Tag: go into all the world
Jesus is alive!
Scripture reading for March 3rd: Mark 16
When the women came to the tomb on the first day of the week, they expected to anoint the body of Jesus with spices. They found the tomb open and saw a young man dressed in white robes sitting where the body had been laid. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go and tell the disciples and Peter. “He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.'” (Mark 16:6-7) The women did as they were told, but the disciples did not believe them. Jesus appeared to two others as well, but the rest again refused to believe.
It may seem surprising that those who had been with Jesus had a hard time with the resurrection. Jesus had plainly told His disciples what would happen. (Mark 10:33-34) But they had also witnessed the crucifixion and were humans of Adam’s line themselves. Jesus met them where they were, and rebuked them for their unbelief as He had done on other occasions. He then sent them out to share the good news with the whole world!
The resurrection of Jesus Christ marked a turning point in the history of mankind. In Adam, all men and women were born in sin and had the curse of death. There was nothing that they could do to save themselves. But God sent His Son, born of a woman, to come and live among men. He demonstrated the love and mercy of God by forgiving sins and healing sickness and disease. But the greatest miracle, was His defeat of the curse of sin and the resulting penalty of death on the cross and resurrection from the dead!
Preaching good news to all!
Scripture reading for March 12th: Mark 16:1-20, Psalms 55:1-23, Proverbs 11:7
Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, just as He said He would. Death could not hold Him and He showed Himself alive to the women, the disciples, and others. The eleven remaining disciples had a hard time believing the reports of those who had seen Him. “Later Jesus appeared to the eleven as they were eating; He rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.” (Mark 16:14) These men should have been expecting the resurrection because Jesus had repeatedly told them about the crucifixion and coming resurrection. To whom much is given, much is required. A rebuke is a sign of love to those who can be corrected by it. (Proverbs 13:1) (Revelation 3:19)
Jesus had final instructions for these disciples. They were not to sit around feeling sorry for themselves and thinking of the good old days when Jesus was with them. They must now go into all the world with the good news of Jesus Christ and preach to every creature. Some would believe and be baptized unto salvation and others would refuse the good news and be eternally condemned. (Mark 16:15-16)
Those who believed had Jesus’ promise to confirm the good news with signs that would follow them and the preaching of the Gospel. They would drive out demonic forces as they spoke in His name. They would lay hands on the sick and see people healed in His name. If they were poisoned or ran into satanic opposition, God promised to protect them. Jesus would give them support.
Jesus was then taken up into heaven and He sat down at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19) Acts records that Jesus was taken up into heaven on a cloud and would return the same way as He left. (Acts 1:9-11) Jesus had told the high priest and elders that they would see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Might One and coming on clouds of heaven. (Mark 14:62) From that position of power and authority, Jesus prays for us and watches over us as we preach the Gospel to every creature. This is His plan to reach the entire world! When this command is fulfilled, Jesus will come again on the clouds for His Bride, the church! What exciting days we live in!