Matthew 28
December 30, 2022
“Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’” (v18-20)
Six weeks earlier, the disciples had watched Jesus die on a cross. And now, here He is, standing before them, announcing that He has all authority in Heaven and on Earth – and that He has an assignment for them: to go make disciples of all nations (v19). I imagine they were hanging on His every word – since just six weeks earlier, they had watched him be killed. I know how attentive I would be to someone I had watched die, who then rose from the dead, who then announces that all authority in heaven and earth now belongs to Him, and that He has a job for me to do. I’d listen pretty carefully (and take pretty seriously) what that job was that He had for me to do.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I praise You for Your great plan of salvation, and for bringing it about through the death and resurrection of Christ. Renew in me the joy of my salvation, and rekindle in me the commitment to proclaim this good news - in my preaching, and in my conversations with whoever You bring across my path. May I take seriously the charge You’ve given to tell people about You, and to teach those who trust You what it means to obey You in every area of life. May I, too, be a disciple who obeys “everything You have commanded” (v19) - for Your glory and my good!
— Pastor Joshua Brooks
Use the following steps to guide your daily time with the Lord…
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Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart to help you understand and receive His Word.
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Read and observe the passage carefully. As needed, read a second Bible version to help with understanding.
➡️ What does it say?
What does this passage teach me about God? What does it say about my sinful nature and my need for God’s grace? How does this passage point to Jesus?
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➡️ What am I going to do about it?
Does this passage include a promise to claim, an action/attitude to avoid/embrace, or a principle to apply? How can this truth apply to my life? What could my next step be? How can I share this with others? Is there a verse or section of Scripture I need to memorize?
