Great Commission
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of the power that would attend them in their future labors. “Then
opened He their understanding,” we read, “that they might understand
the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it
behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: and
that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name
among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” And He added, “Ye are
[27]
witnesses of these things.”
Luke 24:45-48
.
During these days that Christ spent with His disciples, they gained
a new experience. As they heard their beloved Master explaining the
Scriptures in the light of all that had happened, their faith in Him was
fully established. They reached the place where they could say, “I
know whom I have believed.”
2 Timothy 1:12
. They began to realize
the nature and extent of their work, to see that they were to proclaim
to the world the truths entrusted to them. The events of Christ’s life,
His death and resurrection, the prophecies pointing to these events, the
mysteries of the plan of salvation, the power of Jesus for the remission
of sins—to all these things they had been witnesses, and they were to
make them known to the world. They were to proclaim the gospel of
peace and salvation through repentance and the power of the Saviour.
Before ascending to heaven, Christ gave His disciples their com-
mission. He told them that they were to be the executors of the will in
which He bequeathed to the world the treasures of eternal life. You
have been witnesses of My life of sacrifice in behalf of the world,
He said to them. You have seen My labors for Israel. And although
My people would not come to Me that they might have life, although
priests and rulers have done unto Me as they listed, although they have
rejected Me, they shall have still another opportunity of accepting the
Son of God. You have seen that all who come to Me confessing their
sins, I freely receive. Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast
[28]
out. To you, My disciples, I commit this message of mercy. It is to
be given to both Jews and Gentiles—to Israel, first, and then to all
nations, tongues, and peoples. All who believe are to be gathered into
one church.
The gospel commission is the great missionary charter of Christ’s
kingdom. The disciples were to work earnestly for souls, giving to all
the invitation of mercy. They were not to wait for the people to come
to them; they were to go to the people with their message.