Monday, September 11, 2017
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go 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, teaching 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.
*ALL* AUTHORITY ... IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH
Authority matters, doesn't it? Imagine for a moment that you roll through a stop sign and suddenly you see in your rearview mirror a group of ten year old boys running after you yelling "Stop, stop, you're under arrest!" Would you immediately pull over, reach for your license and registration, and prepare yourself to give them respect as they write you a citation for failing to come to a complete stop? Of course not, and neither would anyone else. They simply don't have the authority to arrest you, even if you are guilty.
We probably don't need to spend much time with this silly scenario because it's likely not going to happen. But I think we can find an analogy here to evangelism. I think sometimes we may feel like those ten year old boys as we try to proclaim God's saving word. Perhaps we feel like no one will ever listen to us. And why should they? Who are we anyway? It's not like we have the authority to proclaim the forgiveness of sins!
But here's where the encouragement, comfort, and truth of God’s word is so important. We do have the authority to proclaim the Good News of the forgiveness of sins to everyone. Jesus, the One who has "ALL authority ... in heaven and on earth," has specifically designated sinners like us to announce the forgiveness of sins to other repentant sinners and to announce God's wrath upon those who refuse to repent. This designation happened sometime after His resurrection and before His ascension. John records the account:
So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained" (John 20:21–23).
And so when Jesus commissioned His first disciples and now us to be His ambassadors, He first reminds us of His authority so that we can be sure and confident under whose authority we speak. We represent Jesus, the One who has all authority in heaven and on earth. When we speak His saving message to others, we do so on His behalf and with His authority. There is great encouragement, strength, and comfort in that truth.
