Daily Devotional For Friday, March 27, 2026
Good day! Our devotional for today comes from Matthew 28:16-20:
“Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. (17) When they saw Him, they worshiped Him—but some of them doubted! (18) Jesus came and told His disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. (19) Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (20) Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (NLT).
We come to Jesus’ final words and what was most important to Him for the early church – making disciples. Verse 17 says that when the disciples saw Jesus they worshiped Him as God Incarnate, but some of them doubted. “Doubted?” Really? You have the resurrected Jesus standing right there in front of you and you still have doubts? Matthew helps us some with the word he chose that is translated as “doubted.” It is the Greek New Testament word [διστάζω; distazō]. This word refers more to hesitation than unbelief.
Since all the 11 remaining disciples had personally witnessed the resurrected Jesus, it is doubtful this is referring to them. In all likelihood, it refers to others on that mountain (where Jesus ascended back to heaven) who may have had their doubts or who were hesitant to believe. Matthew does not give us any specifics. He doesn’t tell us who doubted. He doesn’t tell why they doubted. All Matthew tells us is some were hesitant to believe it was Jesus.
It is possible some of the followers or those who had come to Christ did not recognize Jesus in His resurrected body. Some scholars state that maybe “they feared what Jesus would do to them for doubting or they did not know how to act in the presence of a supernatural God being” (Source: Craig Bloomberg, Matthew, Vol. 22, p. 430).
What we have here is Jesus passing the mantle or the torch to His disciples. Jesus knows He is about to ascend to heaven and now it will be up to these to go and make disciples. The point here is that believers, all followers of Jesus are commanded to make disciples – not just the 11 disciples then or just church staff today. “All nations” translates into [ἔθνος; ethnos] – all ethnic groups all over the world.
Today, there are approximately 17,500 to 24,000 distinct ethnic or people groups in the world, depending on whether the definition includes factors like religion, caste, and dialect. It is estimated that of the 8.08 billion people alive in the world today, 3.42 billion of them live in unreached people groups with little or no access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That is a lot of people. For any believer of Jesus Christ to not be making disciples sends a strong message – “I am going to intentionally disobey Jesus to make disciples. I do not care if people die and go to hell.” Sadly, most people in most churches never go and make disciples, not even in their own “Jerusalem” (hometown). One of the proofs we are His and love Him is not that we attend church or are in a Bible study group, but that we make disciples.
Reflection Assignment: When it comes to making disciples, how are you doing in obeying this universal command to all believers from the Lord? We have the indwelling presence and power of the Holy Spirit. We have no excuse. Would you consider stopping making excuses and start making an effort to make disciples? Why or why not?
Scripture To Meditate On: Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I really do not want anyone to die and go to hell. I want to have Your passion for people who are lost. Please convict me to start where I am with those around me in making disciples. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly