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Mark | Chapter 16

Mark 16:1-8

“The reality of the resurrection”

  1. Introduction
  2. Vs. 1-3 Lost hope
  3. Vs. 4 Roll away the stone
  4. Vs. 5-8 My brethren

Introduction

    For all intensive purposes we will finish off Mark’s account of his gospel today in the first 8 verses. Now if you have your bibles open you will notice that the 16th chapter doesn’t end at verse 8 but concludes at verse 20 but the earliest and most reliable manuscripts only include the first 8 verses and was most likely added at a later date. We will look at them next week as I believe that the Lord intended us to have them.   

    Matthew chapter 27:61tells us that near the guarded tomb came at least two women. The tomb had been guarded because at least practically the religious leaders believed Jesus words that after three days He would arise, albeit they interpreted that to mean that someone would steel His body. Yet these women are not there because they believed Jesus words, had they believed Him they would not have come to the tomb at all. The only conclusion we can draw is that they were not because they did not believe His words but because they were absolutely devoted to Him. When you deal with doctrine you are dealing with your intellect and as we all know it is always easier to change your mind then it is to change your heart. The importance of being “devotionally right above being doctrinally right” makes our spiritual life far more attainable when we consider that this means: We don’t have to have all the answers we only have to be devoted to the One that does!  


    Vs. 1-3 Lost hope

      Vs. 1 Mark’s is the only account that includes Saturday and the Sabbath telling us only that the Sabbath had passed. That had to be the worst day in their life, as Jesus had been crucified and placed in a hopeless tomb. But that is not the reason why I believe the other gospel accounts don’t include it. No I believe that they have all but forgotten it do to the reality of the resurrection! In Matthews account he records the day and approximate hour that these two ladies first discovered the empty tomb. It was early Sunday morning when these women made their way in the dark, arriving at the tomb at dawn. These heart broken women left the walls of Jerusalem and I can imagine the heavy heart that they must have had. Hope was lost but love had not been severed.  I find a strange comfort in this as I realize that you can be a follower of Jesus, devoted to Him and still go through times like this. With that said there is a wonderful truth in the angelic young man’s words too these two in Matthews account when he says, “He is not here, for He has risen, as He said!”        

      Vs. 2-3 According to Matthews account there was a great earthquake and an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone. The question is, “Why was the 4-ton stone rolled back up the hill?” Was it to let Jesus out? Of coarse not! Jesus didn’t need an angels help to get out of the tomb. Mark tells us in verse 3 that these ladies had been wondering how they were going to get in as they said, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” It is in the combining of Matthew’s account with Mark’s that we realize that the rolling of the stone was not to let Jesus out but to let them in! This scene becomes for me a perfect illustration of the limitation of religion as it’s chief concern and aim is about man trying to get in to where God is. The obvious impossibility is that religion can never do enough to remove the stone as it is to heavy! And when we look at faith in Christ we see that it is all about God rolling the stone away so you and I can come in and see! One of my favorite places to visit in Israel is the Garden tomb also known as Gordon’s Tomb. It was discovered by General Gordon in 1885 and since 1894 has been maintained by a non-denominational British trust. The first thing he did was gather soil from the ground he took it back with him to noted chemists with only one question: “Is there any trace of decomposition?” And in every case there was no sign of decay!


      Vs. 4 Roll away the stone

        Vs. 4 According to Mark’s commentary this angel’s appearance was like that of a young man. I’m picturing a look of a 13-year old boy. Yet, we are told in Matthew’s account that, “the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.” Here were these buff battle worn Roman soldiers guarding this tomb when a young boy walks in among them and rolls up hill a 4-ton bolder from the mouth of the tomb. We are told that they passed out with fear at the sight of him and the question is: “What caused this reaction?” There is no mention of some sort of powerful weapon pointing at them. The only explanation given by Matthew for their reaction is that: “His continence was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.” This would indicate purity and holiness and suggest that their fear was not in his physical stature but rather in his inward character. To these harden soldiers the most powerful man was not one that had rippling biceps, but one who was humble and holy. What a great truth for all of us to understand: If you want to freeze the opposition you don’t need to go to the gym and work on your muscles you need to be in God’s word and presence by His Holy Spirit which will leave you humble and holy!


