Mark 16

Mark 16:1-8

CHAPTER 76 “When the Sabbath was Past” “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.” (Mark 16:1-8) “As God on the first day of the week drew the world out of that abhorred estate of nothing, and brought light out of darkness, so did Christ, on that day, draw his people out of an estate worse than nothing, and “brought life and immortality to light by the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).” That is how John Trapp began his commentary on the passage before us. It is bursting with rich gospel truths and practical spiritual lessons. Here are seven things set before us in this passage. May God the Holy Spirit write them upon our hearts. The sabbath is past. That is the first thing we read in this chapter. — “And when the sabbath was past” (Mark 16:1). Without question, this means that the old, Jewish sabbath was past. It was now, Sunday morning, the dawning of the first day of the week. But it was not accidental that our Lord was raised from the dead on this particular day. The resurrection of Christ from the dead declares that the Old Testament law of sabbath keeping is now past and the day of grace has dawned! Look at Matthew 28:1. This is a very remarkable verse of Scripture. In our Authorized Version it reads, “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.” A better translation would be, “And in the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the sabbath, came Mary.” In fact, Young’s Literal Translation reads, “And on the eve of the sabbaths, at the dawn, toward the first of the sabbaths, came Mary the Magdalene, and the other Mary, to see the sepulchre.” This is what Matthew 28:1 means: — When the Lord Jesus Christ died at Calvary and rose again, the old sabbath of the law ended and the new sabbath of grace began. Christ fulfilled the law for us. — “Christ is the end of the law.” — “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law.” — In Christ we are “dead to the law.” Language could not be clearer. We are not under the law, but under grace. One of the most beautiful pictures of this is found right here in Mark 16:1. Here the Holy Spirit tells us that the sabbath is past. We keep no legal sabbath day, because God strictly forbids it (Colossians 2:16-17); and we keep no legal Sabbath, because we keep the blessed sabbath of faith. Christ is our Sabbath. We rest in him. You cannot rest in him if you try to keep a legal sabbath; and you cannot labor under the yoke of the law if you rest in him. Either you are working, or you are resting. You simply cannot do both at the same time. The sabbath is past, because “the Lord of the sabbath” (Mark 2:28) has rested from his works (Hebrews 4:10). All who come to Christ keep that rest by faith that was symbolized and typified by the legal sabbath of the law (Matthew 11:28-30; Jeremiah 6:16). We rest in him. He is our Sabbath. “And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun” (Mark 16:2). — The words translated here “the first day of the week,” as in Matthew 28, would be more accurately translated “the first of the sabbath.” As the first day of the world was called “the first day” (Genesis 1:5), so the day of our Lord’s resurrection is here called “the first of the sabbath.” As that day was the beginning of the creation of God, so this day, when “the Sun of Righteousness” arose with healing in his wings (Malachi 4:2), was the beginning of the new creation of grace, the beginning of glorification, and the beginning of everlasting rest for God’s elect. There is no power in all the world like love to make us bold and courageous. A mother’s love will cause a timid, little woman to fight a huge, armed man in defense of her child. A husband’s love will cause him to leap into death itself to protect his wife. Well did the wise man say, “Love is strong as death…Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.” Yet, God the Holy Spirit here sets before us a love that exceeds the love of a husband for his wife. It even exceeds the love of a mother for her child. Here we see a little band of three women going early in the morning to the tomb of the Lord Jesus to honor him and take care of his dead body. “And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun” (Mark 16:1-2). Try to understand how significant this is. These women came in the early hours of the morning, before the sun was up, to the tomb of a man who had been publicly condemned as a common malefactor, one who had been despised and rejected by the entire nation, and was buried, with his tomb sealed, and his body under the guard of specially appointed soldiers. What gave these women such courage, such boldness? These dear ladies had tasted the Lord’s pardoning mercy. Their hearts were filled with love for him who died for them. They felt a great sense of gratitude to him. They felt that they owed him a great debt of love, a debt they could never pay. They believed the Lord; and, believing him, they loved him. For Christ, they were willing to hazard their own lives. They were willing to do so, not because he commanded them to do so, but simply because