JEFF TURNER

On a windswept mountain in Galilee, eleven men stood with their eyes fixed on their teacher. Some were filled with wonder, others still wrestled with doubt. Before them stood Jesus, no longer the broken body from the cross, but alive and transformed. The sight of Him sparked worship in their hearts, even as questions lingered in their minds.

From this vantage point atop Mount Arbel, they could see it all – the patchwork of fields in the Jezreel Valley, the shimmering surface of the Sea of Galilee, and the distant peaks of Mount Hermon where Peter had first declared Jesus as the Christ. This was no ordinary gathering. Just as He had used mountains throughout their journey for moments of profound revelation, Jesus had chosen this place for His final command.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” Jesus declared, His voice carrying across the mountain air. The words held weight – not just a statement of power, but a transfer of purpose to these ordinary men who had walked with Him. They had seen Him heal the sick, calm storms, and rise from death itself. Now, He was entrusting them with a mission that would echo through centuries: “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

This wasn’t just a suggestion or one option among many. This was the essence of following Jesus – to take what they had received and pass it on to others. Like a gift meant to be regifted, the message of Christ’s salvation wasn’t meant to be kept to themselves. The disciples were being called to more than just adding numbers to their ranks; they were being commissioned to multiply themselves, teaching others to follow and obey everything Jesus had commanded.

The weight of such a task might have crushed them, except for His final promise. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” In these words lay both comfort and power – they wouldn’t be doing this alone. The same authority that had raised Jesus from the dead would be with them, working through them as they shared this gift with the world. From that mountaintop moment to every corner of the earth, the message would spread: one life touching another, one disciple making another, until people from every nation would gather around His throne in worship.

Have you exercised The Great Commission this week?