        Vs. 5-8 My brethren

          Vs. 5-6 After entering the tomb these ladies notice the same aspects of this angel as he appears to have been waiting for their arrival. Apparently they were also startled as Mark tells us that they were alarmed and Matthew records that the angel’s first words were, “Do not be afraid..” I personally understand their reaction, they have just come up to the tomb of their Lord and upon their arrival they see the 4-ton stone rolled away, a bunch of passed out soldiers and a young man sitting inside the tomb. There are many things scare us but perhaps for most humans nothing more than the uncertainty of death. I know having dealt with this often that there is nothing that will move people out of their comfort zones faster and into fear quicker than the fear of death! Most folks live by the near sighted adage of: “I intend to live forever, so far it’s going well.” We all deal with fear but I want to show you this morning the great “fear buster” in verse 6. Mark includes, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.” Everything may seem hopeless and lost, but these words are a complete and total game changer! Since Jesus conquered death the one thing that had 100% success rate against mankind, then He can certainly handle our difficult job, marriage, finances, illness or what ever. The resurrection is the great answer to what ever fear or doubt we may have. Before these ladies could ask, “How they could know this was true?” The angle says, “Come and see the place WHERE they laid Him!” Notice that it says “WHERE” as Jesus was no longer WHERE they had laid him. According to John chapter 20 verses 5-7 all they saw was the graves clothes lying on the stone shelf empty like a flattened cocoon. There was no sign of Jesus having struggled with the linen strips of grave clothes. Instead it looked as though He had passed right through them. Though some may argue that they weren’t there at the tomb to observe what these folks did, you and I can still check out in the Bible the many different appearances of Jesus after this event:

          • Peter saw Him the same day
          • Two disciples on the road to Emmaus talked to Him
          • He appeared to the disciples in a closed room with out Thomas
          • He then later again appeared to them with Thomas
          • Seven of the disciples were met by Him by the Sea of Galilee
          • In 1 Corinthians 15:6 Paul tells us that over 500 folks in Galilee saw Jesus at once and the greater part of them were still alive and able to testify to that fact 57 years later.
          • James saw Him in two different locations
          • Many saw Him at His Ascension
          • Steven saw Him when he was being stoned
          • Paul who had hated Him, meet Him near Damascus, then again years later Paul saw Him again in a temple.
          • Lastly the apostle John saw Him while he was on the island of Patmos

          Then there are countless people like me and you who can testify of how He changed our lives and this testimony goes back to the time of His empty tomb over thousands of years!

          Vs. 7-8 I notice that “going and telling” follows “coming and seeing”. This informs us that if we want to grow in our ability to share Jesus with others we will need to continue to “come and see”! We all need daily a clear vision of Jesus work upon the cross and His resurrection from the dead. When we make that the center stone of our lives we will become effective in our telling others to come and see! I love the fact that Jesus choose two women to be his first witness. You see a women’s report was not acceptable in a court of law in those days. This reveals to us that Jesus clearly chooses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. Devotion is always greater then our intellect. Humility and brokenness are always the essential ingredients to share Jesus with others. The effectiveness of the truth of the gospel does not rest upon the strength of the messenger, but upon the truth that we are charged to share!  According to Matthew’s account in chapter 28 verses 9-10 Jesus met them and His first word out of Jesus’ mouth is, “Rejoice”. The word used for rejoice is the same word that we translate in the English as “grace”. And their response to Him and this word of “Grace” is that they grabbed a hold of Him and worshipped Him. When we understand His work for us then we know that it is only by grace that we have been saved and all we can ever do in is worship Him!

