Matthew 28:18-20

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ 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, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

These verses are generally referred to as the Great Commission. It’s a commission that has been given to every Christian and every church ever since Jesus spoke these words to his gathered disciples before he ascended to be at his father’s side in heaven. 

But I want our attention to rest in a different place today, namely on what Jesus first said – “all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me”.  

Daniel was told in his vision that the God of heaven would set up a kingdom that would never be destroyed – a kingdom that would endure forever. Over 600 years later this kingdom message is reiterated by Jesus. But more than that his laying down of his life and his subsequent resurrection have made this kingdom a reality. And yet other kingdoms still come and go, and we get caught up in them and are tempted to believe they are more permanent than the Kingdom of God. 

May we keep on reflecting today that Jesus has been given all authority. Some of the events within the world are disturbing. Some of them can make us fearful. We are tempted to believe that the kingdom that Jesus ushered in is small, weak and insignificant. It is a radically different kingdom, but it is the ultimate kingdom ruled by the ultimate king. It is in this King and his kingdom where we need to place our trust. May we be less anxious today because of this truth.  

Tim Hewlett