March 16, Jesus will finish the mission.

This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world

as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 2414.

I don't know any more inspiring missionary promise than this word from Jesus.

Not this gospel should be preached, not this gospel might be preached, but this gospel will be preached. This is not a great commission, nor a great

commandment. It is a great certainty, a great confidence. Who can dare talk like that?

How does he know it will? How can he be sure the church will not fail in its missionary

task? Answer, the grace of missionary service is as irresistible as the grace of regeneration.

Christ can promise universal proclamation

because he is sovereign. He knows the future success of missions because he makes the future.

All the nations will hear. A nation is not a modern country.

When the Old Testament spoke of nations,

it referred to groups like Jebusites and Parasites and Hivites and Amorites and Moabites and Canaanites and Philistines.

Nations are ethnic groups with their own peculiar language and culture.

Psalm 117 1. Praise the Lord all nations, extol him all peoples. Nations are peoples, people groups as we call them. As the sovereign son of God and

Lord of the Church, Jesus simply took up this divine purpose stated as an absolute certainty.

This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations.

Matthew 2414. The cause of world missions is absolutely assured of success. It cannot fail. Is it not reasonable then? That we pray with great faith, that we invest with great confidence, and that we go with a sense of sure triumph.