So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. John 19:40 ESV
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Satan thought he had won, Jesus was dead and about to be buried. He thought he was victorious over the Gospel. But, Jesus death was not the end of the story. His occupation of the grave was only temporary. Sunday morning was coming and He would arise and the Gospel would be spread far and wide. The “good news” of Jesus sacrifice for sin would not be bound by the grave or any other seemingly overwhelming obstacle. God’s love toward man cannot be bound.
As we read the gospels and the letters to the churches we see that time and time again those that were sharing the good news about Jesus were bound thrown in prison and yet the gospel was preached. Nothing stood in the way of the advance of the gospel into the world. The apostle Paul believed this with all of his heart when he said; For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:6 ESV) He knew the Gospel was the power of God.
The power of God, that is what the Gospel is. Inspite of satans best efforts to thwart the spread of the Gospel, it has spread from generation to generation and all over the world unabated. The only true hinderance to the Gospel is when believer’s refuse to share it. Imagine what the world would be like if those that first heard the Gospel in the first century refused to share it. It wouldn’t be a pleasant place would it?
But, when we think of the historical record of the bible we see that the majority of the sharing was done by the minority of believers. Through twelve men sharing the good news first and others following in their footsteps the Gospel has made it all the way to the twenty first century. Why? Because the Gospel is the power of God for salvation!
So today, don’t feel as though the efforts of one person to share the Gospel aren’t very effective. Your efforts are just as effective as those of Paul and the rest of the apostles. Because, when you share the Gospel with someone you are sharing the power of God. Don’t be one that hinder the Gospel, but one that spreads it. You don’t know how many generations you may be effecting when you help lead someone to Jesus. The world is waiting and ready to be turned upside down by the Gospel.
“These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, (Acts 17:6b ESV)
© 2013 Leo J. Woodman
