GREAT THINGS ENTERPRISE
CLAUDE BLACK
Mark 13:10
Proclaiming the Gospel to all Nations
A pastor shared a story about serving a church in a rural community. The congregation was small, yet he felt drawn to the work. He began his duties by asking how the church could serve the community, not how the community could serve the church. He met with the mayor and the chief of police and asked how the congregation could help with the community’s most pressing need. Then the congregation adopted a local elementary school and began supplying paper, pencils, and other teaching aids. People joined the service to the community and began attending the church. Soon, the physical building could not accommodate the new attendees, so it was necessary to build a larger building. The congregation continues to find ways to serve the community.
According to Mark, as Jesus told his followers, the disciples, what lay ahead for them, he also said, “And first for the gospel to be preached to all nations is necessary” (Mark 13:10) This description of wars, persecution, and famine could have multiple fulfillments. By 70 A.D., when Roman General Titus led the Roman army against rebellious Judea, the Gospel had been proclaimed throughout the known world. Nearly every community had a Christian assembly. On the other hand, Jesus’ statement could have a prophetic, futuristic facet.
The word Mark used for “nations” in this sentence is the Greek word “ethnos” (ἔθνος), which is the root of the English word “ethnic,” referring to a group of people sharing a common culture and heritage. The pastor mentioned above focused on proclaiming the Gospel to his own “ethnos,” his nation. He focused on taking the Gospel outside the walls of the sanctuary rather than bringing the nations into it, as a practical demonstration of proclaiming “the gospel to all nations.”
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