November 14 (Daily reading: Matthew 28; Mark 16) The Great Commission (Mt. 28:18-20) is directly linked to the resurrection of Jesus. Before Jesus said to those who had gathered for His ascension, “Go and make disciples of all the nations,” an angel had said to the women on that glorious Sunday morning: “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead.” This is the message that gives incentive for making disciples!
Jesus’s resurrection establishes the reality of His authority. He said: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” This is all the authority we need to go, as Jesus had earlier told the disciples, “Go! I am sending you out” (Lk. 10:3, NIV). He then told them: “I have given you authority…over all the power of the enemy” (Lk. 10:19). We need no other authority!
His resurrection establishes the reality of His promise: “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” The angel told the women to tell the disciples: “He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him.” And Jesus repeated: “Take word to My brethren…there they will see Me” (Mt. 28:7, 10). What joy in that promise: “There you will see Me!” We can believe His promise, “knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him” (Rom. 6:9). By conquering death, He is forever alive to accompany us wherever He asks us to go!
His resurrection establishes the reality of our mission. Go and proclaim to people that He has risen from the dead! Go and make disciples! Baptize and teach these disciples to be obedient to all the commands of Jesus. We make disciples by teaching “reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim. 2:2, NIV).
– Al Gary
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