As You Go

   "Then he told them, "As you go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to everyone."Mk:16:15 

"Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, as you go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 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:28:17-20

Just before the Accession of our Lord Jesus Christ into the Heavens, he gathered his Disciples together upon a mountain and Jesus vested them, and all Christians, with what has been historically called the Great Commission, that is, the responsibility of Jesus' followers to preach the Gospel message to the world. Christians, throughout the ages, are told as in St. Mark's Account to preach the Gospel "as you go”.

"Then he told them, "As you go into all the world, proclaim the gospel to everyone."Mark:16:15 

This Great Commission is also given in the Luke: 24:46-48.

Jesus gives the church the responsibility of telling the world about the Salvation which he has accomplished for us all, if they will but freely receive it, and to announce to all the world that the Kingdom of God is come.

Facing Opposition

The early Church took this commission seriously even to the point of facing great pains, imprisonments and even death. Historically, we know that all the original Apostles but for St. John were martyred in some way. The Apostle St. Paul himself was executed in Rome in the 60's AD.  

As Christians moved throughout the empire and beyond, they faced opposition yet persevered even to death preaching the word which had been delivered to them.

These early Christian understood that the work they were engaged in was not their own but that it was Jesus' work and they were invited to be a part of it. The Church was and is to do collectively what Jesus did personally.

" We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."2Cor:5:20

  The Church, that is all Christians laity and clergy alike, have the right to preach the Gospel because Jesus holds all authority. This work of preaching the Gospel is carried out because of his authority, it cannot be undertaken by the energies of the flesh.

For All Peoples

It is a message for all peoples everywhere in all times. The Gospel is a message that tell humanity that the Great God has visited us in the Person of Jesus Christ and through Jesus' atoning work upon the cross and by his resurrection, we can have an eternal relationship with God in his Holy Kingdom.

Just before his ascension Jesus gave his Disciples an ever-expanding vision of where to take the Gospel.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts: 1:8

This ever-expanding vision of carrying the Gospel message, which is meant to reach as many as possible "as you go" through life. It is conducted under the power of the Holy Spirit, none of us can adequately of our own selves carry out this work as we go through life and interact with any and with all. Our lives, that is how we live, not just our words are to proclaim the Gospel message.

“So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty.” Zech: 4:6 

All Christians

This work is not just for the clergy but it is for all of us, all Christians are to have their part in the advancement of the Great Commission. This is not just a calling and commissioning to evangelist, pastors, elders, but to all Christians as a Priesthood of believers.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”1Pet:2:9

Go

Jesus tells the Disciples, and we all, that "as you go”, that is, as you go through your life, wherever you go, you are to be a part of the work of Jesus, our lives reflecting the finished work of our Lord, conducting ourselves in a way which honors Jesus and declares that we are believers.

Others should be able to look upon each of us and see what a relationship with Christ looks like "as you go".

 There are people who need to see genuine Christianity lived out through our lives. Christians are called to be living epistles. How do those around us read the epistle of our lives?

The world around us needs to see this relationship with the Great God lived out. We, as we go through life should proclaim the atoning work of Jesus upon the cross by how we live, not just by what we say, our words and action must agree "as you go".

“You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone.” 2Cor:3:2

People should see the Gospel in our lives, "as you go", to our jobs, as we interact with others. Whatever we do, "as you go", in life. Where we go the Gospel should go, we each and all are to be a living proclamation of the message of salvation. "as you go"

 For All, to the End

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”1Jhn:2:2

 Jesus has, by his cross, taken away all of humanities excuses, none need be left out of an eternal relationship with him. Jesus has dealt with all of humanities sinfulness, he has done what none of us could ever do.

This is a work that is to continue even up to the very end of human civilization. To the “end of the world” or to the end of our lives here upon the Earth. "as you go" we are to proclaim the message of salvation to any and to all that they might believe and walk in that salvation that is theirs in Jesus if they will but freely receive it.

 This is the Commission that Jesus has called each and all of us to be a part of “as you go”.

Benediction: May we each and all, have the Gospel message boldly proclaimed as we go through this life all to the glory of our Lord Jesus, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen

 

Rev.Todd Crouch, Norman, Oklahoma

                                              "If It Is Not About Jesus, It Is Not About Anything"