The dominant theme of Jesus' last 40 days on earth was world evangelisation and included a Great Commission:
Matthew 24:14. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. NIV
Acts 1:8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. NIV
This is an incredible global mission given to 11 people!
- Minister locally in Jerusalem, their city (streets and neighbourhoods where they lived – local community).
- Minister nationally, in Judea (wider state areas and national borders).
- Minister to ethnic minorities in their land, like the despised Samaritans (difficult sections of the community, they would normally avoid).
- Minister to other lands and continents, even to the ends of the earth.
Jesus didn’t emphasis one task over the other. He commissioned his followers to do all of them simultaneously. This was not a range of alternatives, but rather an overall concern. It was a wide-ranging comprehensive task – including all kinds of ministries (church planting, evangelism, community outreach, teaching, training and missions) in all parts of the world.
Whatever happened to mission?
Read part 2 to find out.