Sent On A Mission

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (Mark 16:15, ESV).

After Jesus’ resurrection, He appears to Mary Magdalene, and she went to the disciples and told them that Jesus was alive and had been seen by her; however, they refused to believe. Afterward, He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table, and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart — because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.

They’ve been with Jesus and His ministry for three years, and He taught them all the things that they needed to learn. And yet, their unbelief manifested when they were in turmoil because of His impending death. Remember, Peter had denied Him three times before the rooster crowed, as seen in Mark 14:66-72. Even though Jesus had been physically amongst him and countless others for three years, Peter’s heart was still not yet fully “sold” or engaged in the identity and/or mission of Christ Jesus. And this is the point — Jesus reprimanded the disciples for the unbelief and hardness of heart that continued to overshadow their faith.

Do you not yet perceive? Do you not yet understand? Are your hearts hardened? These were the words of Jesus to his disciples in Mark 8:17. Jesus commissioned His disciples because He wanted the gift of salvation to be shared. “But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?” (Romans 10:14). As children of God and believers of Christ Jesus, we are commissioned to do the work of the ministry (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) — The Ministry of Reconciliation!  

   – Contributed by Sis. Mitzi Agtuca