The Ministry Goes On
Mark 16:9-20 ESV
Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
1st A call to believe
Mark 16:10-11 ESV
She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
Mark 16:13 ESV
And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
Mark 16:14 ESV
Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.
Mark 16:16 ESV
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
John 3:18 ESV
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
Romans 10:9 NIV
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
2nd A command to go
Mark 16:15 ESV
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
3rd A continuation of Jesus’ supernatural ministry
Mark 16:17a ESV
And these signs will accompany those who believe:
John 14:12-14 NLT
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!
Acts 4:29-30 NIV
“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
Acts 5:12 ESV
Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles.
Mark 16:17a+b ESV
And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons…
Luke 10:17-21 NIV
The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
Mark 16:17 ESV
And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
Acts 1:3-5 NIV
After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Luke 24:49 ESV
And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."
Acts 1:8 NIV
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Acts 2:4 NIV
All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
1 Corinthians 12:7, 9-10 NIV
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good…to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers…
Mark 16:18a ESV
“they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them…”
Dr. George Wood, Fearless: How Jesus Changes Everything
“Nothing is recorded in Acts regarding protection from poison; however, my missionary father was once poisoned by nomadic Tibetans with whom he had shared the gospel. When they later saw him alive they said: 'You must have a very strong God. We gave you enough poison to kill ten men.'”
Mark 16:18b ESV
“…they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Mark 16:19-20 ESV
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
