Disciples Digital Library

Basic to the redemption of humanity is the covenant with Abraham and his “ seed ,” including the promise that “ all the nations the earth will be blessed in him ,” and that he will have innumerable descendants. How and when will the nations be blessed in the Patriarch? And who are his descendants, and most importantly, who is the true “ seed of Abraham ” who inherits and implements the covenant promises?

When the subject of the Second Coming is raised, inevitably, the question of what “sign” or “signs” will precede it is asked. And invariably, wars, earthquakes, tsunamis, famines, and similar catastrophes are pointed to as harbingers of the end. But Jesus himself gave us the definitive answer -  THE COMPLETION OF THE CHURCH'S MISSION.

In the book of  Acts , the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost stresses the theme of fulfillment. On that day, what was foreshadowed in the ancient feast began to receive its substance. The bestowal of the Spirit was an epochal event that marked the start of the messianic age, and the gift fulfilled what the Levitical feast symbolized.

The church’s mission between now and the return of Jesus is to announce the Good News of his Kingdom to all nations  – Matthew 24:14.  Jesus tasked his disciples with announcing his gospel to all nations, the message he summarized as the “ good news of the Kingdom of God .” In Christ, God’s rule is being established on the earth but in unexpected and paradoxical ways. By the day of his return, Jesus will establish his sovereignty over the nations and subdue all His “ enemies .”

Forgiveness links the call of the tax collector to the preceding story, the Son of Man’s authority to discharge sins  – Mark 2:13-17.  When Jesus pronounced the paralytic’s sins “ forgiven ,” he offended the religious sensibilities of the scribes and Pharisees. Next, he alienates them further by reaching out to “ sinners ” that are considered especially unclean by the more scrupulously religious leaders of Jerusalem.