                      Jesus also sends them to tell the rest of the disciples. What is not immediately recognized also in Matthews account is Jesus use of the phrase “My brethren” in conjunction to His disciples. This is the first time He calls them this and it’s after their greatest failure! Which one of us have not felt as though at times that Jesus is a shamed of us? Look at this phrase “My Brethren”, in light of the fact that these disciples had totally blown it. And also consider the fact that Jesus sends these ladies to tell them that they are still “His family” and it is the greatest proof of the resurrection and grace? No matter how many mistakes we continue to make, Jesus still calls us family! Further more He wants you to know that He longs for you to realize that He considers you His family! But there is obedience involved, you got to go to where He is. We now have no excuses to stay in death, defeat, and despair lets go and meet Him that we may worship at His feet!


          Mark 16:9-14

          “Reasons to believe”

          1. Introduction
          2. Vs. 9-11 Mary Magdalene’s testimony
          3. Vs. 12-13 The Emmaus Road evidence
          4. Vs. 14 Persistent climate of unbelief

          Introduction

            We take on Mark 16:9-20 the “Epilogue”; “the comment or conclusion to what happened”. I mentioned last week that this was added to the oldest and most reliable Greek manuscripts. There are some biblical scholars who even question if these 12 verses should even be included in the bible. But it is note worthy to consider three facts as reasons why this should be included:

            • The overwhelming majority of Greek manuscripts do contain these verses.
            • The earliest recorded church fathers from the beginning of the 2nd century quoted Mark from these 12 verses found in this section.
            • From the beginning, the church accepted these verses as God’s inspired word, even if it may have not been pinned by Mark.        

            The rest of Mark’s account is a departure from a “narrative” form of writing the events to that of a “summarization” of events that occurred over a period of 40 days. This would indicate that someone other than Mark wrote this passage. But what must be remembered is that, irregardless to who the human author of these 12 verses was it doesn’t change the fact that the true author is the Holy Spirit. Six times in these 12 verses we find an aspect of the word “believe” mentioned. Mark finalized this by recording Jesus’ death and resurrection as the true evidence for belief. This section can be divided into three sections:

            1. Vs. 9-14 The reasons why the disciples should believe
            2. Vs. 15-16 The call of the disciples to the message
            3. Vs. 17-20 The witness of the disciples to the world      

            What is at issue in this section is what people are to do with the information Mark has recorded, “BELIEVE”! Human history is full of people to many to count that have taken the truths presented in this gospel and trusted in them. One such story is found in the 1912 fatal sinking of the Titanic that claimed 1,503 lives. One of those lives was Scottish evangelist John Harper who along with his six-year-old daughter was sailing across the Atlantic where he was to preach at Chicago’s Moody Church. After the ship struck the iceberg, Harper put his daughter into a lifeboat, then called out to the people of the sinking decks, “Women, children, and UNSAVED into the lifeboats!” Harper’s love for others was greater and he wasn’t willing that any unsaved person not have the opportunity to have enough time so they too could find Jesus. When the lifeboats were all gone, Pastor Harper continued to preach the message on the decks of the Titanic even giving up his own lifejacket to another man to before having to jump into the frigid water of the Atlantic and cleaning onto a piece of the wreckage. With the numbness of hypothermia sizing him within minutes and consciousness ebbing away, he saw a man floating near him when he whispered out the question, “Are you saved?” The man replied “I am not!” John Harper quoted Acts 16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you you will be saved, you and your household.” This story was first retold in an early publish track and repeatedly only twice publicly by this un-named man who told the story of the final words of the Evangelist and being John Harper’s last convert. 


