Spiritual Enrichment Archives CLICK HERE The Authority of the Call of the Nations
February 2012
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."
Matthew 28: 19-20
This commandment, known as the Great Commission, highlights one of the greatest characteristics of our Orthodox Christian Faith: its missionary focus.
This commandment defines the very ethos of the Orthodox Church. Let us then ask ourselves, by what authority does Jesus say that this command is given?
While we as Christians understand that Jesus is God and thus what Jesus commands is what God commands, it is important to understand that Matthew 28:18 is a key passage that establishes Jesus’ divine authority. This passage reads: “And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” This statement is an explicit affirmation of the union of Jesus’ authority as God. It is important to keep this in mind when we read Matthew 28:19-20.
Not only is the Great Commission a command given to us by Jesus, but it is a command given to us immediately following Jesus’ declaration that he is omnipotent in heaven and on earth. He exclaims the boundless limits of His authority to us and then gives us one of the most difficult and important instructions He has left us with… to share our Faith with the world.
Stephanos Ritsi
Seminarian
Additional Scripture Readings:
On Missions: Acts: 7-9, Luke 24: 45-49, Matthew 24:13-14, Genesis 12:1-3
On the Authority of Jesus: Matthew 8:23-27, John 5, John 6:24-59
Prayer Dear God, We pray that we will live our faith daily so others will see Christ in us.
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