Repentance and Remission of Sins - Luke 24:47

Luke the beloved physician shared how Jesus revealed Himself to the two disciples who traveled with Him to Emmaus, and afterward they “rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon. And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. And as they thus spoke, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and said unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are you troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones, as you see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have you here any meat And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them. And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day”, and in chapter twenty-four and verse forty-seven of his book Luke shared how Jesus continued, “that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations” where we read:

And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

The verse reads, “And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, ...” Luke began with the words, “and that repentance” or “and so change of mind, purpose of reform and reversal” “and remission of sins” which means “and release from bondage or imprisonment, forgiveness, letting go or pardon of missing the mark, error, wrong, violation of God's law and offenses” “should be preached” or “are to be heralded, proclaimed and published” “in his name” which means “within the Messiah and Christ's being and everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering” “among all nations” or “throughout each, every, the whole and everyone of the multitudes of individuals who are of the same nature or genus”. Luke shared how the idea of “reform and reversal” as well as “release from the bondage” of “errors and wrongs” are to be “heralded” throughout the entire world.

The verse goes on to say, “... beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke continued with the word, “beginning” which means “starting and initiating the heralding” “at Jerusalem” or “in Jerusalem which means set you double peace and is the capital of Palestine”. Luke shared how the “preaching or heralding” of the “repentance and remission of sins” was to begin in the city of “Jerusalem” which was right where Jesus' disciples were located.

When we think through Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus initiated the proclamation of the “gospel” or “good news” of God within this verse. Because the scriptures were fulfilled according to Jesus' death, burial and resurrection, His disciples were to spread the news throughout the world. “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son” (See John 3:16), and He desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus. When they yield to Him, regardless of where they are located in the world, He is willing to forgive them of their sins and grant this everlasting life. This word of the “gospel” began in “Jerusalem” and spread throughout the world. Let all who read these words realize the impact of God's desire for people to “turn from” their sins and submit their lives to Him.

Next time Luke shares how Jesus says, “you are witnesses of these things”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".