            Vs. 9-11 Mary Magdalene’s testimony

              Vs. 9-11 The first thing that the writer records are the fact that these disciples upon hearing of Mary Magdalene experience with Jesus DIDN’T BELIEVE. To get a better picture of this scene requires the reader to do a “chronological sequence of events”. In the first verse of chapter 16 Mark had recorded for us how some of the women came to the tomb early in the morning and upon arriving found the stone rolled away and an angel who told them that Jesus had risen as He had promised. But these women didn’t see Jesus. According to John’s account Mary Magdalene started off with the other ladies for the tomb but in her eagerness to get there, she went ahead of the other ladies. Based upon the Matthew 28 passage before she got to the tomb there was a great earthquake and an angel of the Lord rolled back the stone from the door which caused the guards to shake with fear. So when Mary came to the tomb she saw that the stone was rolled away, her immediate conclusion was that they had moved the body of Jesus so without waiting for the other ladies to get there, she ran to tell Peter and John that the body of Jesus was moved. After Mary leaves that the other ladies then arrived and when they get there they see two angels who told them that Jesus had risen and to go tell the other disciples. Evidently, Mary arrived to where Peter and John are staying and she tells them that Jesus’ body is missing and again leaves before the other ladies return to tell the Angel’s explanation of why Jesus wasn’t in the tomb. (It is this message that the two on the road to Emmaus hear). Then Peter and John come to investigate running together until John out runs Peter. Mary decided to come back to the tomb but by the time she got back to the tomb Peter and John had observed, studied and believed then left. Mary then came back, not knowing that the other ladies had seen the angels, and at this time she looks into the tomb, sees the two angels and then meets Jesus and clings to Him. That about covers the chronological sequence of events.

                          John’s account in the Greek makes it apparent that the linen burial wraps that were placed upon Jesus’ body by Joseph and Nicodemus were still there with the folds and spices only flattened. What this suggests is twofold:

              1. The body was not tampered with by grave robbers as they would have just quickly removed the linen strips.
              2. That the body was resurrected, taken through the wrappings.       

              Now all of this information on the burial cloth of Jesus brings up some question in regard to it:

              Whatever happened to the grave clothes? Is the Shroud of Turin for real?

              Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, states that “The evidence thus far indicates the probable conclusions that the shroud is ancient (perhaps from the first century), that it does not contradict the NT accounts, and that the image is not a fake. It may well be the actual burial garment of Jesus.” Results of the Shroud of Turin Research Project in October 1978 determined that the Shroud is not a painting or a forgery. They determined that its blood is real blood and the image seems to be some type of scorch, though they cannot account for how it was made. Further more based upon the evidence of the Shroud the image is of a crucified male, bearded, 5’11″ in height, weighing about 175 pounds. His physique was muscular and well built, and he is an estimated age of 30-35 years. His long hair is tied into a pigtail and there is no evidence on decomposition on the cloth.

                          The point the author of this section of mark is trying to make is that when Mary Magdalene told the disciples that she had seen Jesus alive, they “would not believe her”. This will be a reoccurring theme in the hours following the resurrection, the refusal to believe the testimony of your fellow followers of Christ. They refused to believe Jesus pre-crucifixion messages and now they refuse to believe the post-crucifixion eye witness accounts.


              Vs. 12-13 The Emmaus Road evidence

                Vs. 12-13 This next recorded testimony is the the two disciples on the 11-mile journey from Jerusalem to the little village of Emmaus. Luke tells us that one of the disciple’s name was Cleopas. Mark tells us that they didn’t recognize Him immediately because He “appeared in another form”. This phrase in the Greek means “in a different outward expression or appearance”. The word “form” is the same word that was used in the account of the transfiguration but here clearly there was nothing that gave away His glory. The contrast in the Greek has nothing to do with what Jesus had appeared prior to the resurrection but rather a contrast to How Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene being that she thought he was the gardener where as here these two thought that Jesus was a fellow traveler. The three of them carried on a long conversation, starting out with an indictment of Jesus as not knowing what had just transpired in Jerusalem. These two took the time to explain to Jesus all the events, including Mary Magdalene’s. Then Jesus “beginning with Moses and all the prophets” did an extensive bible study “expounding to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” The interesting truth to me is that Jesus had done this same bible study multiple times but this time we are told as He broke bread with them their eyes were finally open. Perhaps they saw the nail prints as he passed out the bread, maybe it was that they remembered as He broke the bread one of the two miracles that He had accomplished doing a similar task, or was it the location of being in an upper room. What ever it was, their eyes were finally open and they recognized Him, then He instantly disappeared. Both the writer here in Mark and Luke tells us they immediately returned those 7 miles back to Jerusalem. But the writer here in Mark tells us that they apparently arrived before Peter’s encounter with Jesus was told them as when they heard these two brothers story they “they didn’t not believe them either”.


