Mark 16:15, "He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation," is a foundational verse for Christian missions. Let's break it down:
"He said to them": "He" refers to Jesus Christ. "Them" refers to his disciples (the eleven apostles), although by implication it can be understood to include all believers.
"Go into all the world": This is a command to global outreach. It's not limited to one specific region or group of people. It implies a responsibility to spread the message everywhere.
"and preach the Good News": "Good News" (or "Gospel") refers to the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. This includes:
The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The forgiveness of sins through faith in him.
The offer of eternal life with God.
The call to repentance (turning away from sin) and faith in Jesus.
"to the whole creation": This phrase is sometimes interpreted as referring to all people everywhere, emphasizing the universality of God's love and salvation offered to all humanity. Some also believe this includes care for the earth and all of creation, since the Gospel has implications for how we treat our world and the creatures within it.
In summary, the verse means:
Jesus commands his followers to actively spread the message of salvation through faith in him to all people, everywhere. This includes sharing the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and inviting people to turn away from their sins and trust in Jesus for forgiveness and eternal life. It also implies a responsibility to care for the earth and all of creation as part of God's kingdom.
Mark 16:15, "He said to them, “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation," is a foundational verse for Christian missions. Let's break it down:
"He said to them": "He" refers to Jesus Christ. "Them" refers to his disciples (the eleven apostles), although by implication it can be understood to include all believers.
"Go into all the world": This is a command to global outreach. It's not limited to one specific region or group of people. It implies a responsibility to spread the message everywhere.
"and preach the Good News": "Good News" (or "Gospel") refers to the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. This includes:
The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
The forgiveness of sins through faith in him.
The offer of eternal life with God.
The call to repentance (turning away from sin) and faith in Jesus.
"to the whole creation": This phrase is sometimes interpreted as referring to all people everywhere, emphasizing the universality of God's love and salvation offered to all humanity. Some also believe this includes care for the earth and all of creation, since the Gospel has implications for how we treat our world and the creatures within it.
In summary, the verse means:
Jesus commands his followers to actively spread the message of salvation through faith in him to all people, everywhere. This includes sharing the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and inviting people to turn away from their sins and trust in Jesus for forgiveness and eternal life. It also implies a responsibility to care for the earth and all of creation as part of God's kingdom.