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, baptising 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.” Mat 28:18-20.

This is part of a passage commonly known as The Great Commission. Jesus gives a mandate to his disciples who would in turn pass it on to us and all Christians to come after. To set the background for this commissioning, Jesus starts by pointing out that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him. When a mandate is given to someone, the authority that backs it up makes all the difference and directly affects the level of seriousness and confidence with which the mandate will be carried. Let me use more Scripture to help paint the picture of this Jesus who commissions us. Memorise and meditate on these verses and thank him for the authority he gives you as a Christian as well as the mission. Ask him to help you to take the mission seriously, especially this week as we focus on it.

Eph 1: 19-23 ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, ²¹ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. ²² And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Col 1:15-20 ¹⁵ The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

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