                Vs. 14 Persistent climate of unbelief

                  Vs. 14 The co-author of Mark has gone out of his way to present the persistent climate of unbelief that prevailed among the followers of Christ in-spite of fellow follower eyewitness testimony to the resurrection. This despite the persistent and continual teaching of Jesus throughout His 3 ½ years among them. This included the many prophecies and predictions Jesus had made about His death and resurrection, still the 11 disciples found it difficult to accept that Jesus was NOW the RISEN LORD who was living among them. Here in verse 14 we learn something very important: Jesus expected the 11 to believe, even though most of them had not yet seen Him. Jesus wanted them to believe His words and if not His words, at least the eyewitness testimony of those among them He had revealed Himself to. These were people that they knew as trustworthy and were reporting what they had experienced that was 100% in line with what He had told them for 3 ½ years was going to happen! After all the miraculous events they had personally witnessed, after all the truths He had taught them, these eyewitness reports should have been more than enough to convince these 11 that Jesus had raised from the dead just as He had said. Jesus had every right to be concerned with their heart of unbelief as He had throughout His time among them.

                              Jesus put an incredible amount of importance to testimony and it is the same importance He rebukes Thomas on on John 20:24-29 when Jesus says, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” In verse 27 Jesus had said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side.” The truth that we learn from this is that doubt or unbelief doesn’t keep Jesus from us it keeps us from seeing Jesus! Jesus’ word’s going beyond Thomas to all His disciples including you and I, “Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Even when we don’t sense His presence, during our times of doubt, He is right next to us. Open your hearts to Him He is here, He is as close as our breath to you. Thomas’ conclusion was, “My Lord and My God!” I suggest to you that it was not only the physical evidence that caused that affirmation but rather when Thomas realized that when he had said those words Jesus was there. Notice that Jesus didn’t say, “Knock it off Thomas, I’m a man just like you, I’m an angel not God!” No he went on to admonish Thomas for coming to the right conclusions albeit through sight and not trusting His word.

                              Saints, our faith and the Church will never be built on physical evidence alone, it is based upon something greater “BELIEF!” It’s not “blind faith” but rather faith that is centered upon irrefutable testimony from reliable eyewitness accounts! And Jesus expects that to be enough to cause someone to believe especially when it 100% is in agreement with what His word says! 


                  Mark 16:15-20

                  “Never stagnate nor silent”

                  1. Introduction
                  2. Vs. 15-16 Preach the gospel
                  3. Vs. 17-18 With power
                  4. Vs. 19-20 Come and go

                  Introduction

                    We finally conclude our study in the gospel according to Mark with a look at the task of:

                    • Preaching the gospel
                    • Caring for the physical needs of people
                    • And to make sure that those are both done in the the power of the Holy Spirit.
                    • Vs. 15-16 Preach the gospel

                    Vs. 15-16 After rebuking the disciples for their unwillingness to believe the testimony of their fellow believers concerning the resurrection, Jesus gives them a command which we commonly call the great commission. The first thing these disciples learned with regards to the risen Lord is that their failure didn’t hinder His willingness and desire to include them in His mission. The Greek phrase translated as “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” has some surprises. Unfortunately, many have placed the emphasis on one word, GO! But the central command of the “Great Commission” isn’t “GO” but what you are to do once you have gone namely “PREACH THE GOSPEL”! In fact, the Greek has it “As you are GOING” and as such pre-supposes that as believers we are going to be “GOING” the command isn’t upon the going but rather on the “PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL” along the way. Yes, it is true that the church of Jesus Christ was never designed to be “STAGNATE” but more importantly it was never designed to be “SILENT”! The world is not called to come to the Church, the Church is called to go to the World.” But the importance placed here by Jesus wasn’t the destination but rather the discussion! It doesn’t matter if you are crossing then ocean or crossing the street, going around the world or going around the block as His disciples we were to be speaking about Him! I’m convinced that most Christians want to do this but are intimidated because they just aren’t sure what the “GOSPEL” is. The gospel is NOT a lofty, complicated theological study that requires years of intense research. Neither is it the message that heaven awaits us after we die, or that God is love, both of which are true. Heaven is NOT the “good news” it is the result of the good news! In 1Corinthians 15:3-4 Paul explained explicitly what the gospel is by explaining the three elements that make up the gospel:

