“Proclaim the Gospel to Every Creature” By Melanie Rigney

 “Proclaim the Gospel to Every Creature” By Melanie Rigney

Saturday in the Octave of Easter 

So (the Sanhedrin) called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:18-20)

I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me. (Psalm 118:21a)

But later, as the Eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised. He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”  (Mark 16:14-15) 

Piety

Jesus, strengthen my faith that I may fearlessly proclaim the Good News.

Study

They didn’t believe Jesus had risen when Mary Magdalene shared the news with them. 

They didn’t believe the two disciples who encountered the Lord on the road to Emmaus.

Finally, when they were at table, and they saw him with their own eyes, they believed. And after chastising them, Jesus charged them anew to go out into the world and share what had happened. 

Then, they were unstoppable. When the Sanhedrin told Peter and John to stop teaching in Jesus’s name, the men said that would be impossible. Nearly all the apostles and many of the other early followers died martyrs’ death rather than be quiet.

Proclaiming the Gospel is simple within the relative comfort of a faith community. It becomes more challenging when we’re among people—relatives, friends, neighbors, co-workers—who aren’t sure Jesus ever existed.  They see His words as nice ideas and good concepts but don’t understand or have rejected the hope His death and resurrection offer. And yet, those are the very people who need the message proclaimed to them through our words and actions. 

Think about it: What would Peter and John say today’s Sanhedrin? What would Jesus say to today’s doubters? Somehow, I doubt any of them would choose to keep quiet to preserve peace. That sort of peace isn’t peace at all. It’s spiritual cowardice.

Action

Pray for the words to preach the Gospel today to someone who doesn’t want to hear it.

Image credit: Schaferle via Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/photos/christ-statue-flash-impact-figure-2625729/