Just a couple quick thoughts on this…
“Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?”
28 So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.”
29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”
30 Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him.”
- Mark 8:27-30 NKJV
I’ve found it interesting over the years that, save for one fellowship, I’ve never heard preached what Jesus said here in Mark 8, as well as in a few other incidents.
We’ve been being told now for the past couple hundred years or so that our job as “believers” is to go out and “tell everybody about Jesus” and do what we can to “get them saved so they won’t’ go to hell.”
But is that a Bible message? Did Jesus teach that?
We do have one instance where Jesus healed the possessed man from the graveyard, and the man wanted to follow Jesus, and we see our Lord’s response -
“And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.”
- Mark 5:18-20 NKJV
Is this then the model for all? Is that Jesus’ Word to everyone?
Another time, when Jesus raised up the little girl from death, “And her parents were astonished, but He charged them to tell no one what had happened.” (Luke 8:56)
Again, Jesus taught more often to NOT tell others about Him, then He did to have them proclaim His Name everywhere.
“Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ.” – Matt 16:20
What has come to be called the “great commission” was given to the Eleven after Jesus Resurrection. Yet that was never His message to the crowds. To be a light by our works - yes; but to make it our mission to ‘save souls in a lost & dying world’ – no. In fact that is not a Biblical expression. Rather, our God says, “the world is Mine, and all its fullness.” (Psalm 50:12b)
And the Scripture declares, “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.” (Psalm 24:1)
Is the world ‘lost & dying’? Or did God Himself subject it to futility because of sin, until He can present it as the glorious inheritance of the overcoming saints?
Our 'commission' now, is to "repent", "purify ourselves", and by "denying ourselves, picking up our cross daily and following Jesus" be truly "conformed into the image of God's Son", so that we can truly bring salvation to creation as "a Kingdom of Priests", Christ's "co-heir", His counterpart.
“For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” – Rom 8:19-22 NKJV
Honestly, the charge given to the disciples in Matt 28, as well as His Word to them in John 20:23 is not for the church at large, but IS for the Elect of God who are the “called, chosen & faithful”, the ones who will “judge men & angels” and “rule over the nations” in that Day.