                    1. “That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures”: The gospel is not about the 33 years that make up Jesus life, including His miraculous birth, sinless life and powerful ministry (all of which are true). The gospel centers around His death, not His earthly life. The importance of His death is defined as, “for our sins according to the Scriptures”. On the cross, He dealt with our rebellion, failures and sins. His death accomplished something, it has forever changed us who have received Him washing away all the guilt and shame of our lives. Twice in these three elements that make up the gospel Paul mentions that the events of the gospel were, “according to the Scriptures”. This tells us that this was not a new thing, a new plan of God. It was instead according to 1 Peter 1:18-20 “.. was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”.
                    2. “That He was buried”: The second part of the gospel deals with His burial. Why does Paul include this truth as part of the gospel, I mean wouldn’t it be enough to say that He died & rose on the third day? Go back & read Jesus words about His death & their response to Him. In Luke 18:34 following Jesus telling them of His death we are told that “they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.” Then take the words of the two disciples who Jesus questions after His resurrection concerning the events of the last three days as they said “our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel.” What’s my point? Jesus’ disciples didn’t want Him dead, they did not want to believe it prior to His death nor did they want to accept it after His death and even upon seeing Him alive struggled with it. In each of these three elements of the gospel the one thing that links each of them is that:
                    3. He died for our sins
                    4. They buried Him in a tomb
                    5. He was raised from the dead

                    Death is through out the whole gospel; it’s just not the final word!    

                    • “That He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures”: The central point in the gospel is the resurrection. Not a resuscitation, He did not come back to life as He was before; no he came back to life as they had never seen Him before. Once again we are told that this was in fulfillment of the Word of God.

                    Matthew records these words differently saying:

                    1.) Vs. 18 “All authority has been given to Me on heaven and on earth”: This is the secret of our service. The word “authority” means the right to use power. Notice the importance of the word “ALL” here as Jesus didn’t say, “most of the authority”, and based upon this fact we are to:

                    B.) “Make disciples”: The Greek word was used of Socrates who had built an education system based upon Plato’s ideology. These apprentices that were so identified with the teacher were to impact all of society. The goal of conversion is discipleship as Jesus didn’t say go and make converts.

                    2.) “all nations”: Literally, “make all nations learns.” The commission is not to a select group but to every nation. Where ever we go we are to make learns of Christ!

                    A.) “Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit”: When a person is baptized they are having a change of address. Jesus is speaking of far more then just a superficial change.

                    3.) “Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded”: The method employed to cause change is obedience to the Word of God. Notice the word “observe”; information without practice is worthless! People we need to know how to do it!

                    4.) “I Am with you always, even to the end of the age”: What a great fact this is! Jesus is with us every where we go. So Go!!!

