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Humble Hero
had been closed in death, thrilled them. Now He declared that “all
power” (KJV) was given to Him. This lifted the minds of His hearers
to the highest understanding of His dignity and glory.
Christ’s words were the announcement that His sacrifice in hu-
manity’s behalf was full and complete. He had accomplished the
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work that He came to this world to do. He was on His way to the
throne of God. He had started on His work as Mediator. Possessing
limitless authority, He gave His commission: “Go therefore and
make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you
always, even to the end of the age.” He commissioned His disciples
to proclaim a faith that would have nothing of caste or country in it,
a faith adapted to all peoples, nations, and social classes.
Christ plainly stated the nature of His kingdom. His purpose
was to establish a spiritual kingdom, not to reign as an earthly king
on David’s throne. He said, “You see that all I revealed to you
concerning My rejection as the Messiah has happened. All that I
said about the humiliation I would endure and the death I would die
has been verified. On the third day, I rose again. All these things
have fulfilled the specifications of prophecy.”
Christ commissioned His disciples to do the work He had left in
their hands, beginning at Jerusalem. Jerusalem had been the scene of
His amazing condescension for the human race. Few had recognized
how near heaven came to earth when Jesus was among them. The
work of the disciples must begin at Jerusalem.
The disciples could have pleaded for a more promising field, but
they made no such appeal. Christ had scattered the seed of truth, and
the seed would yield an abundant harvest. The first offers of mercy
must go to the murderers of the Savior.
Many in Jerusalem had secretly believed on Jesus, and many had
been deceived by the priests and rulers. The disciples must call them
to repentance. While all Jerusalem was stirred by the thrilling events
of the past few weeks, the preaching of the gospel would make the
deepest impression.
But the work was not to stop here. It was to be extended to earth’s
farthest limits. To His disciples Christ said, “Although Israel has
rejected Me as the Scriptures foretold, they will still have another