To the Nations and the Neighbors (2022)
- Matt 28:18; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46
- These passages are generally referred to as the Great Commission.
- Jesus’ clear and emphatic call to His Disciples to take the mission of God to the nations and to our neighbors. Around the world and across the street.
- Acts 2:5 God saw fit to have every nation under heaven in Jerusalem on the day the Holy Spirit was sent.
- This was confirmation that the Gospel and mission was to go to every nation.
- All these people, from all these nations, would now leave Jerusalem and carry the message back home to their nations and their neighbors.
- Rev 5:9 It says that they sang a new song.
- This means it was a song that had never been song before.
- It is a new song Because Jesus taking the scroll to open it represents a new era in God’s redemptive history.
- But what’s new about this era?
- The Lamb’s death on the cross has never happened before, nor will it happen again.
- Jesus’s death on the cross is what is new, and what is worthy of this worship.
- But there is more that is new here.
- The imagery behind ransomed or purchased is that of slaves being freed.
- Jesus paid the price to set all slaves free once and for all.
- First it says every
- This now includes people of every tribe throughout the world.
- Then it says
- There approximately 6909 living languages in the world. (Not to mention dead languages)
- And all of them will be in heaven.
- Then it says people
- The word could also mean nation.
- Then it ends with nation
- This world could also mean race or peoples
- The redundancies in the song are really driving home the point the Kingdom is for all people groups.
- There approximately 6909 living languages in the world. (Not to mention dead languages)
Verse 10 All of those people just mentioned are to be a kingdom.
- A kingdom united under one king, …King Jesus.
- The people Jesus has purchased with His blood are to be united into one Kingdom.
- Still with all of their racial and cultural uniqueness, but one in a kingdom.
- And, that kingdom is the church on earth, now!!