                    Yes, we all need moral teaching and how to live in this world but more than anything else we need transformation above information! The essential work of the gospel is the need for every person to be transformed by believing so that we can be saved. That’s exactly what Jesus says in verse 16. The word “saved” in verse 16 not only speaks of the miracle of being “born again” (John 3:16) but also of experiencing the fullness of God’s abundant blessing. The difficulty of this section lies in the words, “He who believes and is BAPTIZED will be saved”. Some have taken that to an extreme position of “baptismal regeneration” which suggests that belief plus baptism is necessary to be “saved”. And if you believed and not baptized than you were never saved, this view is not supported by scripture. What Jesus means is that “belief must be demonstrated by inward change”. Mere intellectual consent without that which alters our life is not real belief and the first way we demonstrate this is by being baptized! Baptism can not add anything to what belief alone has accomplished, but it does demonstrate what belief alone has accomplished. The truth is that Jesus Christ didn’t die to improve us, or give us a boost in being better people, NO He died to save us! So salvation rests upon belief and baptism is merely a picture of this New Life and not the means of securing it.


                    Vs. 17-18 With power

                      Vs. 17-18 This is a controversial passage and because of it many wanted to not include these 12 verses all together. Others try to make it refer to only the original apostles and link the signs specifically to that time only. These two verses follow the clear teaching to go into the world and preach the gospel. This section is divided into two sections:

                      1. The first deals with that which would hinder the person from hindering the gospel as we are told that the church will receive power over three obstacles in those that would hear the gospel:
                      2. The god of this world, as we are told that those that would believe in Jesus name be able to cast out demons. The believer who goes and preaches the gospel will be given in Jesus name the power to remove the demonic influence and hold over a person so that they will be able to respond to the truth!
                      3. And over the limitations of communication. The word in the Greek means to speak in a tongue and the reference is to communicating the gospel. Here Jesus says that the person who goes and preaches the gospel will be given the ability to communicate with a person who has a different language.  
                      4. Infirmities that hinder a person from listing to the gospel. In verse 18 the church will be empowered not just for the soul but for the body as well as they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. Here we are told that this sign will also be given and again the context is to going and preaching the gospel.    
                      5. Next Jesus mentions two obstacles that the church will be empowered against would hinder the speaker as they went out to preach the gospel:
                      6. Those bitten be snakes
                      7. Those that unknowingly partook of something that was poisonous  

                      First notice that Jesus didn’t say, “that those who believe shall follow signs” instead He says that “signs shall follow those who believe”. Jesus is saying that He would protect them and those that they were preaching the gospel would see His power through them. Clearly this hasn’t happened every time the gospel has been preached, the fact is that the occurrences of such signs today are rare and as such it would seem that Jesus is address the extreme concerns of going into the world and preaching the gospel and the reluctance of some to going and preaching! The encouragement is for those times when we go and preach and face extreme adversity and Jesus saying, “I’ll give you the necessary signs and power to accomplish that which I’ve called you to do!” These signs were an encouragement to their faith in doing what God had called them to do, “Go and preach the gospel”! Thus God’s promise of empowerment to ease the concern as we go out and preach the gospel. 


                      Vs. 19-20 Come and go

                        Vs. 19-20 Mark’s gospel closes with the Lord in heaven not in the heavens, some far off space. Instead as He promised in Matthew 28:20 “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” What a great truth this is that Jesus is not out some where in space, He is here, living as Lord amongst His people, directing, empowering, carrying His truth through His people to the farthest reaches of human hearts everywhere. And as we are directed by Him we will go where He sends us and do what He has empowered us to do. The question is: “Why did Jesus ascend this way?” He could have just vanished, instead Matthew tells us He slowly ascended into heaven until He is a cloud of glory receives Him out of sight. I believe there are three reasons for this: 

                        1. First, He had been appearing and then disappearing for 40 days clearly He wanted them to know that as for now He was not coming back.

                        2. Secondly, He wanted them to be assured of His coming again and that the coming again would be like the going, physical, visible and on the Mount of Olives! 

                                    3. Third, He did not want the Church to be just standing around waiting for His return. Hey, saints, let’s not be stand looking up into heaven worrying about when He is coming back. He is coming back just as He left! Sense we are in between the time that He left and the time He comes back we are to be filled with His Spirit to tell the truth about Him to a world that has not heard and seen. The angels told them in Acts 1:11, “You have seen Him go and you will see Him come, but for now the Spirit must come and you must go into the world for Jesus!”  


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