Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them inthe name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:16-20

The Great Commission begins exactly where our confidence must begin: with the authority of Jesus. Before Jesus tells us to go anywhere or do anything, He reminds us who He is. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” This mission is not grounded in our competence, our charisma, or our courage. It is grounded in Hs lordship. We are not being sent out on our own authority; we are being sent under His authority.

That distinction matters more than we might think. When we remember that Jesus is Lord over all, it gives backbone to our mission. This is not a hopeful idea or a fragile project. It is a mission backed by the risen King. When confidence fades or fear creeps in, we come back to this truth: He reigns, and He sends.

The first command that follows is simple and urgent: “Go.” That word alone reminds us that we are not waiting around for further instructions. There is no pause button on the Christian mission. To follow Jesus is to move outward. “Go” means across the street, into your backyard, into your community—and yes, all the way to the ends of the earth.

Jesus expands the scope clearly: “all nations.” This echoes Acts 1:8, where the gospel moves from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Keeping that scope in front of us matters. When we forget how far-reaching the mission is, we either lose heart or lose energy. We start thinking too small. But when we remember the distance still to be traveled, it should not discourage us—it should strengthen our initiative. God’s plan has always been global, and we get to participate in it.

Then Jesus tells us what we are to do as we go: “make disciples.” This is a powerful corrective to shallow faith and easy-believism. The goal of the church is not merely decisions or moments but lifelong followers of Jesus. Salvation is not only about being born again; it is about learning to live a whole new life under Christ’s lordship.

Discipleship means leaving the old life behind. It means obedience. It means following Jesus not just once, but for a lifetime. The mission of the church is not complete when someone says they believe—it continues as they learn to walk with Christ day by day.

Jesus then explains what disciple-making looks like in practice. First, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Baptism is not an afterthought; it is central. All three persons of the Trinity are involved in salvation, and all three are confessed in baptism. Baptism visibly represents the death of the old life and the resurrection of the new. It is public. It is bold. It is a declaration of faith and a testimony to God’s saving work in Christ.

Next comes teaching. Making disciples means both baptizing and teaching. We are learners, but we are also teachers. We follow Christ, and at the same time, we help others follow Him. And what do we teach? Everything Jesus commanded. Gospel content matters. Whether we use the Gospels themselves or discipleship resources, the substance must come from Jesus. His words, His ways, His truth.

But Jesus goes one step further. We are not just teaching information—we are teaching people to observe, to obey. Teaching is not a dead-end street. The truth Jesus taught was always meant to be lived out in the real world. It is meant to hit the streets. Note: I live in a small city, and my wife and I went out for lunch today on Main Street. When I was out crossing on the crosswalk, it made me think about this post and passage. The mission and our obedience include Main Street. Obedience is not optional in discipleship; it is essential. Jesus himself said, “Follow me.” That is movement. That is action. That is obedience.

Finally, Jesus closes the commission the same way he began it—with assurance. “And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” There is a kind of sandwich structure here. Authority at the beginning. Presence at the end. We are sent by the one who rules all things, and we are never sent alone.

The mission is big. The calling is demanding. But the promise is steady: Jesus goes with us—every step, every conversation, every nation, until the very end.

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Here are three simple, kid-friendly discussion questions you can use in a family devotion. They’re designed to invite conversation, and to help kids connect the passage to everyday life:

1. Who sends us to tell others about Jesus, and why does that make us brave instead of scared?
   (Helps kids see that Jesus is in charge and goes with us.)
2. When Jesus says “go,” where are some places we can go to share and talk about Jesus this week?
   (Home, school, neighborhood, friends—helps them see mission as everyday life.)
3. What do you think it means to follow Jesus in discipleship?
   (Leads into lifelong discipleship, obedience, and growing to be more like Jesus.)