Puritan Sailor
Puritan Board Doctor
Luke 9
I was reading through this passage today and this kinda struck me. In verse 6, Jesus sent out the 12 to preach the gospel. Yet, in verse 21, Jesus forbids the disciples to tell everyone who Jesus really is. When I hear "preach the gospel" I immediately think of Paul preaching "Christ and Him crucified." But the disciples didn't know Jesus in that way yet. And Jesus even forbid them to reveal His identity.
So what did it mean to "preach the gospel" before the crucifixion and resurrection had taken place? How do you preach the gospel without telling people who Jesus is?
[Edited on 6-26-2005 by puritansailor]
6So they departed and went through the towns, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
18And it happened, as He was alone praying, that His disciples joined Him, and He asked them, saying, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"
19So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah; and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again."
20He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"
Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God."
21And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day."
I was reading through this passage today and this kinda struck me. In verse 6, Jesus sent out the 12 to preach the gospel. Yet, in verse 21, Jesus forbids the disciples to tell everyone who Jesus really is. When I hear "preach the gospel" I immediately think of Paul preaching "Christ and Him crucified." But the disciples didn't know Jesus in that way yet. And Jesus even forbid them to reveal His identity.
So what did it mean to "preach the gospel" before the crucifixion and resurrection had taken place? How do you preach the gospel without telling people who Jesus is?
[Edited on 6-26-2005 by puritansailor]