THE GOSPEL

The great commission

Before Jesus' betrayal He instructed the disciples to go to Galilee upon His resurection to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:32). He met them there and gave them instructions to spread the gopel message to all the world saying: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:18-20) This command was to the disciple to spread the gospel - good news - starting from where they lived to the ends of the world saying: "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).

Ascension of Jesus Christ

"Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight." ( Acts 1: 9)

"And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.( Acts 1: 10-12) The disciples then gathered together and continued in prayer for the blessing that God would pour out upon them (Acts 1:4).

The most expensive burial place due to the promise of Jesus' return on the same spot where His feet left the earth. The hope is to be the first to see Jesus in His return when they are will be resurrected.

Day of Pentecost

They have just witnessed unbelievable things in the last few weeks. Jesus was betrayed by one of the disciples, condemned by the Jews, executed by the Roman Empire, burried in the tomb and raised from the dead on the third day. After His resurrection Jesus appeared to the disciples for forty more days before His ascension to heaven. It was a difficult time to process everything that had happened and now their testimony of Jesus' resurrection was threatening the pharises who condemned Jesus to death. They were in hiding from the religios leaders for the next 50 days after Jesus' resurrection. Upon Peter's inscentive they added another disciple to replace Judas Iscarior who betrayed Jesus and hung himself from tremendous guilt (Acts 1:21-26).

But on the 50th day Jesus' promise was fulfilled. Before His betrayal Jesus told His disciples: "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." (John 14:26).

On the day of Pentecost (50th day of Jesus' resurrection) the were gathered tgether in one place and mighty wind came over the house where they were. The disciples had appearances of toungues of fire over each of them representing God's presence over them. "And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4). God's Holy spirit has been poured out (Acts 2:17) as has been proclaimed by God throught the prophet Joel who wrote 800 saying: "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." (Joel 2:28-19)

To the Jew first

Once the discpiples and all believers received the Holy Spirit they were empowered with courage, wisdom, understanding of the scriptures and even new spoken languages to evangelize. The poeple of Jerusalem thought them to be drunk and fools but no one has ever heard them speaking languages that were not spoken locally. Many Israelites have come to Jerusalem for the feast of passover from all over the foreign lands. The 12 appostles (the 12 disciples) were speaking the word of God with boldness and acuracy to inform the Jews and Israelites of what really happened and who Jesus was (Acts 2:22-36). "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" (Acts 2:37-47) Through the explanation of the scriptures from the prophets over three thousand Israelites believed and had joined the church that day though baptism - a symbolic dedication and public proclimation of faith in Jesus Christ as the Messiah - Annointed by God, promissed Savior of the world.

These that received the gospel message repented through humility and faith in Jesus' sacrifice for their sins. They received the Holy spirit and were empowered to boldly proclaim the testimony of Jesus Christ. God also empowered them to heal and speak new languages for the testimony of those who would believe in salvation through Jesus Christ.

Persecution of Christians

The twelve appostles and the church has experienced a persecution and hatred more than anyone in history. They lived through the persecution from their own nation, relatives and families for the sake of the gospel and salvation through Jesus Christ. This became evident to the igher powers of Rome to suppress groups of people who reject the pagan dieties and cause diversion in the nation. The christians have been persecuted and killed by the Jewish authorities but the believers would not renounce their faith. Even at expence of their wealth, health, status, relatinships safety and life itself many have been: cast out, imprisoned, tortured and executed.

One of these persecutioners was Paul - who was a pharisee seeking to destroy the christians. One day as he was traveling to receive documents for the arest of christians Jesus appeared to him. "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do." (Acts 9:3-6).

To the gentiles

From the time of Saul's encounter with the risen and glorified Jesus on the road to Damascus he changed his name to Paul. Saul - means big but upon realizing that he was persecuting Christ and His church he humbled himself by reffering to himself as Paul - meaning small. His life was transformed from a persecutioner to the one who would contribute the most to the spread of the gospel. Not only did he evangelize the teachings of Jesus to the Jews but to the Israelite brethren scattered among the gentiles in the surroounding lands under Emperial control. Having been educated in the law by the best thological school of that day Paul was now an instrument in God's hand for the strengthening and building of the church.

"Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ," (Phillipians 3:5-8). Neglecting the prestiege, status and privilages Paul was now even more ambitious in his ministry than he was in his persecution of the christians. Not only did he suffer persecutions, shaming, nakedness, wilderness, cold, hunger, thirst, fastings, threats, betrayal, wearingness but also imprisonment, shipwrek, theft, beatings, scourging, stoning and eventually was beheaded for his testimony of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Being an author of more than half of the new testament throught the letters to the churches of that age he encouraged and educated the new believers of the true doctrine.

True doctrine that is woven through the old testament prophets and history testify that Jesus is the Son of God who was to come and suffer as the Lamb of God. To take the sins of the world upon Himself and suffer rejection, shaming torture, death and burrial at thehands of those He created and loved. Jesus was then raised from the dead and now testifies on the behalf of all who come to Him in humility and repentance of their sins, to serve Him and tell others about His redemption.

To the rest of the world

With the power of the Holy Spirit through wisdom the disciples went into all directions to spread the good news of salvation to everyone they encountered. Heading to trade routess empowered to speak languages ther had not previously learned they were able to translate the scripture and teach it to the nations and tribes they encountered even beyond the reaches of the Roman Empire (Acts 8:26-40).

Testimony today

Two thousand years later, this gospel massage is spread to the outermost corners of the earth in our 21st century and continues to be spread by devoted believers in Jesus Christ. There are still many cultires and languages who have heard the message of the eternal gospel - good news of the hope in eternal life through Jesus Christ. Many organizations, missionaries, groups, chrches, individuals put aside their life interests to reach those who are just like them but live in darkenss of the secular world religions and atheism. Jesus' great comission continues throughout the earth by means of the Bible and it's many translations, the radio and prnted literature, the power of the internet and the face to face encouter. As we seek to do God's will we must equip ourselves with the word of God which is the bread of life and the Spirit of God. As we consume His word we He will enable us to share it with those around us so that many ore canhear the gospel and be saved from the wrath to come very soon. As the events of the wolrd unfold we can trace these events prophesied by the holy scriptures and documented by history. May we be watchful and be ready for the return of Jesus whether in our death or lifetime.