I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS

Passage: Matthew 28:16-20

Key verse: 20

NIV

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.(A) 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.(B) 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,(C) baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,(D) 20 and teaching(E) them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you(F) always, to the very end of the age.”(G)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Great Commission

16 Now the eleven disciples (A)went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they (B)worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, (C)“All authority (D)in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 (E)Go therefore and (F)make disciples of (G)all nations, (H)baptizing them (I)in[a] (J)the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them (K)to observe all that (L)I have commanded you. And behold, (M)I am with you always, to (N)the end of the age.”

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Footnotes
  1. Matthew 28:19 Or into
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus met his disciples in Galilee (16). The disciples worshiped him, while some still hesitated to believe (17), probably unable to fully digest the salvation work that they had witnessed.

Jesus did not rebuke their doubt. Instead, he assured them that all the authority had been given to him, commissioned them to go and make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey Jesus’ commands. The commission could not have been carried out by the disciples’ strength. Yet the Lord who conquered sin and death promised to be with them always (20). He would sustain, strengthen, and guide his servants as we follow him.

Following Jesus, we may sometimes feel overwhelmed by the scale of the work. We could also feel discouraged by our own weakness and insignificance. But our Lord Jesus invites us by all his authority in heaven and on earth to go and raise disciples for him. Would you set your worries aside, and trust and obey our Lord, who has overcome the power of sin and death through his blood, out of his love for us?

Prayer: Father, thank you for the mission you have given me. I am weak and unfaithful, but you are strong and faithful. I will follow you day by day.

One Word: Jesus is with me