Commentary
Matthew 28: 16-20
Who Has the Power?
This passage is made up of the very last verses of the Gospel According to Matthew. Even at this point the disciples are still not yet people of perfect faith. When they saw the Risen Christ, "they worshiped, but they doubted." There have been different suggestions on how to interpret the sentence (whether all of them worshiped, but with some lingering doubts in everybody; or some worshiped and some doubted). [1]. Either way, it is clear that the disciples as a group is still struggling in their faith.
Yet, to these imperfect disciples, the Risen Lord commissioned them, "Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations." It is "to all nations" as the extent of their task.
On their own, how will they fulfill that task?
The keyword here seems to be "therefore."
"All power in heaven and on earth has been given" to Christ. And it is Christ who sends the disciples. It is Christ who gives them the power. Therefore, they are given such a great task. Therefore, it is not with their power and their weaknesses that they go. They go with the power of Christ.
They go in the name of the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Therefore, with Christ, the whole Trinity will be with the disciples always, "until the end of the age."
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[1] Francis J. Moloney, This is the Gospel of the Lord - Year B. Homebush, NSW, Australia: St. Paul Publications,1993; p. 134
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