“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.’”
Matthew 28:18
The significance of Christ’s claim to absolute authority has the greatest significance for the church’s completion of the Great Commission. This becomes especially apparent in light of two undeniable facts—the colossal nature of the task and the weakness of the individuals who have been called to undertake it. In the verses immediately preceding Christ’s declaration of authority, we read the following:
“But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful.”1
Our text reveals a group of men who appear the least likely to change the world. They were not great men of faith or valor. Like us, they were a mixture of belief and doubt, obedience and hesitation, willingness and fear. They were not the stuff of legends! Nevertheless, Jesus discerns their weakness and goes out to meet them. He counters their doubts and fears with a declaration of His absolute authority over everything without exception, limitation, or restriction. In the following observations, David Brown and John Trapp brilliantly portray this interaction:
“What must have been the feelings which such a Commission awakened! ‘We conquer the world for Thee, Lord, who have scarce conquered our own misgivings – we, fishermen of Galilee, with no letters, no means, no influence over the humblest creature? Nay, Lord, do not mock us.’ ‘I mock you not, nor send you to warfare on your own charges: All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore. Lo I am with you all the days. Go ye therefore.’”2
“Go! In this my strength, as Gideon did against the Midianites, (Judges 7:13) and though but a barley cake, coarse and contemptible, yet shall ye overthrow the world’s tents, yea, the strongholds of Satan; though you have but lamps and pitchers in your hands, yet shall ye achieve great matters.”3
Christ’s declaration of supreme authority had its desired effect. The disciples soon became the stuff of legends. In one generation they conquered kingdoms and “turned the world upside down.”4
This same authority, which has aided the church against insurmountable odds for the last two millenniums, continues today with undiminished strength. If the church in this present generation is to accomplish the tasking of taking the gospel to every creature under heaven she must once again rely unreservedly upon the scepter of Christ. If the present-day missionary is to truly be an instrument for the global advancement of Christ’s kingdom, he must lay aside all confidence in the flesh and find his strength and boldness in the absolute authority and inexhaustible power of the One who sends him.
When we compare the malevolent strength of this fallen age to our own frailties, the Great Commission appears to be an utterly impossible task. But when we look to the exalted Christ who has conquered and goes forth conquering,5 we are able to believe that what is impossible for men, is possible with God.6
In conclusion, what does it mean that all authority has been given to Christ in heaven and on earth? It means that, “he who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with them.7 It means that there will be “a great multitude which no one can count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.’”8
- Matthew 28:16-17
- David Brown, The Four Gospels, p.134
- John Trapp, Commentary on the Old & New Testaments, Vol.5, p. 281-282.
- Acts 17:6 (KJV)
- Revelation 6:2
- Matthew 19:26; Mark 10:27; Luke 18:27
- Psalm 126:6
- Revelation 7:9-10
Paul is the founder of HeartCry Missionary Society and currently serves as its missions director. He also ministered as a missionary in Peru for ten years. He has preached hundreds of sermons and has authored a dozen published works. Paul lives in Radford, Virginia, with his wife Charo and their four children: Ian, Evan, Rowan, and Bronwyn.
More By Paul David Washer