The culmination of the Risen Christ's forty days of appearances was a final, sovereign command given to His Apostles, likely on a mountain in Galilee. This command, known as The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20), is the definitive mandate that moves the life of Jesus from a regional story to a global, historical force.
The Universal Scope
Jesus began by asserting His absolute authority, which validates the entire mission: "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Because of this authority, He issued the charge:
"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19–20)
"Go and make disciples of all nations": This command fundamentally broke the boundaries of the Old Covenant, which had been confined primarily to Israel. The Apostles were now commissioned to bring the Gospel to the entire world (all nations), establishing the universal (or Catholic) nature of the Church.
The Baptismal Formula: The mandate prescribed the essential ritual for entry into the Kingdom: Baptism. The formula "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" is the clearest statement of the Trinitarian faith in the New Testament.
The Promise of Presence
The commission is vast and seemingly impossible, but Jesus concluded it with an eternal assurance of success:
"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20)
This promise guarantees that the work of the Church is not done by human effort alone, but is sustained by the constant, living presence of the Risen Christ. It provides the necessary foundation for the Apostles' imminent task and links the Church's ongoing mission directly to Christ's authority.
The Great Commission is the final instruction before the Ascension, providing the mission for which the Holy Spirit would soon be given.
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