Reflecting on Mark 16:9-20
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." (Mark 16:15)Mark’s editor (whoever added these words) summarizes Matthew and Luke.
“I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matthew 28:18-19)
“And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)
The Lord of all creation sends them into all the world, to the ends of the earth.
Their mission is to be and to bring His good news message (gospel) to all people.
These added words are a good reminder of our mission and calling.
No one person can go into all the world, to the ends of the earth.
But collectively we can spread out into all the world, to the ends of the earth.
Like in Matthew 10, we can go two by two to different locations.
Wherever we are, wherever we go, we tell people about Jesus.
I am currently living in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.
Sometimes I visit other places (like Italy, where my daughter lives).
Wherever I happen to be, I bring the person and message of Jesus with me.
People see and hear me, and hopefully experience His goodness through me.
As the Spirit of Jesus produces His fruit in me, others can taste it.
Preaching is more than standing in a pulpit and preaching a sermon.
And it is not being preachy to others.
To preach is to proclaim, to show and share out loud, for people to see and hear.
We preach by both declaring and demonstrating good news, goodness.
Jesus changes our words and actions to make them reflect His.
And people around us experience His goodness, kindness, grace, etc.
This is our mission, wherever we are, wherever we go.
In addition to this, I also sense a special calling beyond where I am.
To remind me of the world beyond me, the Lord has assigned me to Haiti.
Haiti has a special place in my heart, ever since I visited there in 2006.
I have a heart for the people, especially in light of all their misery.
Haiti is a mess, a violent, chaotic and catastrophic mess.
According to the World Food Program, 5.7 million face acute hunger.
It is one of the five most severe humanitarian crises globally.
“Raging violence by armed groups has contributed to the displacement of 1.3 million people, with many families living in schools and public buildings without income or education. More than half of the displaced are children, contributing to high rates of child malnutrition. Economic collapse and disrupted food production are compounding the crisis.”
Haiti is not the only problem area in the world; there are many.
These are some of the emergency situations in our world:
"Afghanistan, Central Sahel, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Haiti, Lebanon, Mozambique, Myanmar, North Eastern Nigeria, Palestine, Somalia, Southern Africa Drought, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine, Yemen..."But I cannot spread myself to every problem area in the world.
Again, as in Matthew 10, we need to split up and spread out.
Collectively, there are more than enough christians for this mission.
If all believers were assigned to one area, there would be many workers.
Do you sense the Lord is calling you to one specific area?
How can you pray and serve and be good news to this specific area?
Is the Lord commissioning you to be goods news somewhere globally?
One more thing stands out as a good reminder.
We are to be and to bring good news to all creation.
Creation includes more than just people; it is all of creation.
How we live in creation will either be good news or bad news for it.
Concern for the environment is not outside of our calling as Jesus followers.
Jesus came to make God’s creation ‘very good’ again.
This involves restoring God’s image-bearers.
But it also involves restoring God’s garden.
Am I mindful of the imprint I am leaving in God’s creation?
Am I seeking to be a good caretaker/steward of God’s creation?
This is also a part of our good news mission to the world, to creation.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You came for all people and for all creation, to make it all 'very good' again. Use me to spread God's goodness wherever I am, wherever I go. And use me for good for Haiti. May Your kingdom come, and Your will be done, in Haiti as it is in heaven.
You and I are God’s ambassadors doing His will wherever we are planted. Bloom where you are planted and may others see Christ living in you by your/my words and deeds. We are living ‘epistles’ of Him and people read you and me each day.