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Matthew 28:16-20
In Matthew 28:16 we are reminded that there are only eleven disciples of Jesus instead of the twelve. We are reminded of Judas, who betrayed Jesus at His arrest (Matthew 26:14-16; 47-56. But these remaining eleven did as Jesus had instructed them – they went to Galilee. In Matthew 26:32 (NKJV) Jesus tells His disciples, “but after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee.” In Matthew 28:7 the angel of the Lord instructed Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, “And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” Jesus also reiterates this to these women in Matthew 28:10.
When the disciples saw Jesus, they worshiped Him (Matthew 28:17), but there was some doubt as well. And ending the Gospel of Matthew is the words of Jesus that we refer to as the Great Commission: 18And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.
This is the declaration of our risen Lord Jesus.
This is the Great Commission.
What we read about here in the Gospel of Matthew consists of many aspects of our lives in relation to Jesus that we continue to experience today. There is worship, doubt, authority, obedience, baptizing, teaching, observance, and grasping the fact that Jesus is with us always, even to the end of the age.
All authority has been given to Jesus for fulfilling His mission on earth, which was to pay the price for sin and make a way for us to be redeemed back to a right relationship with our Creator God. In this, we should worship Him just as did His disciples. He is our risen Savior who died to pay for our sins, but was risen to claim victory over sin, death, and Satan. The victory is God’s! The victory has been won through the work of Jesus. There is nothing left undone unto salvation but that you would open your heart to Him and believe in Him. Profess Him your Savior today and live in forgiveness and peace of heart, mind, and soul – forever – in Christ.
It is our duty as Christians to “go” and to teach others of Jesus. It is our duty as Christians to be baptized as was Jesus, and claim our washing away of a life of sin, and come up from the water cleansed to live a new life in Christ Jesus. And it is our privilege to claim victory over sin, death, and the sinful nature of this world through our salvation in Christ Jesus. Go, and tell others of the wonderful things that Jesus has done for you! And never forget the promise of Jesus as quoted from Matthew 28:20b, “and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.”
Dear LORD,
As we conclude this study of the Gospel of Matthew, please help us to open our hearts to Jesus and profess Him our Lord and Savior. Please help us to share this gospel with others that they too may experience the freedom and forgiveness that You have given us through Jesus. And please help us to always remember that Jesus is with us always, even to the end of the age so that we may call on His name, the name of Jesus, to help us in time of need and in time of celebration, whenever these may come. Thank You LORD for sending us a Savior – a Savior we proclaim to the world – Jesus! In Jesus name I pray, amen.