Bookends

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18, 20b

The Great Commission is found in the last few verses of the Book of Matthew. It states,

"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."

The Great Commission should be the North Star, a reference point for the church's mission. We should use the Great Commission as our compass whenever we enter unchartered territory. But before we unpack the Great Commission, let's look at how Jesus bookends it. He assures his disciples of two things. First, he states,

"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."

Only Jesus Christ can claim that He is in charge, and He was giving them the Great Commission based on this claim. As the church called by Jesus Christ, we can boldly live out the Great Commission, knowing He has our back.

Jesus then reminds His disciples,

"And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Our God is not sending us out to fulfill the Great Commission alone. He is Immanuel, God with us. In fulfilling the Great Commission, we are not left to rely solely on our own strength or abilities. Jesus promises to be with us every step of the way until the end of the age. This assurance should ignite a fire within us, propelling us forward in obedience and faith.

Dear Church, as we embrace the Great Commission as our mission, let us know that we have the authority and presence of Christ with us. Let us go forth in faith, filled with compassion and empowered by the Holy Spirit, making disciples of all nations and bringing glory to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.