There are moments in scripture that represent a threshold between what has been and what is yet to come. Matthew 28:16–20 is one of those moments. The disciples gather on a mountain in Galilee, still carrying the weight of confusion, grief, astonishment, and hope after the resurrection. They come simply because Jesus asked. They worship, yet some continue to doubt. Even with the risen Christ standing before them, his closest friends feel hesitant and overwhelmed. Yet, Jesus does not rebuke or replace them: He sends them.

This passage offers profound truths that may encourage us. First, Jesus entrusts his mission to flawed disciples. The Church is built not on flawless faith, but on faithful availability. They show up, and Jesus meets them. Second, Jesus roots the Church’s mission in the very life of God—the Missio Dei. He commands them to go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In so doing, he draws us into the eternal communion and activity of the Triune God.

Trinity Sunday can be a tempting time to explore abstract analogies concerning the trinity. Yet Matthew offers something far more grounded for us. The Trinity is not a puzzle to be solved, but rather a life to enter into. Mission is not a chore we perform for God; it is an experience that we share with Him. Before the disciples are sent, they are anchored in this reality. Jesus declares that all authority in heaven and earth is his; an authority not built on domination, but love; the authority of the one who washed feet, welcomed little children, healed the broken, and carried the cross.

Sharing our faith can feel like a very challenging thing to do. We can worry about saying the wrong thing or feel that the modern world has changed so much that we no longer know how to speak into it. However, Jesus reminds us that mission is not about our own eloquence or success; it is about his authority and his promise as he tells his disciples: “I am with you always.” It is through the Holy Spirit that we receive this presence into our lives; in uncertainty, doubt, and the small acts and ordinary rhythms of discipleship. Furthermore it is the Holy Spirit that encourages us in our faith and enables us to share it with others.

If you are worshipping at home today, you might feel physically distant from your church community. You may carry worries about health, family, or the future of the Church. But Christ’s presence is not confined to buildings or Sunday mornings. He is with you now; in your living room, kitchen, or quiet place of prayer. The disciples were sent to “all nations” but mission always begins exactly where we are. It lives in the relationships we already have and the conversations we already hold. It is found in the quiet courage of daily life. Sometimes it looks like boldness, sometimes gentleness; sometimes speaking, and sometimes listening. But always, it looks like Jesus in its loving way.

Jesus does not send the disciples out as isolated individuals. The Great Commission is given to a community of disciples and not an individual. As Methodists, this resonates deeply with our concept of connexionalism and John Wesley’s insistence that “there is no holiness but social holiness.” Though geographically scattered today, we are spiritually gathered as the Body of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. This passage invites us to trust again, to bring our honest doubts to God, and to look for his call in the quiet elements of daily life. It encourages us to rest in the promise that we do not carry the weight of the world on our shoulders; Christ does this for us.

As you worship today, may you know the presence of the risen Christ beside you, the love of the Father surrounding you, and the power of the Holy Spirit within you. Amen.