Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”

I was greatly blessed to hear Pastor Hiroshi Yunohara speak on this at the Easter Sunrise service six days ago. It is unusual to receive fresh insight on such a familiar passage. I very much agree that the “therefore” that starts verse 19 is one of the most important prepositions in the whole Bible. Our authority as believers and disciples, ambassadors, to use Paul’s expression (2 Corinthians 5:20), comes from this reality, that all authority has been given to Christ. That means that, to the degree that we are in Christ, the devil has no authority over us at all. That’s not empty triumphalism, because there’s a lot of junk in the world we still have to put up with, but it does mean that we have no reason to back down from anything, because Jesus Christ is Lord absolutely. As it says in Hebrews 2:8, we don’t currently see everything as subject to Jesus’ authority, but as long as we have our eyes firmly fixed on Him, we will experience the best He has for us. That might include suffering and death on this earth, but the rewards will be more than worth it.

Once again, I have to confess that I’m not yet sufficiently grounded in the area of authority. I hesitate to exercise the authority that has been vested in me, and yet I tend to get defensive when it seems to me that others are impinging on my authority. Actually, those are two sides of the same coin. The better I understand Jesus’ authority, the better I will understand what authority He has assigned to me, and the better I will exercise that authority in His will and for His glory. Power struggles will be a thing of the past. I’d like that! I need to be faithful in my own day-to-day obedience, because as the Roman Centurion recognized, all authority is delegated, and if I’m not submitted, then I have no authority. I need constantly to be aware of whom I serve, and walk in joyful obedience.

Father, I’ve been so slow to learn this very important lesson. I’ve known it intellectually for a long time, but walking it out is a different matter. Help me be a doer of Your Word indeed, not just filing it in my brain but storing it in my heart, allowing it to transform me into the likeness of Christ, doing His will in His love and authority on His schedule for His glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!