect in midair, every disciple would be found by Him. (1Thes.4:16-18)
With the command, Jesus Christ gives us two promises i) His authority will be transferred to us to fulfill His command ii) His presence will be with us to the very end of our age.
So with such a great Commandment, with an assurance and promise laborers are expected to join with the Owner of the whole Universe. Jesus Himself said: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37,38)
Let us Pray: Almighty God, the Lord of the harvest, as we know the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few; equip us with your Holy Spirit to carry out your great Commandment. We also pray for other workers to join the field to harvest the crop for eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.
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