Show Don't Tell: Matthew 28:16-20

On a sun-drenched morning in Galilee, the air was thick with anticipation as the eleven disciples made their way to a familiar mountain, the same place where they had encountered Jesus countless times before. Dust clung to their sandals, and the scent of wildflowers danced on the breeze. As they reached the summit, the scene was both exhilarating and terrifying. There stood Jesus, radiant and commanding, a figure they had loved, feared, and followed—yet even in this moment of glory, some felt doubt tugging at their hearts like storm clouds threatening a clear sky.

With a gentle but authoritative voice, he spoke, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Can you imagine the weight of that statement? It was as if the very fabric of reality shifted in that moment, as power and purpose fused in his words. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.” Not just converts, but disciples—people who would embrace his teachings, live out his commandments, and carry his message forward.

Jesus continued, “Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The disciples could almost hear the splashes of water, feel the warmth of embraces as they welcomed new believers into this transformative family. That was the mission, but it was far more than an assignment; it was a calling deeply rooted in love. And then he offered the promise that turned their fear into fuel: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Here, at the mountain's peak, the Gospel that began with Immanuel—“God with us”—found its crescendo. The presence that ignited their hearts would now sustain their mission. A new chapter awaited, one filled with purpose, doubt transformed into faith, and the powerful assurance that they would never embark on this journey alone.