By Joneil Alcock
“And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” Matthew 28: 18-20 (RSV)
Jesus’ final commandments, known popularly as the great commission, are the last few words in both Matthew and Mark 1. His words to the early apostles was a testament of not only a belief in His truth but in the ability of the disciples to spread the gospel throughout the world. A tall task; given the opposition which they would eventually face, not only from Rome but the rulers and provinces of other kingdoms on earth.
Yet somehow this band of followers described as a hundred and twenty in Acts 1:15 and more than five hundred in 1st Corinthians 15:6 made it happen. They established the church at Jerusalem then spread it across Judea, Samaria and to the end of the earth 2 just as Jesus said it would happen. Currently there are millions of Christians worldwide – all starting from a small number of mostly fishermen and common folk initially trusting in the Lord’s commands.
I always envision that ministry and the church is an active body with members gathered for fellowship. However, it is also true that each member, as part of the whole body, forms a unit of his own. His/her words and actions in the world and especially among unbelievers is what becomes important to help a person see who Christ really is. The Christ unit, if you will, takes on the role of ambassador and portrays the very image of the Lord which may impact and spread wider until Christ is everywhere and can be seen in everything – The Christian Dream manifest for the world to see.
However, this idealistic thinking, is not necessarily a Christian’s dry hope but fertile and active since it was the Lord’s own vision. The world knowing Christ becomes more peaceful and caring. Really, truly knowing Christ creates the type of utopia some non-believers envision; but it is impossible without Christ.
Upon Peter’s revelation that Jesus was “the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” 3 Jesus states that only the Father in heaven could have revealed that to him and that, “thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” 4
This knowledge then, that all the powers of darkness are not able to stop the church of God should embolden and give hope to them that wish to reap souls for the kingdom. Christians have not been left powerless but have been given added ability with the gift of the Holy Spirit 5. They are capable of showing who Christ is and proclaiming His word. The gospel is set to spread around the world and the harvest for souls is white and ripe 6,7,8.
FOOTNOTES:
- Mark 16:15-18
- Acts 1:8
- Matthew 16:16
- Matthew 16:18
- Acts 1:5-8
- “Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow for their wickedness is great,” Joel 3:13
- “Therefore said he unto them, the harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2
- “Say not ye, there are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? Behold, I say unto, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35
