You are a person of authority.
You at least have authority over your decisions. Of what you decide to do.
You may have authority over children – those would be yours.
You may have authority of employees as their leader.
You may have authority as a leader at church or of a civic organization.
There are many places you can have authority.
But what you or I do not have authority is with Jesus. It is He who has authority. Let’s take a look.
And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.“ Matthew 28:18.
I’m using the New American Standard translation because I can access an online version that has the associated Greek words.
Why is the Great Commission Valid
Let’s look at the word “authority.”
This is translated from the Greek word Exousia which means [the italics are mine]:
- power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases [the speakers choice not the hearers]
- leave or permission
- physical and mental power
- the ability or strength with which one is endued [endow or provide with a quality or ability],
- which he either possesses or exercises
- the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege)
- the power of rule or government (the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed)
Exousia comes from the word: Exesti (it is lawful (in the sense of ability)). Which is from a combination of Ek (out of, from, by, away from) and Eimi (to be, to exist, to happen, to be present).
To me this means: Jesus has lawful power to command because of who He is.
Why Can Jesus give the Great Commission
Jesus arranged the meeting with His disciples. He told His disciples He would meet them in Galilee. The remaining 11 formed the foundation of the Church. Jesus would add a twelfth when He called Paul on the road to Damascus.
From whom was He given authority? It is from God. It was given to Jesus as Son of Man because of His incarnation, death and resurrection. This was God’s plan from the beginning.
The scripture says All authority. No limits are place on His power of commandment.
And the scripture says in heaven and on earth; that is everywhere. No exceptions.
Conclusion
I follow this with more on the the Great Commission.
There are two areas fundamental to our discipleship. One is the Great Commission and the other is service to the disadvantaged.
How do you connect with the Great Commission?
Do you struggle with how to do this? I do at times because it is not always forefront in my mind.
Do you try to go it alone or do you work with a group? We could look to others in our church.
Do you help others with their discipleship?