Meeting People

Today’s reading is Mark 16:14-18. The resurrected Jesus gives his disciples their final instructions before ascending to heaven.  “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation,” he tells them.

 

The disciples were benefactors of Jesus love while Jesus was alive. Jesus taught them, although they were slow to learn and understand. Jesus kept them safe, and he took care of their needs.

 

Now that Jesus was dead, the disciples had responsibilities. They were to carry on the work of Jesus. They had to go into the world, meet people, and tell them about Jesus.

 

It would have been so easy for the disciples to sit back and rest on Jesus’ laurels. They could have formed a club and discussed Jesus, his work and his philosophies. The disciples were blessed, but they had responsibilities.

 

And the disciples carried out their responsibilities.

 

John went to Ephesus and was an important leader of the region’s congregation. Peter apparently went to Rome and was a leader of the Roman congregation. Some of the other disciples went elsewhere, including Jerusalem. The disciples went into the world and shared the Good News.

 

As believers in Christ, we today have that same responsibility of the original disciples. We are to go into the world and share the Good News.

 

It would be easy for us to sit back and read the Bible and discuss what various passages mean. Bible study is important, but we are also to be people of action.  We are to share the Good News.

 

The only way to do that is to meet people.