they loved him. They could not do much; but they must do what they could. So they came to the Lord’s tomb. Why do we see so little of this strong love for Christ today? Why is it that we meet with few today who are moved by such strong love for Christ that they are willing to hazard their lives for him? — So few who are willing to face any danger, make any sacrifice, and walk into raging storms and roaring fires for Christ’s sake? There is only one answer. It is that in this day there seems to be a prevailing, terribly low sense of debt and obligation to the Son of God. — A low sense of sin will always produce a low sense of grace. — A low sense of debt will always produce a low sense of duty. — A low sense of forgiveness will always result in a low sense of love (Luke 7:47). It is the love of Christ which constrains believers to serve and honor him (2 Corinthians 5:14). It is the love of Christ experienced in the soul that inspires redeemed sinners to devote themselves to their Savior and to one another. Grace experienced causes gratitude to be exercised. Tasting the love of Christ makes people loyal to Christ. Faith makes men faithful. A sure hope in Christ causes saved sinners to live for the honor of Christ. Most of our fears are needless fears. As they walked to the tomb on that early Sunday morning, these women were filled with fears concerning things they thought they might face; but all their fears were needless. That which they feared did not come to pass. They expected trouble they never had to face. “And they said among themselves, who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great” (Mark 16:3-4). How much like these fearful women we are! Most of our worrying and anxiety arises from things we fear may happen, but never do happen. We tend to anticipate troubles that never come to pass. We all tend to carry tomorrow’s troubles. But, usually, our doubts, and fears, and unbelief prove to be utterly groundless. Our Lord taught us better (Matthew 6:25-34). How foolish our worrying is! I do not remember ever pacing the floor, worrying about anything that actually came to pass. Let us ever be confident of the Lord’s presence, provision and protection. Trust his providence. The lions we fear are on God’s chain. The dark giants that terrify us are just shadows of darkness. Be not dismayed whate’er betide. Beneath His wings of love abide. Through days of toil when heart doth fail, When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you. All you may need He will provide, Nothing you need will be denied, No matter what may be the test, Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you. The angels of God are our friends.“And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted” (Mark 16:5-6). When Mary Magdalene and her friends came into the tomb, they saw an angel in the form of a man, and were frightened by him. But the angel quickly calmed their fears. This may, at first, seem insignificant. After all, the Lord no longer speaks to men by angels (Hebrews 1:1-3). Angels no longer appear to men in visible form. But there is a day coming when we will again see them, hoards of them all at once. When Christ comes again to judge the world, he will come with his holy angels. But when we see them, God’s elect will have no reason to fear these majestic, holy beings. The Scriptures tell us that the angels will gather together God’s elect from the four corners of the earth. The angels will gather the wheat into the barn and bind up the tares for the burning. Those whom the angels take shall be carried up to heaven, to glory, to honor, and to immortality. Those whom the angels leave behind shall be left to shame and everlasting contempt. The angels of God rejoice in heaven when Christ gathers in his sheep, one by one (Luke 15). The angels visit our assemblies to learn about redeeming love and saving grace (Ephesians 3:10). The angels of God are ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who shall be the heirs of salvation (Hebrews 1:14). The angels of God are our friends and companions in the kingdom of Christ (Hebrews 12:22-24). I am sure we will never know, as long as we live in this mortal state, what great friends the angels of God are to us. But when we rise from our graves, we will see the angels themselves and be embraced by them as friends to our souls. We will spend eternity in the company of those blessed spirits. The justice of God has been manifestly satisfied by the sacrificial, sin-atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ, our all-glorious Substitute. Hear the words of this angel to these women, and understand, child of God, that we now have nothing to fear, not even from God himself. — “And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:6). Our Savior’s name is Jesus, Jehovah who saves. He is Jesus of Nazareth, a real man, just like you and me. This man, who is himself God, was crucified, slain under the curse of God’s holy law, bearing our sins in his own body on the tree, and suffering all the horrid wrath of God against our sins as our Substitute! That One who bore our