Friday, 22 March 2024
FROM JERUSALEM TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved 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 (Luke 24:46-47).
There are proponents of a false teaching that Christianity is a Jewish religion, but the words of the Lord Jesus in the opening text dispel that notion. He said the Gospel “…should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” The Gospel is for all. Christianity is for all; it only started in Jerusalem. So, don’t limit the Gospel; preach it to everyone, everywhere, and in all nations! The Bible says in Mark 13:10, "And the gospel must first be published among all nations."
In Matthew 24:14 NIV, Jesus said, “...this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” Then in Matthew 28:19, He instructed, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."
In fact, before His glorious ascension to heaven, He told His disciples, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8). So, the disciples began from Jerusalem, spread the Gospel to Judea and Samaria, and then moved to the ends of the earth.
Thus, it was from Jerusalem to the very bounds of the earth. This shows that the Gospel is for everybody; it’ll produce results in the life of anyone who hears and believes it everywhere and anywhere in this world. Don’t limit the Gospel to your locality; tell everyone about Jesus. Yes, talk to your spouse, parents, teachers, students, neighbours, colleagues or co-workers about Jesus. Preach the Gospel to them.
PRAYER: Dear Father, thank you for the universal reach of the Gospel as it’s what brings salvation to all, with no one left out. I’m an ambassador of Christ in the Gospel. Through me, the Gospel reaches many today whom you’ve ordained for salvation, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 16:25-27; Matthew 24:14 AMPC; Luke24:46-47 NIV
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 4:14-44 & Deuteronomy 22-24
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Romans 2:1-11 & Psalm 90