How startling Jesus' final command must have sounded to his followers: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). And startling not simply because travel back then happened mostly on foot! But, really, because his disciples might have feared the daunting prospects: rejection, fear of not making a difference in the world, even danger to their own lives.
And so immediately following his crucifixion, Jesus' disciples abandoned the idea of taking the gospel message abroad and continuing his mission of healing. According to Mark's Gospel, the disciples deeply mourned the loss of their beloved teacher. And even though Jesus had foretold both his death and resurrection, the disciples nonetheless seemed to see the crucifixion as the end of their Master's mission and of their own careers as preachers and healers. In fact, those disciples who were fishermen gave up their discipleship and went back to fishing (see John 21:3). Only after Jesus reappeared, and later ascended, did the disciples go out and fulfill his command. They not only emulated his works, but we know that in many cases they also suffered persecution and even martyrdom.
I like to think that Jesus' command was intended just as much for us today as it was for his disciples. Our duty is to preach the gospel—the "good news" of God's love that heals humanity's ills. But what about going out into the world?
