Recently, I grabbed lunch with several of my students at an area coffee shop. Our aim was to get there early so we might beat the standard lunch crowd. Thankfully, that plan worked and we had an excellent conversation over lunch. But as I pulled as much as the constructing and got out of my automobile, a person on the inside the coffee shop began knocking on considered one of the windows to get my attention. As he knocked, he repeatedly pointed at my automobile.
When I walked inside, I walked as much as him and commenced chatting. He asked me every little thing he could think to ask about my automobile, including several technical questions I couldn’t answer. I enjoy my automobile, but his enthusiasm jogged my memory of my decision to purchase it in addition to the long story that led to its purchase.
For nearly all of their lives, my kids knew I used to be going to purchase that vehicle. For a minimum of 14 years, I drove a base model Honda Civic with crank windows and no frills so I could direct as much of my income as possible to paying off our mortgage. That entire time I told the youngsters, “When I finally repay this house, I’m buying a Mazda MX-5 RF with a retractable hardtop.” When the day got here and it was time to really buy it, I still remember considered one of my sons saying, “I can’t consider you finally own it. It’s so strange to really see it within the driveway.” It felt too good to be true.
Cars are definitely fun and it was a gratifying personal goal to really buy that vehicle, but there are far more vital things in life than cars and private funds. In fact, as we take a look at the closing verses of Mark’s gospel, we’re reminded that the disciples initially struggled to just accept the proven fact that Jesus had risen because that truth seemed far too good to be true.
Now when he rose early on the primary day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had forged out seven demons. She went and told those that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But after they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they wouldn’t consider it.
After these items he appeared in one other form to 2 of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the remainder, but they didn’t consider them. – Mark 16:9-13
The closing verses of Mark’s gospel provide an interesting summary of events that appear to be a synthesis of events which are referenced in the opposite gospel accounts. The reason that could seem to be the case is that’s precisely what these verses are. In fact, it’s widely believed that these closing verses weren’t actually penned by Mark, but were added sometime within the second century by an unknown editor. The earliest manuscripts of Mark’s gospel don’t include them, but I still think these verses offer a priceless postscript on the earthly ministry of Jesus in addition to an encouragement to us to faithfully follow Him.
This account tells us that Mary Magdalene was the primary to see the resurrected Christ. At this point in her life, she was a faithful follower of Jesus. Years earlier, she had been tormented by demonic possession, but had been liberated from their presence in her life through Christ’s direct intervention.
“Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the excellent news of the dominion of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and in addition some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,” – Luke 8:1-2
Mary Magdalene’s proclamation of Christ having risen from the grave initially seemed too good to be true to the weeping disciples, but soon they too would consider.
This summary conclusion at the top of Mark’s gospel also speaks of the 2 disciples who conversed with Jesus on the road to Emmaus without realizing whom they were talking to. Luke 24 tells us that Jesus looked different after His resurrection and these disciples were initially kept from realizing who He was. In the midst of their conversation, Jesus explained that the Old Testament was clearly pointing to Him and it described intimately all that the Messiah would in the future do. Following their conversation, it was revealed to them that they’d been speaking with the resurrected Christ.
While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. – Luke 24:15-16
And he said to them, “O silly ones, and slow of heart to consider all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not crucial that the Christ should suffer these items and enter into his glory?” 27 And starting with Moses and all of the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all of the Scriptures the things concerning himself. – Luke 24:25-27
It’s interesting to think about how again and again Jesus spoke of His death and resurrection when He was conversing with the disciples. They didn’t appear to like when He spoke of these items they usually either failed to know what He was speaking about or blatantly ignored it since it didn’t fit their preferred narrative. Even after He fulfilled the prophetic words He had spoken to them, they still struggled to wrap their minds around all of it. How could one who had been so savagely beaten and killed be alive and making appearances amongst them? Again, all of it seemed too good to be true they usually didn’t need to set their hearts up for disappointment if what was being told to them about His resurrection hadn’t actually come to pass.
Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for his or her unbelief and hardness of heart, because they’d not believed those that saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all of the world and proclaim the gospel to the entire creation. Whoever believes and is baptized might be saved, but whoever doesn’t consider might be condemned. And these signs will accompany those that consider: in my name they’ll forged out demons; they’ll speak in latest tongues; they’ll pick up serpents with their hands; and in the event that they drink any deadly poison, it’ll not hurt them; they’ll lay their hands on the sick, and they’re going to get better.” – Mark 16:14-18
Being rebuked or challenged by a friend isn’t typically nice at first, but when their rebuke comes from a spot of affection, and if their rebuke is accurate, it ought to be welcomed and embraced. Jesus, who had just spent several years walking with His disciples, teaching and training them for all times and ministry, rebuked them for failing to consider that He had indeed risen. Their hearts were hard and needed to be softened. They needed to be challenged because unbelief needed to be eradicated from their lives.
