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“Go ... Teach All Nations”
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But the work was not to stop here. It was to be extended to
earth’s remotest bounds. To His disciples Christ said, Although
Israel has rejected Me as the Scriptures foretold, they shall have still
another opportunity to accept the Son of God. To you, My disciples,
I commit this message of mercy. It is to be given to Israel first,
then to all nations, tongues, and peoples. All who believe are to be
gathered into one church.
The Holy Spirit Makes Their Work Effective
Through the Holy Spirit, the disciples’ testimony was to be
confirmed by signs and wonders. Miracles were to be wrought
not only by the apostles, but by those who received their message.
“In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new
tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly
thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and
they shall recover.”
Mark 16:17, 18
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At that time unscrupulous men did not hesitate to remove by
poisoning those who stood in the way of their ambition. Jesus knew
that many would think it doing God service to put His witnesses to
death. He therefore promised them protection from this danger.
And a new endowment was promised: the disciples were to
preach among other nations, and they would receive power to speak
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other tongues. The apostles and their associates were unlettered men,
yet through the outpouring of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, their
speech, whether in their own or a foreign language, became pure
and accurate, both in word and accent.
Thus Christ gave His disciples full provision for the prosecution
of the work, and took on Himself the responsibility for its success.
Go to all nations, He bade them. Go to the farthest part of the
habitable globe, but know that My presence will be there. Labor in
faith and confidence.
The Saviour’s commission includes all believers to the end of
time. It is fatal to suppose that the work of saving souls depends on
the ordained minister alone. For this work, the church was estab-
lished, and all who take its vows are pledged to be co-workers with
Christ. Whatever one’s calling in life, his first interest should be to
win souls for Christ. He may not be able to speak to congregations,