Mark 16 - Jesus Rises from the Dead and Commissions the Disciples

 Click Here to Listen To or Read Mark 16

There are two versions of Mark 16. One is called the shorter version, which is verses 1-8. The other is called longer one, and includes verses 9-20.  Most of the earliest manuscripts do not have verses 9-20 in them. Generally speaking the shorter version is to be preferred over the longer one because the longer one likely contains additions from later on. 

One can see why someone might want to add something to the shorter version. In it three women run to the tomb and find Jesus' tomb empty. They see a young man dressed in a white robe sitting at the side of the tomb, presumably an angel. The angel told them that Jesus was not there that he was risen and had gone ahead into Galilee. They were to take this message back to Peter and the rest of the disciples. 

But interestingly the women are afraid. left the tomb, and told no one what happened. Not a very great way to end Mark's gospel.

So then we have verses 9-20, which start with Mary Magdalene, who Jesus revealed himself to after rising from the dead. She went and told the disciples, but they did not believe her. Jesus appeared to two more disciples, who also reported it to the other disciples. They did not believe them either. This is probably the disciples Jesus met and appeared to on the Road to Emmaus, which is told by Luke. 

Finally, Jesus appeared to the Eleven when they were eating. He rebuked them for their lack of faith, but then gave them a commission similar to Matthew's Great Commission in Matthew 28. 

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Notice Jesus summarizes the gospel in both belief and baptism. Though baptism doesn't save someone it is obviously a very important part of the salvation process. While Matthew's gospel focused on making disciples by baptizing and teaching them to obey all Jesus had commanded, Mark's gospel focused on the supernatural signs which would be accomplished through the disciples. Remember we said Mark's gospel is the "power gospel". 

These signs would include driving out demons, speaking in tongues, and healing people. Jesus was taken up to heaven to the right hand of the Father. The disciples went out and preached everywhere, and they were accompanied by the signs Jesus had said. Notice it was both their WORDS and the WORKS which constituted the sharing of the Good News. The gospel was not only preached, but also lived out in front of people. The gospel Jesus preached which was that the kingdom of God had come near in Him. 

When the disciples did these supernatural deeds it backed up the Good News they preached. God's kingdom represents God's effective rule and reign. Where God is ruling there is no sickness and demons don't have a chance. 

Do you think God gives us this kind of power, as we preach and live out the gospel today? Why or why not? Do we teach that the gospel is more than just words. The gospel also comes with great power through the Holy Spirit and manifests itself in signs and wonders? Why do you think it is so important for the church to show God's power is still available today, and God still heals and delivers people today? 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Acts 22 - Paul Sees the Light

Image
6  “About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.   7  I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me,  ‘Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’  8  “‘Who are you, Lord?’ I asked.  “  ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth,  whom you are persecuting,’  he replied.   9  My companions saw the light,  but they did not understand the voice  of him who was speaking to me.  10  “‘What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. “  ‘Get up,’  the Lord said,  ‘and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do. This is the famous story of the apostle Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus.  Paul was going there to persecute Jewish Christians and throw them into prison and he meets Jesus is a spectacular way.  Not only is he blinded by a briliant light, but he hears the Lord's voice audibly.  And the Lord asks him, "Lord, Lord why a...
Read more

Hebrews 6 - Have You Graduated From Elementary School of Faith Yet?

Click Here to Read or Listen to Hebrews 6 6 Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2 instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. 3 And God permitting, we will do so. The author once again picks up with the theme of moving on to Christian maturity.  He teaches them to move on from the "elementary" teachings about Christ. What does he mean by that?  He gives clues by citing repentance, faith, cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, and teaching on the judgment and resurrection from the dead. We might call these the basics of the Christian faith. If you read through the Apostle's Creed, which our church confesses in our 8am service, it contains many of these core doctrines.  Click here to see the Apostle's Creed Written Around “When we consider the...
Read more

2 Timothy 4 - Fight the Good Fight! Finish the Race!

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Timothy 4 4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. Paul gives a closing charge to Timothy. First of all, he is to preach the word. God's Word speaks to all situations and seasons. The Word of God will sometimes correct us. Our lives can get of out alignment with God's will as outlined in ...
Read more