Feet fitted with Gospel of Peace
Our Scripture today, Mark 16:9-20, captures some of the final words Jesus spoke to His disciples after His resurrection. In our reflection today I will explore three key aspects: the commission He gives, the content of the commission, and the community that is to receive this message.
We find the commission in verse 15 where Jesus says to His disciples: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”. This instruction was not just for His disciples back then but also for us, His disciples today. The commission to: “go and preach the gospel” is not a one-time event; instead, it is a continuous action. As we go about our daily lives, we are to preach the gospel and make disciples (Matt 28:19-20). The commission inherently requires movement – going. Ephesians 6:15 further emphasises this, describing a part of the armour of God as having “feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace”. When we think of our feet, we think of movement; so, even as we as put on the armour of God, there is a call to action, to go.
You may wonder, what if I cannot physically go? What if I am housebound, bedridden, or otherwise unable to move? Can I still be used by God? Can my feet still be fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace? The good news is that the Word of God is never bound and no matter our circumstances, God can work something good out of them. In the book of Acts we read about the Apostle Paul who faced many trials for his faith. Acts 28 tells an inspiring story where Paul, though a prisoner under house arrest, used his situation as a platform for sharing the gospel of peace (Acts 28:30-31). Let me encourage you today, that the commission to share the good news is for all disciples of Jesus and He provides the grace needed for each of us.
What is the content of our message? There are two key words that describe what our feet are fitted with: ‘gospel’ and ‘peace’. So, what is the gospel? It is the good news that Jesus died, He was buried, and He was raised to life, witnessed by many (1 Cor 15:3-4). It is a gospel of peace because Jesus is our peace, reconciling us to God (Eph 2:12-14). In a world filled with continuous wars and rumours of war, the gospel offers a peace that only God can give - a peace that surpasses all understanding (Phil 4:7).
Who is the community that we go to? It is the whole world (Mark 16:15). No one is excluded from the love of Jesus. Indeed, preaching the gospel to the entire world is essential for the return of Christ (Matt 24:14). The Holy Spirit empowers us to preach the gospel to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Be encouraged that you have been commissioned to preach the gospel of peace to all. As each of us does our part, we will witness many being reconciled to God and see the enlargement of His kingdom.
- Rachael Ita