I was reading the homework for my Perspectives on World Missions class when I came across an interesting article. This article was talking about the disciples choice to stay in Jerusalem after Jesus left.
Oh – did I forget to mention that E and I are talking Perspectives this fall? oops! We are on week five and it’s been pretty sweet!
Yes, Jesus told the disciples to stay in Jerusalem – for a while (well, until the Spirit came). After which, the Great Commission makes it sound like they were suppose to leave and go into all the world.
Over the years, I have heard it said that the disciples failed to following Jesus’ command to spread the Gospel. Instead, God had to destroy Jerusalem to get them out of town and on with the job.
[@more@]However, in this recent article I just read by Steven Hawthorne, it reminded me that Jerusalem was NOT the disciples hometown. They were from Galilee. Staying in Jerusalem was the dumbest thing they could do – think about it: the leaders of Jerusalem just killed their leader and could very well kill them.
Also, not being from Jerusalem, they really didn’t know the town, the people, or anything. It’s like a bunch of hillbillies from the Ozarkes living in D.C.
Yet, Jesus told them to stay. So they did. And because they obeyed, the Gospel was spread throughout the town to the point the Temple leaders started complaining about it. Not bad for a bunch of fishermen.
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