[MARK 16:14-16 KJV] 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
A few things to unpack here.
The gospel they were told to go into the world was the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus preached the kingdom was at hand............[MATTHEW 4:17 KJV] 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
[MATTHEW 4:23 KJV] 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people........the kingdom was the prophetic Davidic kingdom on earth, in which believing Israel will reign with Christ for a thousand years. To enter the kingdom Israel had to believe this gospel and be water baptized.
The apostles didn't believe those who saw the risen Lord in spite of Jesus telling them he would rise again............[MATTHEW 20:18-19 KJV] 18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he shall rise again............Many say the apostles were preaching the cross for salvation. The preaching of the cross includes the resurrection. The twelve didn't understand any of what Christ told them of his death and resurrection............[LUKE 18:32-34 KJV] 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge [him], and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.............If they didn't understand his resurrection, and didn't believe the report of those who saw the risen Lord, how could they have preached the resurrection?
We need to take heed to the unbelief of the apostles who didn't believe those who saw the risen Lord. Paul also saw the risen Lord............[ACTS 23:11 KJV] 11 And the night following the Lord stoodby him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
[1CORINTHIANS 9:1 KJV] 1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?.............many don't believe Paul, who saw the risen Lord, just as the apostles didn't believe those who saw him.
A few things to unpack here.
The gospel they were told to go into the world was the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus preached the kingdom was at hand............[MATTHEW 4:17 KJV] 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
[MATTHEW 4:23 KJV] 23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people........the kingdom was the prophetic Davidic kingdom on earth, in which believing Israel will reign with Christ for a thousand years. To enter the kingdom Israel had to believe this gospel and be water baptized.
The apostles didn't believe those who saw the risen Lord in spite of Jesus telling them he would rise again............[MATTHEW 20:18-19 KJV] 18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify [him]: and the third day he shall rise again............Many say the apostles were preaching the cross for salvation. The preaching of the cross includes the resurrection. The twelve didn't understand any of what Christ told them of his death and resurrection............[LUKE 18:32-34 KJV] 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge [him], and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34 And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.............If they didn't understand his resurrection, and didn't believe the report of those who saw the risen Lord, how could they have preached the resurrection?
We need to take heed to the unbelief of the apostles who didn't believe those who saw the risen Lord. Paul also saw the risen Lord............[ACTS 23:11 KJV] 11 And the night following the Lord stoodby him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.
[1CORINTHIANS 9:1 KJV] 1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?.............many don't believe Paul, who saw the risen Lord, just as the apostles didn't believe those who saw him.
