-The Great Commission
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| Jesus sends the 70- by James Tissot |
Some say the earliest reliable
manuscripts of the Bible do not include Mark 16:9-20. Perhaps those verses should be there, perhaps
not, but let’s look at the teaching in them to see if they are unscriptural or
not worth accepting as truth instead of arguing if they belong or ignoring them
because they aren’t legitimate.
Some say the ‘Great Commission’ is found
in all four gospels (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk.
16:15-20; Lk. 24:45-49; Jh. 20:21-23) but I’d like to add that Jesus already
had his disciples- 12 then 70- going out to preach with signs following: 12-
Mt. 10:1-11:1; Mk. 6:7-13; Lk.9:1-6 and 70- Lk. 10:1-16. This preceded His visit to those towns (Lk.
10:1). So, even while Jesus walked the
earth He gave His disciples (not just the ‘apostles’) His authority to preach
with signs following. Before Jesus gave
the controversial commission in Mark, He said this in the upper room:
"Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes* in me will also do the works* that I do; and greater* works
than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Jh. 14:12
*whoever
believes means any and all believers, not just the apostles. ESV
*toil,
acts, deeds, labour, work *greater, larger,
elder, stronger
Check out the Scriptures that verify the ones in Mark as authentic / actually happened:
Mark
16:
v.9 And when Jesus
had risen early the first day of the
Sabbath, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven
demons. Jh. 20:11,12-17
v.10 She went and
told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. Jh. 20:18
v.11 And those hearing that He lives, and
was seen by her, they did not believe.
v.12 After that He appeared in another form
to two of them, walking and going into
the country. Lk. 24:13-32
v.13 And they went and told it to the rest. Neither did they believe those. Lk. 24:33
v.14 Afterward He appeared to the Eleven as
they reclined. And He reproached their
unbelief and hardness of heart*, because
they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. Jh. 20:26-29 *Mk. 8:17; Mt. 17:19,20
(disciples- ye of little faith- Mt. 6:30; 8:26; 14:31;
16:8)
v.15 And He said to them, Go into all the
world, proclaim* the gospel to all the
creation. Lk. 24:47; 9:2-6 (implied- Mt. 28:19,20) Mr.
6:12 Mt. 10:7
(*preach, proclaim,
publish) Acts 1:8; 26:20
v.16 He who believes and is baptized will
be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned. Lk. 8:12; Jh.
3:16,36; Mt. 28:19; Ac. 2:41; 16:31
Tomorrow I will finish this topic. I hope you come back to learn more.