Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
When Jesus met His disciples on a mountain in Galilee, He did not immediately say, “Go.” He first said something far more foundational. In Matthew 28:18, He declared: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Only then — in verse 19 — did He command them to go. Indeed, that sequence matters. The authority of Christ is not a footnote to the Great Commission. It is the very ground on which the commission stands.
Walking in the Authority of Christ
Jesus was not simply commissioning a task. He was authorising His disciples — and all who follow Him — to operate under His full power. The word “therefore” in verse 19 is the hinge. Because Jesus now holds all authority, you can go. He rules over every realm — heaven and earth alike. Because of that, your going is not dependent on your own wisdom or ability.
This is the critical truth for every believer who has answered the call. You are not going out as someone without resources. Instead, you go in the knowledge of Christ — carrying the divine enablement that comes only through Him. What was previously impossible for you, in your own effort, becomes possible in His authority. Furthermore, even what seems far beyond any natural capacity becomes achievable. You move under the power that surpasses every earthly force.
The authority of Christ reaches into the darkest places. As a result, those who go in His name can set captives free. This includes freedom from the grip of sin, the power of darkness, and the forces that once held them bound. You are not engaging this mission on equal terms with the enemy. Rather, you carry an authority that sits above every other authority — and a power that surpasses every opposing force.
Living It Out
As a believer, you now have access to the unlimited power, grace, and wisdom of God. So wherever He sends you, remember: you are not going in your own strength. You are going in the authority of Christ — and that is enough.