Matthew 28:16-20 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
When I was in Bible College I used to work for Overnight Trucking. My job was to unload the freight from the incoming trucks. When I first started, there were a few times that the trucks brought some very unusual freight that was very difficult to offload, even with the forklift. One particular truck had these light poles, the tall ones used to illuminate the city streets. The problem with these was that they were made in such a way that it was difficult latch onto in order to get them out.
My supervisor was one of these guys who had the mentality that he could do anything, and in unloading trucks he could. I realized that the few times I needed help, all I had to do was tell him that I just couldn't do it, that it was impossible. That was all he needed to hear. In hearing the challenge he became determined to show me how to get it done. When I went to him about these street lamps I told him there was no way those things were coming out of that truck the way they were stuffed in there, not even you could do it. That's all he needed—challenge accepted. He went over there, rigged the forklift with some chains and sure enough after a struggle, he got them out.
Although I was able to do my work efficiently and get the job done the majority of the time, it was nice to know if there was something that I had trouble figuring out, or didn’t have the experience to do, I could go to my boss and know that he could get it done.
Before Jesus left this earth, He gave us our marching orders. He left us with a huge task, one that on the face of it looks daunting, and especially to His disciples that He gave it to first, a bit impossible. They were to go out and share the gospel with this world, to teach them of the substitutionary death on the cross, and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. They would face opposition as their master Jesus Christ did. They would face those who would not believe that Jesus Christ had risen from the dead, that He was the Messiah.
Jesus left them with a purpose. It was the same purpose for which Jesus came to the earth in the first place. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus secured the opportunity for anyone to be saved when He died on the cross. Now, as He prepares to leave this earth it is the responsibility of the disciples and all after them would believe on Christ to go out into the world and perpetuate the gospel.
In verse 18 He tells them, “go ye therefore.” But what does therefore mean? It harkens back to what Christ said in verse 17. Therefore is there for a reason. The reason being that the task that He gave us comes with the power to fulfill it. It is backed by the power of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. You see, as we seek to fulfill God's purpose in our life, we do it in His power and not our own.
That is what therefore is there for. Have you ever meet a new convert, who in a misunderstanding, points to the person who led them to Christ and says he saved me? We know that is said out of unknowing ignorance. The fact is we don't save anybody, and it is not our job to save anybody. It is not our job to try to talk people in to salvation or force them to pray for Salvation.
Our job is simply to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, knowing that He has all power and has given us His power to aid us in what we do. We can be successful in this daunting task that we have not because of ourselves, but because of the power of Jesus Christ and the saving power of the gospel. The only way to experience this power in witnessing is to actually witness. Never feel like you can’t do it, because that is what therefore is there for.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
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