Devotion by Jess Bontrager
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’” (Matthew 28:18)
One of my favorite parts of the Christmas season is putting up our tree and bringing out all the decorations! Every year, as I put up our nativity set, carefully placing that tiny baby in the manger, it almost feels wild to remember who He really is. That baby is Jesus—the Mighty God—no ordinary child wrapped in a blanket, but God who holds all authority in heaven and on earth.
I’m awful at memorizing scripture, but I’ve had Matthew 28:19-20 memorized since early elementary school (mostly thanks to a ridiculous Sunday School song about going to make disciples on your skateboard or in a big fat Ford—the theology was questionable, but it stuck). It wasn’t until much later that I realized the verse before it is what gives the Great Commission its power.
Jesus doesn’t just tell us to “GO.” He first declares His unmatched authority. Because He is mighty, because all power belongs to Him, because He is with us to the end of the age—we can go with confidence. We don’t carry the mission on our shoulders. We carry it with the Mighty God who goes before us, equips us, and stays with us every step of the way.
Reflect:
– What might “GO” look like for you in this season?
– How does remembering Jesus’s authority and constant presence bring you peace?
Pray:
Jesus, give me the strength and courage to follow where You send me. Open my eyes to see the opportunities to love others, care deeply, and give sacrificially. Lord, I need You every single day! Remind me of Your might as I walk through this season. Amen!