The Call to Preach the Gospel to all Creation

The Five Great Commissions: Message Two

Mark 16:14-18

ETS: Jesus commanded the disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all creation.

ESS: We should obediently preach the Gospel to the world.

OSS: [MO: Consecrative] {SO: I want the hearers to commit to proclaiming the Gospel.}

PQ: What realizations appear when studying this text?

UW: Realizations

Intro.: Don Fortner wrote, “It is called “the great commission,” because there is a great need. Our Lord commands us to go into all the world preaching the gospel, because all are lost without the gospel. In every corner of the earth the sons and daughters of Adam are the same. All are fallen, lost, without Christ, without God, without hope, and utterly ignorant of God, his grace, his Son and his salvation. Civilized or uncivilized, in Africa, China, or Great Britain, Mexico, California, or Kentucky, all who are ignorant of the gospel are in a state of wrath and condemnation. It is called “the great commission,” because we have a great message. Our Lord here commands us to preach the gospel. This is the work of God’s church in this world. We must not neglect charity: feeding, clothing and educating the poor. But that is not our commission. Our commission is far more important than that. Our Lord commands us to preach the gospel. To preach the gospel is to declare the redemption accomplishments of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Fortner, Discovering Christ in the Gospel of Mark, Danville, KY. 2008. 757) As we study today, keep this in mind. The Great Commission is truly great. As we dig beyond the surface, particularly in Mark’s account, we find some great realizations.

TS: Let us dig into the text together in order to grasp a few realizations of it:

We firstly realize who the audience is. (v. 14)

Observation and quick reading of the text reveals the obvious direct audience of the discourse: the disciples. However, through faith in Jesus and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the indirect or extended audience is all believers.

Albert Barnes wrote, “Jesus has graciously ordered that the preaching of the gospel shall be stopped by no barriers. Wherever there is man, there it is to be proclaimed. To every sinner he offers life, and all the world is included in the message of mercy, and every child of Adam is offered eternal salvation.” (Barnes, A. (1884–1885). Notes on the New Testament: Matthew & Mark. (R. Frew, Ed.) (p. 391). London: Blackie & Son.)

APPLICATION: The text applies to all who believe.

We secondly realize the key issue of the text. (vv. 14-17).

Several scholars (R. Allan Cole, Rodney L. Cooper) agree that the central issue in this verse is belief versus unbelief. Understanding this is key to truly understanding this text as originally intended.

This realization provides light into the following issues: what truly saves a person and what truly condemns a person? What about baptism and the signs that are mentioned?

Belief in Jesus saves a person. Unbelief in Jesus condemns a person (v. 16)

Baptism is important, though not essential or required for salvation. J.D. Grassmick wrote, “Though the New Testament writers generally assume that under normal circumstances each believer will be baptized, 16:16 does not mean that baptism is a necessary requirement for personal salvation. The second half of the verse indicates by contrast that one who does not believe the gospel will be condemned by God (implied) in the day of final judgment (cf. 9:43–48). The basis for condemnation is unbelief, not the lack of any ritual observance. Baptism is not mentioned because unbelief precludes one’s giving a confession of faith while being baptized by water. Thus the only requirement for personally appropriating God’s salvation is faith in Him (cf. Rom. 3:21–28; Eph. 2:8–10).” (Grassmick, J. D. (1985). Mark. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 196). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)

Furthermore, he (Grassmick) and others (D.A. Carson, Cooper, and Barnes) stated that the study of history proved that these “authenticating signs” were present “only for the apostolic era.” (Grassmick, note under 16:17-18). Cooper reasoned, “The context seems to be referring to the apostles. In order to establish the credibility of their message, they needed to be able to perform miracles. Yet, as we continue to read in the New Testament, miracles became less prominent and living out the principles of the faith became more important.” (Cooper, notes under 16:17-18).

APPLICATION: It is pertinent that we understand that faith is required of a person to be saved, and faith alone is sufficient to save a person. Unbelief condemns a person. The other issues (i.e. baptism and signs) are not primary to salvation, but rather secondary.

We thirdly realize the requirement of believers who read the text. (v. 15)

The requirement of the believer reading the text or sitting under the teaching of Jesus (i.e. the disciples) was to proclaim the Gospel to all creation (i.e. all people).

Exell commented, ““Every creature”—for every creature hath sinned, and every creature is guilty before God, and every creature is going astray, and every creature is liable to punishment. For every creature there is gospel enough and to spare. What a glorious sphere for working—the world, man, men, all men, every creature! And what work! (Exell, J. S. (n.d.). The Biblical Illustrator: St. Mark (p. 714). London: James Nisbet & Co.)

R. A. Cole reflected on a comment from a fellow scholar stating, “Schweizer sees a peculiar appropriateness in the fact that the missionary commission follows immediately upon the denunciation of unbelief. Faith will lead to proclamation: unbelief will seal the lips of the disciples.” (Cole, R. A. (1989). Mark: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 2, p. 345). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)

Furthermore, Cooper stated that the key idea of this text was to “Keep on Keeping On,” and he commented on the text, “Jesus empowers his disciples by commissioning them to continue preaching the good news.” (Cooper, C. under Mark 16)

APPLICATION: We are to proclaim the Gospel to all.

CONCLUSION:

Regarding the disciples and the type of people they were, J. S. Exell wrote, “The workmen. 1. Men of little refinement or education. This gave them sympathy with the common people, if not influence over them. 2. Men of ordinary secular occupations. 3. Great varieties of natural character among them. No two were alike. Yet these very different men were called to do the same work. The same gospel may be preached in very different styles with equal success. 4. They had received special training for their special work. As more was expected from them than from others, more had been done for them. 5. Yet they were far from being perfect men. Just before this commission was addressed to them they were upbraided by Christ with their unbelief and hardness of heart. A perfect man or a perfect preacher is not necessary for the preaching of a perfect gospel. 6. Although not perfect men, they were men to whom special promises were made—promises of the presence of Christ and of the Holy Ghost—promises of power. 7. They were representative men, foundation men, men who had to begin what others should carry on.” (Exell, J. S. (n.d.). The Biblical Illustrator: St. Mark (p. 714). London: James Nisbet & Co.)

You relate to that description. Jesus calls the ordinary people in order that He might do extraordinary things through them. The Gospel being spread is simply that. What hinders you from proclaiming it with your life and your lips today?