Overcoming the Darkness Through the Great Commission

In Luke 24:46, Jesus says: "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name." These are the two major themes of His first coming. Then in John 17:18–19, He elaborates on these themes in His prayer to the Father: "As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world." So as Jesus was sent to provide a complete and perfect salvation, believers were sent to proclaim this salvation to the world. The Great Commission is repeated five times (Matt. 28:19–20; Mark 16:115–16; Luke 24:47–48; John 20:21–23; Acts 1:8, NIV). Showing the all-importance of this theme, the Great Commission was not given only to the minister, evangelist, missionary, but to every Christian. We are all to do what we can in our sphere of influence.