sins in his own body on the tree is now risen from the dead, risen because he accomplished our justification, risen because justice is satisfied and the sin he bore in his own body on the tree he has effectually put away forever by the sacrifice of himself! The stone, rolled against his tomb to seal it by the hand of the law, was rolled away by the hand of God; and the Lord God himself declares to every believing sinner, “Fury is not in me” (Isaiah 27:4). The risen Christ declares that believing sinners have no reason to be afraid of God. On the contrary, by faith in Christ, by the merit of his blood, God himself bids us come to him freely, even boldly, with “full assurance” of acceptance in and with his dear Son (Hebrews 10:18-22). The grace of God is immutable. Look at verse seven. Here is immutable grace, immaculate mercy, infinite, indestructible love. — “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” — Tell his disciples who have forsaken him, and Peter who has denied him that he goes before them; and tell them that he will meet them in Galilee, just like he said he would. In a word, tell them that they are all pardoned, that all is forgiven. Because God’s grace is free, because he paid their debt, because he put away their sin, there is no breach between him and them! This is not the way of men! I think that our views of God and his grace are weakest right here: – None of us have any idea how exceedingly willing he is to forgive iniquity, transgression, and sin! At this point, we all think that God is such a one as ourselves. What shameful unbelief! We forget that “He delighteth in mercy” (Micah 7:18-20). His forgiveness is free, full and forever. He who is God our Savior is faithful and true – a God to be trusted! Read Mark 16:7 again, and you will see this clearly. — “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” Our Savior’s name is “Faithful and True.” What he has promised, he will do. He will go before you, child of God, all the days of your life. He has gone before you into great sorrow, into the tomb, and into heaven! Robert Hawker wrote… “The first thing the Lord Jesus had respect to, when he arose from the dead, was to send his Angel to comfort his disciples with the assurance of his love, while he informed them of his resurrection. His almighty power, by which he arose from the dead (Romans 1:4), and his altered state made no alteration in his love. He is still the same Jesus, and the same brother as before. Oh! for grace to have this always in remembrance!”

Mark 16:9-14

CHAPTER 77 “When Jesus was Risen” “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.” (Mark 16:9-14) Many years ago, I read about an old woman, a believer, whose age began to take its toll on her, especially on her memory. At one time, she knew much of the Bible by heart. Eventually, only one precious, little portion stayed with her: “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” Soon, part of that slipped from her mind as well. She would be found often quietly repeating what she could of the text. Family and friends would hear her going over it again and again. —”That which I have committed unto Him.” Just before she slipped out into glory, her children noticed her lips moving, and they bent over to hear what she was saying. She was repeating just one word, “Him…Him…Him.” She had lost the whole Bible, but one word. Yet, she had the whole Bible in that one word, — “Him.” The Book of God is all about “Him.” We come together to worship “Him.” We must know, trust and love “Him.” Oh, may God the Holy Spirit set our hearts on “Him.” This portion of Mark’s gospel is about the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; but it is not the Holy Spirit’s intention here merely to prove the resurrection, or convince us of the doctrine of the resurrection. These things are written that we might know him who is himself “The Resurrection and the Life.” May God give us grace to know him and the power of his resurrection. An Undeniable FactThe first thing that strikes me in this paragraph is that the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is an undeniable fact. That which is, in many ways, the most important and most significant fact revealed in Holy Scripture is an undeniable, irrefutable fact of history. This is a very important fact. If the literal, bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead could be disproved, everything else in the Bible must crumble to dust. — If there is no resurrection, there is no redemption, no atonement. — If there is no resurrection, there is no redemption, no forgiveness. — If there is no resurrection, there is no redemption, no salvation. — If there is no resurrection, there is no redemption, no gospel, no hope, we are yet in our sins; and we are of all men most miserable! In these six verses the Holy Spirit tells us three of the occasions when the risen Lord appeared to men. Mark mentions only three of Christ’s post resurrection appearances, though there were several others. The risen Savior appeared first to Mary Magdalene, then to the two disciples on the Emmaus