Jesus said to the eleven after rising from the grave. Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. The command of Jesus was and to this day is preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15-16) He said in Matthew 28:18-20, known as the Great Commission: All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  The followers of Jesus Christ are to spread the good news of salvation and eternal life.

Preaching the news of Jesus Christ isn’t without peril. Jesus himself went to the cross because the Jews didn’t like the message. They conspired to kill him because he healed a man on the Sabbath: 15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. 16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:15-18) The Jews didn’t like what he did or said and launched into a mode of hate. Hate? Yes hate: And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, …

Paul told Timothy the following:  2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Timothy 4:2-5) The message of Paul is that the gospel may be welcome at times and not so welcome at other times. No matter which it is, continue to reprove, rebuke, and exhort. We are in a period of time now in this nation where it is unpopular to hear the truth but more on that later.

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter engaged in what in the modern era of today could (maybe that’s would) be called hate speech. He said (Acts 2: 34-36) to the Jews who didn’t believe Jesus was who he said he was: 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, 35 Until I make thy foes thy footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. Peter would be in trouble with the "anything is okay" crowd of today for telling the Jews they crucified Christ. In fact, many to this very day will deny that the Jews crucified Christ and also claim that it is very offensive to suggest it. Their complaint today is no different than when Jesus was on the earth and in the days that followed. People don’t want to hear the truth as Paul told Timothy.

Prior to the gospel, John the Baptist was beheaded for pointing out the truth about marriage to Herod. Stephen was stoned to death for preaching Jesus. Peter and Paul were killed for preaching the crucified and risen Jesus. The truth is never popular to those who wish to continue a life of sin. In order to cure a guilty conscience, the offenders try to silence the speakers of truth. While they succeeded in killing the early apostolic messengers of Christ and the Christians who followed, the message still endures because God’s people refuse to be silenced. The other effort to bring silence is for political reasons and it is just as dangerous since it stifles liberty and allows sin to flourish.

© 04-26-2007 DEC

                               Next Lesson Preach the Gospel Part II