Imagine receiving a direct order from the President of the United States. The command comes with full executive authority, backed by all branches of government and every resource of the nation. How seriously would you take such a directive? Now multiply that authority by infinity, and you begin to grasp the weight of Jesus's final command to us, his followers—what we call the Great Commission.
Sadly, many Christians today treat the Great Commission like a restaurant menu, as if Jesus were merely suggesting an optional activity for particularly zealous believers. We nod in agreement during missionary presentations but secretly think, “That’s for someone else.” This casual dismissal of our Lord's final command would be comical if it weren’t so tragic. After all, these weren’t just any parting words—they were the marching orders of the risen King of kings, the one who holds “all authority in heaven and on earth” (Mt 28:18).
Jesus’s commission comes to us from a mountain in Galilee, where the disciples gathered after his resurrection. The setting is significant. Throughout Matthew’s Gospel, mountains serve as places of divine revelation and authority. It was on a mountain that Jesus delivered his revolutionary Sermon on the Mount, and now, on another mountain, he delivers his final earthly instructions to his followers.
When the disciples saw Jesus, “they worshiped him, though some doubted” (Mt 28:17). Even in their mixture of worship and uncertainty, Jesus responded not with rebuke but with an astounding declaration of his universal authority. The one speaking to them is no mere teacher or prophet—he is the Lord of creation and new creation, the one to whom every knee will bow and every tongue confess.
Based on this supreme authority, Jesus issues a command that still echoes through the centuries: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20). Notice that this isn’t a suggestion for the spiritually elite or a backup plan if our original career choices don’t work out. It’s a clear directive from the highest authority in the universe.
The scope of this commission is both broader and more focused than we often realize. It’s broader because it encompasses every aspect of life under Christ's lordship. We’re called to proclaim him with our lips and promote him with our lives, whether we’re international missionaries, business professionals, stay-at-home parents, students, or otherwise. Yet it’s also more focused because this all-encompassing lordship drives us toward a specific goal: making disciples of all nations.
Making disciples involves more than just securing verbal professions of faith. Jesus calls us to baptize new believers, marking them as members of his covenant community, and to teach them “to observe all” that he commanded. This comprehensive discipleship transforms every aspect of life under Christ's authority.
Perhaps you’re feeling overwhelmed by such a monumental task. That's why Jesus concludes with words of incredible comfort: “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). The same Christ who endured the cross, conquered death, and holds all authority promises his presence and power to accomplish his purposes through us.
This promise should revolutionize our prayers and ambitions. Consider what Christ endured to secure our salvation: In Gethsemane, he was “sorrowful and deeply distressed” (Mt 26:37), sweating drops of blood as he contemplated bearing God's wrath. He endured not only unimaginable physical torture but, infinitely worse, the spiritual agony of being forsaken by the Father. Now, this same Jesus—risen, glorified, and invested with all authority—stands ready to work through us with resurrection power.
Are we living lives worthy of such a sacrifice? Do our prayers match the scale of Christ's suffering and triumph? Are we leveraging our resources, abilities, and opportunities for the advancement of his kingdom? The resurrection power available to us is utterly disproportionate to our natural abilities. We serve a Savior who has overcome death itself; no obstacle we face in fulfilling his commission is too great for him to overcome.
Each of us has a vital role to play. We can build intentional relationships with non-Christians, consistently pray for their salvation, and look for opportunities to share the gospel. We can support and encourage those serving in cross-cultural missions. We can use our professional skills and daily interactions to advance Christ’s kingdom. Whatever our specific calling, we must reject the comfortable fiction that the Great Commission is optional.
The risen Christ stands ready to work through us with resurrection power. His authority is supreme, his command is clear, and his presence is guaranteed. The only question is: Will we treat his Great Commission as the divine mandate it is, or will we continue to view it as merely a great suggestion?