Daily Devotions
Mark
Acts 5:30 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree" Acts 5:30"
Day 358 – Mark 16
“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree”
Acts 5:30
THE AUDACITY OF THE GREAT COMMISSION
The challenge given to the Disciples may indeed be termed “The Great Commission”. It was a most audacious commission! Let us consider the following three facts!
1. The number of people entrusted with the Great Commission
Mark carefully noted that Jesus directly spoke to “the eleven”. These were entrusted with the task of overseeing that this Commission would be fulfilled! How could just eleven people spearhead such a project?
2. The scope
To reach Israel had proven hard! Imagine being challenged to reach the world with the Gospel! Their own nation had resorted to violence to kill Jesus. What about the rest of the world? Could they expect them to be more sympathetic?
3. A group of disciples still struggling with their faith
What was even more amazing was that Jesus was sending out a group of disciples who had just been sharply rebuked for their unbelief and their hardness of heart!
THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL
To these Disciples Jesus gave a further word. There was no mistaking the sense of certainty that Jesus possessed as He spoke to His disciples!
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved;
but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
MARK 16:16
1. A question of “salvation”
What would impel the disciples to face all odds and challenges? Surely it must be the thought of “salvation”.
2. Also a question of “condemnation”
What is the opposite of “salvation”? Jesus minced no words when He said that when people rejected the Gospel of salvation offered to them- they would have to face the very real danger of “condemnation”.
HELPING PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IN THE LORD
Would these disciples be the best people to head the Great Commission? Yes! For two good reasons:-