Matthew 28:18
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Picture the scene: Jesus, just risen, stands with His closest followers—those who had walked dusty roads with Him, watched miracles unfold, feared as darkness crowded the cross, and now, after His suffering, see Him alive. He comes to them and speaks, offering not only comfort for their weary hearts but a firm, unshakable assurance for the mission ahead (Matthew 28:18).
When Jesus declares, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” He isn’t simply talking about the power that belongs to Him as God in His divine nature. Instead, He’s speaking of what the Father has entrusted to Him as the Mediator—God’s Anointed King, who after defeating death and destroying the devil, receives the right to govern all things for the sake of His church (Matthew 28:18, Ephesians 1:20-23, Hebrews 2:8). This is not just about miracles or forgiving sins—He already did these things before His resurrection—but about guiding, establishing, and protecting the people who follow Him, and bringing about God’s loving purposes in both heaven and earth (Acts 2:36).
Christ’s authority now stretches over angels who serve at His command, over kings who unwittingly fulfill His plans, and even over those who seem farthest from His kingdom. All creation, all history, all nations rest in His hands, and He uses it all—whether gentle or rough—to shape and build His church (Colossians 1:16-18). It’s a comfort to see that His sovereignty isn’t grasped or stolen; it’s given by the Father, secured through His finished work.
Whatever fear, sense of inadequacy, or uncertainty you bring, remember—your Lord reigns with all authority. When He sends you out, equips you, or asks you to trust Him, He does so as the triumphant King who orders all things for your good and His glory (John 20:21). So go forward, not in your strength, but His.
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