With that rebuke out of the best way, Jesus gave them a challenge that’s just as applicable to us today because it was to the disciples after they originally received it. Jesus challenged them to enter all areas of the world and make the gospel known. That’s a challenge that believers throughout the centuries have taken seriously, and it’s a challenge we should always proceed to make some extent to live out right up until the Lord returns or calls us home.
In the apostolic era, as these men made the gospel known to varied people groups who were unfamiliar with the reality of salvation, various signs accompanied their message. These signs were meant to substantiate that the message they were speaking wasn’t of human origin, but was actually divine in nature.
So they remained for a very long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. – Acts 14:3
“The signs of a real apostle were performed amongst you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.” -2 Cor. 12:12
Some people take a look at the comments made in Mark 16:17-18 and consider it includes a listing of signs that believers of all ages will perform. I’m of the opinion that these were signs demonstrated by the apostles and their close associates through the foundational era of the church, but that these gifts should not in common use through the present era. While the Holy Spirit definitely can and does gift people as He wills with supernatural abilities to serve others, I’m of the theological opinion that this specific list of spiritual gifts isn’t commonly distributed through the era during which we live.
But just the identical, we’re still encouraged to be men and ladies who speak boldly of the reality. I recently had a conversation with a friend who took the chance to share the hope of the gospel with someone she had just met in an area coffee shop. She said this was the primary time she had ever attempted something like this and the experience was probably the most impactful features of the past 12 months of her life.
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the proper hand of God. And they went out and preached in every single place, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs. – Mark 16:19-20
At the top of Christ’s earthly ministry, He ascended back to heaven with the promise to return again in like fashion at some future date. We do not know when that date could also be, however the word of God encourages us to live with the understanding that He could return at any time. In His first coming, He got here in humility as a servant. In His second coming, He will return because the conquering King over all creation.
In the meantime, Mark’s gospel mentions that after Jesus returned to heaven, He sat down at the proper hand of God. There are other Scriptures that talk of this as well, but what does it mean? What’s so significant about Jesus doing this?
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the enjoyment that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the proper hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2
The proven fact that Jesus sat at the proper hand of God signifies a minimum of two consequential truths. First, it’s an illustration of His divine authority. Second, it’s an illustration of the proven fact that His work to atone for the sins of humanity is finished. The earthly priests within the Jewish religious system stood every day offering repeated sacrifices, but Jesus was offered as a once-for-all sacrifice to remove the sins of man.
“And every priest stands every day at his service, offering repeatedly the identical sacrifices, which may never take away sins. But when Christ had offered all the time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the proper hand of God,” – Hebrews 10:11-12
It’s fascinating to think about all that Jesus completed on our behalf. The gospel of Mark chronicles every kind of fascinating details of Christ’s earthly ministry. In order to rescue lost humanity, Jesus took on flesh and walked amongst us. He lived the proper life that we were incapable of living because we were dead in our trespasses and sins. He suffered and died on our behalf as one who was innocent of sin yet willing to just accept the blame for our transgressions. Our punishment was laid upon Him on the cross, yet death couldn’t defeat our sinless Savior.
Jesus rose from death, appeared to His followers, commissioned them to inform others the plan of salvation, ascended to Heaven, and guarantees to return at some future day. It’s such wonderful news, and though it could sound too good to be true, it’s true indeed. And if our hearts are convinced of this truth, He will empower us to live it out while inviting others to share within the hope we have received through our unbreakable union with Jesus Christ.
© John Stange, 2024. Originally published on Bible Study Headquarters. Used with permission.
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/shironosov
John Stange is the Lead Pastor at Core Creek Community Church and a professor at Cairn University where he leads the Digital Media and Communication program. He also leads a web-based community called Platform Launchers where he helps people construct message-based online platforms.
John has authored over 30 books and presently hosts several podcasts on the LifeAudio podcast network. His shows have been downloaded hundreds of thousands of times by listeners throughout the world.
You can learn more about John’s ministry, books, and podcasts at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com.
