And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.—Matthew 28:18-20
Jesus Christ has all authority both in heaven and in earth. The word authority here means power. Jesus, who has all power has been given the right to use this power for His purposes. My heart fills as I read the next two verses. (19-20)
What is the desire of the ONE whom Scripture says this about:
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.—Philippians 2:5-11
His desire is that we go and make disciples of all nations. Why? Because He came to this earth for this very purpose.
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.—John 3:16-17
Beloved...We are to love as He loved and continue His mission by walking in His footsteps and sharing in the fellowship of His sufferings. His desire that none should perish but that all would come to life in His Son should be our desire. We are to do as it says in Hebrews 12:
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God
Oh to have a heart like my beloved, Jesus!
Father, use me here on earth for Your perfect purposes. All authority has been given to You. You are in sovereign control and therefore, I can obey You without fear. Wherever I am, whatever my circumstances...You ARE GOD. You are good and do good. You and You alone can be trusted. In me I am nothing, but in You...in Your power and by Your grace...I can fulfill all Your desires for me.
“Power in the hands of some people is dangerous, but power in the hands of Christ is blessed. Oh, let him have all power! Let him do what he will with it, for he cannot will anything but that which is right, and just, and true, and good.” (Spurgeon)
“We believe in this power, and we rest in it.” (Spurgeon)
Jesus said, “Go” to some very imperfect disciples. “Who is to go out of that first band of disciples? It is Peter, the rash and the headstrong. It is John, who sometimes wishes to call fire from heaven to destroy men. It is Philip, with whom the Savior has been so long, and yet he has not known him. It is Thomas, who must put his finger into the print of the nails, or he will not believe him. Yet the Master says to them, ‘Go ye; all power is given unto me, therefore go ye. You are as good for my purpose as anybody else would be. There is no power in you, I know, but then all power is in me, therefore go ye.'” (Spurgeon)
