Matthew 28 Devotional
by Pastor Lawrence
It is fitting that Matthew would end his gospel with Christ’s command to his disciples to go out and share that gospel message with others. But, technically, the word “go” is not a command in this passage, although most translations read that way. Translated correctly, v.19 would read more like “As you are going, make disciples of all nations…baptizing them (and) teaching them all that I have commanded you.” So the emphasis is really on making disciples rather than actually going, which is good for us considering that most of us can’t really go anywhere right now. Nevertheless, we are called to be his witnesses, wherever we are, right now.
That means if we are at home, we ought to testify of Christ with our family members, if we are on the phone, we ought to testify to our friends, and if we are on social media we ought to be salt and light to those with whom we come in contact. That doesn’t mean that we should send those cheesy and heretical chain e-mails promising blessings to anyone who forwards the same e-mail to others, but that we ought to give a simple and sincere testimony to our faith in Christ wherever we are.
Not only do we have the ability to do this in various ways, we have the authority to do it in Christ Jesus. In v.18, just prior to the actual charge of the Great Commission, Jesus assures the disciples that he is sending them out not only with God’s blessing, but with God’s divine authority, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me therefore. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
It’s important to note that there is a considerable difference between power and authority in life. For instance, you may have the power or ability to take the life of another human being, but you might not have the authority to do so. Certainly a solider or a police officer would have that authority in certain circumstances. On the other hand, you might have the authority to do something but not the ability to carry it out. In this instance, because Christ has been raised from the dead, he has both the power and the authority to send out the disciples in his name to bear witness to the truth of the gospel.
As the apostle Paul said in Philippians 2:7-11 because Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross…God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and an on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” This is a favorite passage in Scripture for many Christians and is highly encouraging to us personally in our faith, but it also very encouraging for those who seek to give a testimony of Christ before others.
Oftentimes, we are so worried about what others might think or say when we speak of Christ to them. There is one thing for certain in these situations: every single person you will ever talk with about Christ will eventually bow the knee and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Because Christ humbled himself in death for our sakes, God has exalted him and given him the name that is above every name. And He has an authority, which he has given to us to bear the name of Christ to others with whom we come in contact.
The time for Christ’ humiliation has come to an end. It is now time for his name to be exalted by men, women and children around the world. And you have been given authority by God himself to mention the name of Christ wherever you go. Indeed, you have the power and the authority to speak about Christ today. You may not be able to go far from home today, but you can still speak about Christ, whether or not the governor, or the president, wants you to, you have been given that authority by God, so speak freely, open your mouth and magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!