Topical Encyclopedia The conclusion of the Gospel refers to the final sections or chapters of the four canonical Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—where the narrative of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry reaches its culmination. These sections typically cover the events surrounding the resurrection of Jesus, His post-resurrection appearances, the Great Commission, and His ascension into heaven.Matthew 28:16-20 In the Gospel of Matthew, the conclusion is marked by the Great Commission. After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples on a mountain in Galilee. He declares, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me" (Matthew 28:18). Jesus commissions His disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20). He assures them of His continual presence, saying, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). Mark 16:9-20 The Gospel of Mark concludes with a brief account of Jesus' appearances after His resurrection. Although the earliest manuscripts of Mark end at 16:8, the longer ending (verses 9-20) is traditionally included in many Bibles. In this passage, Jesus appears first to Mary Magdalene, then to two disciples, and finally to the eleven apostles. He rebukes their unbelief and commissions them to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). The passage concludes with Jesus' ascension and the disciples' subsequent ministry, "And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it" (Mark 16:20). Luke 24:36-53 Luke's Gospel provides a detailed account of Jesus' post-resurrection appearances and His ascension. Jesus appears to His disciples, offering them peace and proving His physical resurrection by eating with them. He opens their minds to understand the Scriptures, explaining that "The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and in His name repentance and forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem" (Luke 24:46-47). The Gospel concludes with Jesus leading His disciples to Bethany, where He blesses them and ascends into heaven. The disciples return to Jerusalem with great joy, continually praising God in the temple (Luke 24:52-53). John 20:30-21:25 The Gospel of John concludes with two chapters that emphasize the purpose of the Gospel and the restoration of Peter. John 20:30-31 states, "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name" . Chapter 21 recounts a post-resurrection appearance by the Sea of Tiberias, where Jesus reinstates Peter, instructing him to "Feed My sheep" (John 21:17). The Gospel ends with a testimony to the truthfulness of the account and a recognition of the vastness of Jesus' works, "There are many more things that Jesus did. If all were written down, I suppose that not even the world itself would have space for the books that would be written" (John 21:25). The conclusion of each Gospel serves to affirm the resurrection of Jesus Christ, His divine authority, and the mission entrusted to His followers. These passages underscore the transformative power of the Gospel message and the call to spread it to all nations. |