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"They went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them."
(Mark 16:20).
That the "they" and the "them" of the above scripture refers to the "they" and the "them" to whom the commission was given — the apostles — will be admitted by all. That the "teaching," "preaching the gospel" and the "preaching of repentance and remission of sins" required of them under the great commission, was faithfully carried out by them with the approval of the Lord will also be admitted. What did this commission mean to them? They could not have concluded, had they so desired, that this was a repetition of a former commission and requirement, for the field is vastly broadened and the message entirely different. Regardless of what their former instructions were, they accepted without question this commission as the one governing them in their future activities. Other commissions had been set aside by this one, but as for reasons or consequences, they were neither concerned nor responsible. Their ambition was to carry out these new instructions according to the wishes of their Lord, and our text here says they did it. The contention so often made that "we do not understand the commission alike" is, at best, a sickly effort at deception. They were honest men and their instructions here are complete, and our text says they were carried out to the letter. The question then is, "How did they understand them and did they understand them alike?" As honest men, they would carry them out as they understood them, and if their understanding of them had differed, each would have acted differently, according to their understanding of them. Had this happened, there would have been no agreement between them, and division would have been inevitable. But, worse still, Jesus assures them that what they "bind on earth shall be bound in heaven." This would have made division in heaven. No, they all understood the commission alike, and if 12 men can understand it alike, 1,200 can, and all the world can. Our text says Jesus "worked with them." Surely he would not have encouraged that which he condemned in prayer and sermon. But how did they understand the commission? I do not recall that any one of them ever took the time to tell us, but I do recall that religious teachers of today are busy telling us how they understand it. Why, just a little while back there appeared in rapid succession no less than four such explanations — by the same religious people — each of which differed from all the others. But why did the apostles not give us their version of the commission? It was possibly because they had neither religious bias to guard, nor denominational interests to conserve. To faithfully carry out their instructions was the sum total of their duty, and the sum total of their instructions was the sum total of the commission. How, then, may we know how they understood it? The Holy Spirit, by the pen of Luke, gave us Acts of Apostles, which is a series of reports of the labors of these men during the time our text says "the Lord worked with them." What they did in this book shows us how they understood it. For this very purpose was Acts of Apostles given. To it, then, let us go. Jesus bade them "begin at Jerusalem." (Luke 24). Acts 2 finds them there. "But Peter standing up with the eleven" — does that mean that "the eleven" were standing there silent and that Peter arose and walked over to them and began speaking? No. They were all talking about "the wonderful works of God," and at this point, Peter, with the approval of the others, began his sermon which is recorded here. These are the very men to whom the commission was given. Imagine this: While all are speaking, one declares that "man is totally depraved, born in sin." Another says that "the Holy Spirit must regenerate you before you can understand what we are saying." Still another says, "just believe on the Lord and then, because you are saved, you may do what we command." Still another says, "I want you to know about the kingdom. Its establishment has been postponed till the second coming of Christ," and another says, "just raise your hands and pray the sinners' prayer." If this is the picture you are seeing, you are seeing one that was made a long time this side of the one shown on the day of Pentecost. Peter was preaching the gospel. This is what Jesus told them to preach. The people asked what to do. Peter answered, "Repent, and be baptized...for the remission of sins." (Acts 2:38). That is what Jesus told them to preach. This is exactly as they — all of them — understood the commission, for it is in complete harmony with it. Philip went down to Samaria and "preached Christ unto them." (Acts 8). The commission commanded that the gospel be preached. "When they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized." (Acts 8:12). Did not Jesus say, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved?" (Mark 16:16). That is what Philip preached and that is what the people did. How did he understand the commission? Peter preached to Cornelius. (Acts 10). He believed and was baptized. This is what Jesus demanded. The jailer heard the gospel and was baptized. (Acts 16:30-33). Paul arose and was baptized (Acts 22:16). The Corinthians heard the gospel, believed it and were baptized. (Acts 18:8). Where did these preachers find authority for what they preached and demanded of the people? In the great commission. Which one of them preached or commanded something not found in the commission? Is there any conflict between them? No. They all understood it alike and preached it alike. Our text says Jesus "worked with them, confirming the word." "With them" — who? Some of them? No. All of them. All of them preached what Jesus commanded and his confirmation of what they preached is proof that they preached all he commanded and no more. If Jesus approved what they preached, will he approve something entirely different now? We have seen their work under the commission and how they understood it. Do you understand it like they did? |