Proclaim His Name to All Nations (Luke 24:46–47)

[Jesus] said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
– Luke 24:46–47

Oh, there’s so much here. This is the gospel. This is Jesus summarizing the gospel, that the Christ would suffer, and on the third day rise from the dead. Jesus has died on the cross. He’s risen from the grave so that repentance for the forgiveness of sins to anyone anywhere in the world who turns from their sin and trusts in Jesus will be forgiven of all their sins. So that this would be proclaimed in His name. The name of Jesus, proclaimed to all the nations beginning from Jerusalem.

Luke 24:46–47 reminds us of our role in the Great Commission.

And I want to invite you just to let this soak in today. What happened in Jerusalem on that day, 2000 years ago, is what you are a part of today, where you live.

This is awesome. These original followers of Jesus heard this commission from Jesus. Then they were filled with His Holy Spirit, Acts 1:8 just as Jesus had said would happen. And then they started spreading, proclaiming His Name, forgiveness of sins, repentance, the death and resurrection of Jesus. They started proclaiming this gospel from Jerusalem into Judea and Samaria. And the result is this. Wherever you are living today, you have heard the good news of repentance for the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ Name. You’ve heard about the death and resurrection of Jesus, and you have been restored to a relationship with God. And you are now a part of this picture of proclaiming forgiveness of sins through Jesus, His Name, His death, and His resurrection.

Luke 24:46–47 reminds us that our role in the Great Commission starts right where we are.

You’re a part of proclaiming that today to more and more people among the nations, starting right where you live today. Oh, just see yourself today as a part of what began on that day and step fully into it.

God, we pray, help us to keep it going. Help us to keep it going today. Lord, help us to proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name. Help us to proclaim to people today that Jesus has died on a cross and risen from the dead so that they could be saved from their sins and they could have communion with You, a relationship with You. God, help us to keep it going today, and tomorrow, and the next day, this week. God, we pray that You would help us to faithfully point people to Jesus. Help us encourage brothers and sisters in Jesus as we lock arms together and we make Jesus known everywhere. Starting right where we live, spreading out to the ends of the Earth.

Prayer for the Iranun People

God, we pray for the Iraun people of the Philippines. For 282,000 Muslim Iranun, men, women, and children, most of whom have never even heard this good news. We pray that repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in Jesus’ name to the Iranun people of the Philippines. God, please cause your gospel that started spreading from Jerusalem on this day to spread today to the Iranun people of the Philippines. And help each of us, we pray, to play whatever part you’re calling us to play. Starting right where we live today, this week, and wherever you lead us to make Jesus known everywhere. In His name, we pray according to your Word in Luke 24:46–47. Amen.