46 He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
In our verses for today, Jesus presents to His disciples past prophecy fulfilled and future prophecy proclaimed. Indeed, the Christ suffered, died and rose on the third day. Indeed, repentance and forgiveness of sins has been preached in His name beginning at Jerusalem and will most certainly continue until all nations are reached with the Good News. Jesus’ parting words in Matthew to His followers state as such:
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:18-20 (NIV)
“As God, equal with the Father, all authority was originally and essentially His; but as Mediator, as God-man, all authority was given to Him. He has this authority given to Him over all flesh, that He might give eternal life to as many as were given to Him (John 17:2).” Matthew Henry
In like fashion, Paul states in Colossians that Jesus disarmed the powers and the authorities of this dark world through the cross:
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Col 2:13-15 (NIV)
Jesus who had been given all authority – official right or power – by the Father passed on this same authority to His followers (both then and now) instructing them to go forth on that basis. I wonder - do we go forth in this authority in our day? The territory is all nations. The command is to make disciples which is accompanied by three participles in the Greek – going, baptizing and teaching. Again, I ask, how are we doing in this? Before we purchase our tickets for Africa, how are we ministering to our sphere of influence that God has presently placed us in? Are we faithfully following His command to “Go”? Are we immersed in the precious truth that Jesus takes away the sin of the world as John the Baptist states:
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 (NIV)
“The greatest message of limitless importance is that “He Himself is the propitiation (appeasement, satisfaction) for our sins...” This missionary message is not nationalistic, favoring nations or individuals; it is “for the whole world.” When the Holy Spirit comes into me, He does not consider my partialities or preferences; He simply brings me into oneness with the Lord Jesus...It is easier to belong to a faction that simply tells what Jesus Christ has done for me, and easier to become a devotee of divine healing, or of a special type of sanctification, or of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But Paul did not say, “Woe is me if I do not preach what Christ has done for me,” but, “...woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16). And this is the gospel – “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Oswald Chambers
Like the original disciples were told to scatter, we too are to disperse ourselves from our “holy huddles” bringing His light of truth to our world of darkness. We have Good News to share which we show forth not only through our words but through our actions.
"Nothing taken for granted; everything received with gratitude; everything passed on with grace." G.K. Chesterton
Unfortunately, our behavior can tend to be anything but Christlike causing our words to fall upon deaf ears. When there is a disconnect between what we say and what we do our influence is dulled. Both need to be watched closely by the believer.
“Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence, and learning.” Frederick Faber
That is why we are told by Paul:
16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Tim 4:16 (NIV)
“The weary, the hungry, the thirsty, the guilty, the worthless, the vilest, are invited to believe on Jesus, who came only to save sinners, and has assured them, in His word, that they who thus come to Him shall in no wise be cast out.” C. H. Von Bogatzky
“I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.” John Newton