Continuing Jesus’ Work

Mark 16:15, 16, 19, 20; Luke 24:45-49; Acts 2:46, 47; 5:42

GOLDEN TEXT: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”—Mark 16:15

IN THE New Testament the term “fellowship” is translated from a Greek word meaning “partnership.” Jesus’ lesson to his disciples on the occasion of his last passover with them, when he instituted the memorial of his death, reveals the deep measure in which his followers are invited to participate with him in the work of reconciling a lost world. Paul explains the matter, saying that the cup which we drink is a symbol of our fellowship, or partnership, in Jesus’ blood; and the unleavened bread a symbol of our partnership in the sufferings of his body.—I Cor. 10:16,17; Col. 1:24

Each one who shares in a partnership is able to do so because of having something of value to add to the arrangement; but the followers of Jesus have no merit of their own, so first of all we benefit from the blood shed and the body broken on our behalf. Faith in this wondrous provision of divine grace enables the believer to present himself in sacrifice to God with the assurance that his offering will be “holy and acceptable.” (Rom. 12:1) Upon this basis he shares in the sacrificial work of Christ, being planted together with him in the likeness of his death.—Rom. 6:5

This is what is involved in suffering with Christ. Peter expresses it as matter of doing well and suffering for it. (I Pet. 2:19-24) Such suffering, he explains, is “acceptable with God.” It was thus that Jesus suffered. His sacrifice, however, was acceptable because of his intrinsic purity, the perfection of his human nature. Ours is acceptable through the merit of his shed blood on our behalf. Thus we enjoy a most wonderful fellowship, or partnership, in his suffering.

Absolute faith in God and faith in his beloved Son as our Redeemer is a prerequisite to our partnership with them. In Jesus’ prayer to the Heavenly Father he relates the fact that he had manifested himself to his disciples and that because of this they knew “surely” of his divine origin and mission. Upon the basis of this certain knowledge they could associate themselves with him in full assurance that to do so was in harmony with the promises of God’s Word.

“I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me,” Jesus said. And again, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us.” The human mind is unable to grasp in all its fullness the marvelous oneness which exists between Jehovah and Jesus; but the fact that it is beyond comprehension emphasizes the great favor extended to the church in being invited to share that oneness. It is indeed a wonderful fellowship.

It is a fellowship of kindred minds made possible because each one participating in it delights in knowing and doing the Heavenly Father’s will. It was God’s will that Jesus the Head, and the church his body, sacrifice their humanity; Jesus providing the ransom, and the church sharing in the sin-offering whereby the world is to have an opportunity to be reconciled to God. Thus it is a fellowship in suffering and death.

But it does not end here. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him,” the apostle declares. (II Tim. 2:12; Rom. 8:17) So there is to be a future fellowship, or partnership, of glory. Jesus said to his Father concerning his disciples, “The glory which thou gavest me [by promise] I have given them [by promise].” (John 17:22) This is to be a glory both of nature and of office. The promise is that in the resurrection we shall be made like Jesus, who, when he was raised from the dead, was exalted high above angels, principalities and powers. (Eph. 1:20,21; Phil. 2:9,10; I Pet. 3:22) “Unto us,” says Peter, “are given exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature.”—II Peter 1:4

The true church will also share the glory of Jesus’ official position in the divine plan. He is to be the great King of earth for a thousand years, and the church will reign with him. Christ is to be Judge in the future judgment day, and Paul writes, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world?” (I Cor. 6:2) Christ is to be the great Mediator between God and man, and all true church members are ministers of reconciliation.—II Cor. 5:18-20

Is it any wonder that Jesus should counsel those who are to be so closely associated in the divine plan to love one another? To love one another is to have an unselfish interest in the welfare of all who are associated in this wondrous partnership. God’s own love is the great example of that true spirit of unselfishness with which we should endeavor to be filled.

Jesus spoke of the love commandment as something which was new. Love is not new with God, nor was it new with Jesus, but true love—unselfishness as a governing principle in a partnership—is new in this world of self-interest and sin. Paul wrote that “love never faileth,” and because love is the motivating power in this divine partnership, the business of which is the reconciliation and salvation of a lost world, we know that it will accomplish its purpose.

QUESTIONS:

Is the church commissioned to convert the world now?

How do we know that Mark 16:9-20 is a spurious passage?

Who alone is able to add members to the church of Christ?

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