Jesus Would Evangelize
by Bill Blue
People oftentimes place importance on a person’s final words. What can lessons can we learn from Jesus’ final instructions to the apostles before He ascended into heaven?
JESUS EXPECTS US TO EVANGELIZE. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts all record that Jesus’ final instructions to the apostles included the commands to preach the gospel (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:44-52, John 21:15-17; Acts 1:8).
Matthew and Mark quote Jesus as requiring the Gospel to be preached in “all nations” (Matt. 28:20; Luke 24:47), and to “the whole human race” (Mark 16:15 - AMPLIFIED BIBLE).
JESUS EXPECTS US TO PREACH THE NECESSITY OF BAPTISM. According to Jesus, baptism is necessary for salvation (Mark 16:16), and to become one of His disciples (Matt. 28:19). Luke records that Jesus commanded, “repentance and remission of sins should be preached” (Luke 24:47). Peter, Luke, and Paul all say that baptism is for the remission or “washing away,” of sins (Acts 2:38. 22:16).
JESUS EXPECTS US TO OBEY HIS COMMANDS AS THEY ARE GIVEN. The apostles and early disciples followed Jesus’ instructions exactly. Luke wrote that Jesus commanded the apostles to remain in Jerusalem after His ascension and wait for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). Then, preach the gospel first in Jerusalem, then the rest of Judea, Samaria and finally the rest of the world.
Following this instruction, the apostles returned to Jerusalem (Luke 24:52; Acts 1:12). They were in Jerusalem when they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:12–2:4). Immediately after receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter preached the first gospel sermon in Jerusalem and 3,000 people were baptized (Acts 2:14, 41). Afterwards, Peter and others continued preaching and working miracles until the doctrine of Christ had “filled Jerusalem” (Acts 5:28).
Later, Philip went to Samaria. Many there “heeded” his teachings, and were baptized through his preaching of Jesus and the kingdom of God (Acts 8:5-6, 8:12-14).
Other Christians, fleeing Jewish persecution, spread the Gospel “as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch” (Acts 11:19-20). Eventually, the apostles and others succeeded in “turn[ing] the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) for the Gospel had not only been successful in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, but also “throughout almost all of Asia” (Acts 19:26).
Thus, as Jesus commanded, the apostles preached the gospel first in Jerusalem and Judea, then Samaria and the rest of the world.
JESUS EXPECTS US TO FOLLOW THE APOSTLES’ EXAMPLES AND TEACHINGS. Jesus instructed the apostles to teach the new disciples they baptized to obey everything He commanded the apostles (Matt. 28:20). Thus, we too, are responsible for “preaching” or “proclaiming” God’s word (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 Pet. 3:15).
JESUS EXPECTS US TO EVANGELIZE. The books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Acts all record that Jesus’ final instructions to the apostles included the commands to preach the gospel (Matt. 28:19; Mark 16:15-16; Luke 24:44-52, John 21:15-17; Acts 1:8).
Matthew and Mark quote Jesus as requiring the Gospel to be preached in “all nations” (Matt. 28:20; Luke 24:47), and to “the whole human race” (Mark 16:15 - AMPLIFIED BIBLE).
JESUS EXPECTS US TO PREACH THE NECESSITY OF BAPTISM. According to Jesus, baptism is necessary for salvation (Mark 16:16), and to become one of His disciples (Matt. 28:19). Luke records that Jesus commanded, “repentance and remission of sins should be preached” (Luke 24:47). Peter, Luke, and Paul all say that baptism is for the remission or “washing away,” of sins (Acts 2:38. 22:16).
JESUS EXPECTS US TO OBEY HIS COMMANDS AS THEY ARE GIVEN. The apostles and early disciples followed Jesus’ instructions exactly. Luke wrote that Jesus commanded the apostles to remain in Jerusalem after His ascension and wait for the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:4-5). Then, preach the gospel first in Jerusalem, then the rest of Judea, Samaria and finally the rest of the world.
46 “Then He said to them, ‘Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the
Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning
at Jerusalem. 48 And you are witnesses of these things. 49 Behold, I send the
Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are
endued with power from on high.’” (Luke 24:46-49) “But you shall receive power
when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8,
NKJV).
Following this instruction, the apostles returned to Jerusalem (Luke 24:52; Acts 1:12). They were in Jerusalem when they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:12–2:4). Immediately after receiving the Holy Spirit, Peter preached the first gospel sermon in Jerusalem and 3,000 people were baptized (Acts 2:14, 41). Afterwards, Peter and others continued preaching and working miracles until the doctrine of Christ had “filled Jerusalem” (Acts 5:28).
Later, Philip went to Samaria. Many there “heeded” his teachings, and were baptized through his preaching of Jesus and the kingdom of God (Acts 8:5-6, 8:12-14).
Other Christians, fleeing Jewish persecution, spread the Gospel “as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch” (Acts 11:19-20). Eventually, the apostles and others succeeded in “turn[ing] the world upside down” (Acts 17:6) for the Gospel had not only been successful in Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, but also “throughout almost all of Asia” (Acts 19:26).
Thus, as Jesus commanded, the apostles preached the gospel first in Jerusalem and Judea, then Samaria and the rest of the world.
JESUS EXPECTS US TO FOLLOW THE APOSTLES’ EXAMPLES AND TEACHINGS. Jesus instructed the apostles to teach the new disciples they baptized to obey everything He commanded the apostles (Matt. 28:20). Thus, we too, are responsible for “preaching” or “proclaiming” God’s word (2 Tim. 4:2; 1 Pet. 2:9; 1 Pet. 3:15).
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