#DailyDevotion The Gospel Has Been Preached To All Nations
Mark 13:9-13
9“Be on your guard! Men will hand you over to their courts and whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake to tell them the truth. 10The good news must be preached to all nations before the end comes. 11When they are taking you away to hand you over to the authorities, don’t worry beforehand what you will say. But say whatever is given you to say when the time comes; you see, it isn’t you speaking but the Holy Spirit. 12“A brother will betray his brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and kill them. 13Everyone will hate you because of My name. But endure to the end, and you’ll be saved.”
Jesus now pulls back time a little bit to let his disciples and us know what we can expect when we follow him. Starting with Good Friday on, the disciples and we can expect trial and tribulations. Very shortly after Pentecost the apostles would experience being brought into the courts of the Jews for their testimony concerning Jesus Christ. Paul we know for certain was brought before the courts of Rome, their city magistrates, governors of territories and eventually Caesar. Other of the apostles would folly suit. This has been going on throughout the world throughout the ages and is happening today in many parts of the world.
The good news of Jesus Christ must be preached to all nations before the end comes. Biblically speaking this has already taken place. Paul writes in Colossians 1, 6 “As it is producing fruit and growing all over the world, so it did among you since the day you heard…” He writes in Romans 16, 25“Now, to Him Who can make you strong by the good news I bring and the preaching of Jesus Christ, by unveiling the mystery veiled in silence for long ages 26but now brought to light and by the writings of the prophets, as the everlasting God ordered them, shown to all the nations to lead them to believe and obey…” Paul tells in Col. 1:23 the gospel “has been preached to every creature under heaven, and I, Paul, was made its servant.”
Now just because the gospel has been preached to all nations doesn’t and shouldn’t quash our missionary zeal to continue to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations. Not every person living has to hear to the gospel for this to be fulfilled. What of those who came before and did not hear it? It never could be fulfilled based on that. Nevertheless, we continue to be agents of Christ in the continuation of the fulfillment of the prophecy when we tell people Jesus Christ of Nazareth is the Son of God made flesh, was crucified, dead, and risen from the dead to be the ransom for all people from sin, death and the power of the devil.
We need not fear when asked what it is we believe and why. Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit will be with us and will gives us what to say at the time. He’s been working on you for quite some time through sermons, confirmation, bible studies and the like, putting his word on your heart so it will be on your lips when you speak of Jesus.
Finally we are told even those closest to us may betray us because of the Gospel. It happened to Jesus. He remained faithful to the end. You too, put your faith in Jesus, remain faithful to the end and He will save you.
Heavenly Father, grant us your Holy Spirit so we may boldly confess Jesus to those who would persecute us and so we may remain faithful unto death. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.