All Authority Belongs to Jesus
Month 12: Sent & Standing Firm · Why We Believe
Today's Scripture
Read together: Matthew 28:18
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Memory Verse
“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,”— Matthew 28:19 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Jonah 1-4
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Near Day 354 of 365 — Jonah runs from God's call to a foreign nation; God sends him anyway.)The Heart of It
"Authority" means the right to be in charge. A police officer has authority on the road. Your teacher has authority in the classroom. But all of that authority is small. And it is borrowed. Then the risen Jesus stood on that mountain. He said something no mere human could ever truthfully say. "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." Not some authority. Not authority over one country or one religion. All of it. Over angels. Over kings. Over storms. Over death itself. This is the claim that makes Christianity true or false. If Jesus is just a kind teacher, ignore this verse. But if He really rose from the dead, then this is the most important fact in the universe. There is a King, and His name is Jesus.
Why do we believe Jesus really has this authority and isn't just bragging? Because He backed it up. He calmed a storm with a word. He healed the sick. He forgave sins. And most of all, He walked out of His own tomb three days after dying. No one else has ever done that. The empty tomb is God the Father stamping His "Amen!" on everything Jesus said. A dead man can't give you orders. A risen King can. So when Jesus says "Go," we go. Not because someone forces us. We go because we've met the One who truly is in charge, and we trust Him.
Around the Table
Jesus is the boss of everything. He's even more in charge than the strongest king. And He came back to life to prove it!
Let's do it: Hold up your arms wide and say, "Jesus is in charge of EVERYTHING, even me!"
Anyone can say they're in charge. Jesus proved it by rising from the dead. That's why we trust His commands.
Let's talk: What's the difference between someone who claims authority and someone who really has it?
Jesus claimed all authority in heaven and on earth. So He can't simply be a good teacher. A good teacher wouldn't make a claim that huge unless it were true. And the resurrection shows it is true.
Let's go deeper: Why can't Jesus be merely a "good moral teacher" and nothing more? (See C.S. Lewis's famous "Liar, Lunatic, or Lord.")
💬 Conversation Starter
Who's the most "in charge" person you can think of? Now imagine Someone in charge of that person too. That's Jesus!
🛡️ Defending the Faith
When someone says, "Jesus was just a nice teacher, not God": You can gently answer, "A nice teacher wouldn't claim to have all authority in heaven and earth and accept worship (). Those are either the words of a liar, or of someone confused, or of someone telling the truth. And He proved which one He was by rising from the dead. There were eyewitnesses, an empty tomb, and followers who died rather than deny it." Then put into action. Ask kindly, "Have you ever looked at the evidence for the resurrection yourself? I'd love to look at it together." We give reasons "with gentleness and respect." We want to win the person, not just the argument.
For Dad · Go Deeper
The resurrection is the load-bearing wall of the whole Christian faith. Paul stakes everything on it (). Frank Turek and J. Warner Wallace argue the case the way a detective handles a cold case. The eyewitness reports came early, from many people, and they were embarrassing to the disciples. The empty tomb was one that hostile authorities couldn't explain away. The women were the first witnesses, and no one inventing a story in that culture would do that. And those frightened followers were transformed into bold martyrs. Here's the discipleship point for you as a dad. Your children will absorb whether you actually believe Jesus has all authority. They watch it in your money, your temper, your phone, your priorities. We can't hand kids a King we ourselves are only half-submitted to. Let them watch you live like Jesus really is in charge.
Draws on: J. Warner Wallace, Cold-Case Christianity; Frank Turek, I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth. Thank You that He proved it by rising from the dead. Help us trust Him and obey Him. And help us kindly tell others why we believe. In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus didn't just claim to be King. He rose from the dead to prove it. So I can trust His every word.