road and, third, to the eleven apostles. This is a great mercy to us. Our Lord Jesus made his resurrection from the dead a thoroughly established, undeniable fact of history. This fact is a matter of great mercy, because, as I have already asserted, everything we believe, everything revealed in the gospel stands or falls with the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection was the crowning proof of Christ’s having put away our sins by the sacrifice of himself, the seal of our redemption, the receipt of our justification, and God’s public declaration of his Son’s exaltation and glory. The Scriptures constantly lay great importance upon the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1-4; Romans 4:25; Romans 8:34; Ephesians 2:4-6; Hebrews 13:20-21; 1 Peter 1:3). The multiplied witnesses of our Lord’s resurrection are simply irrefutable (Mark 16:9 and John 20:16-18 — Matthew 28:5-10 — Luke 24:34 and 1 Corinthians 15:5 — Luke 24:31; John 20:6 — John 21:1 — 1 Corinthians 15:6 — 1 Corinthians 15:7 — Matthew 28:16-17 — Mark 16:14-15 — Luke 24:44 and Acts 1:4 — Acts 1:3-8 — Luke 24:50 and Acts 1:9-12 — Acts 9:5 and 1 Corinthians 15:8). Our Lord Jesus Christ has not only died for our sins, he has risen up from the dead and reigns in glory upon the throne of universal monarchy to give life and salvation to those for whom he died. — “For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living” (Romans 14:9). An Unqualified Forgiveness The second thing that strikes me in this passage is the fact that our Lord’s forgiveness of sin is an unqualified forgiveness. Certainly this is evident in the heart of every sinner who has experienced it. It is evident in his many gracious displays of grace and forgiveness that are recorded in Holy Scripture; but there is no better picture of forgiveness than that which we have before us in the Lord’s dealings with “Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.” The Lord Jesus did not first appear to his mother Mary, or to John the Beloved. No. “He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.” This seems to be written here by the finger of God as a remarkable fact, full of instruction. Here the Holy Spirit shows us by example that which we are taught throughout the Scriptures. — Salvation is a matter of absolute, free, unconditional grace. Because salvation is, in its entirety, a matter of free grace, in no way conditioned or dependent upon us, and in no way determined by us, all who are saved by grace stand upon an equal footing before God. In Christ there is no difference between saved virgins and saved harlots, saved scholars and saved sots, saved Pharisees and saved prostitutes, or saved princes and saved paupers! Truly, “God is no respecter of persons.” In Christ we are all equal. The last is first and the first is last. All God’s elect are forgiven of all sin. We all possess perfect righteousness, the righteousness of Christ. We all have all grace. — Christ is all in all who believe. As we read in 1 Corinthians 1:30-31, — “Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” The fact that our Lord Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene also teaches us that God honors those who honor him (1 Samuel 2:30). Mary had anointed the Lord for his burial in anticipation of his resurrection. Mary was the last one to confess Christ when he was alive and the first to honor him when he died. Mary was the last one at the cross and the first one at the tomb. And Mary was the first one to see the risen Lord. Our Lord appeared first to Mary to teach us that He is distinctly the Savior of poor, needy sinners. Christ came into the world to save sinners; and when he saves sinners, he well saves them. He makes great saints out of great sinners. Those who were once filled with seven devils, he fills with “the seven Spirits of God,” that is with all the fulness of his Spirit. Those who were once far off, he brings nigh. Those who were the filth and off-scouring of the earth, he makes to be the sons of God. Those who once sat as beggars in the dung heap of fallen humanity, he lifts by his grace and sets them among princes. And our sins and iniquities he remembers no more (Romans 8:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:17). An Unparalleled Friend The third thing that strikes me in this passage is the fact that Our Lord Jesus Christ is an unparalleled friend. Truly, he who is the Friend of publicans and sinners is the “Friend who sticketh closer than a brother!” How manifestly evident this is in our Lord’s dealings with his unbelieving, hard-hearted disciples. Three times Mark describes the unbelief of the Lord’s disciples (Including himself!). The Lord appeared first to Mary; but no one believed her report. Then, he appeared to the two disciples on the Emmaus road; but no one believed them either. At last, he appeared to the eleven apostles in person and upbraided them for their unbelief. How we rejoice to know that God’s salvation is an irreversible act of grace (Ecclesiastes 3:14). Our Lord rebukes and chastens his erring children to correct them from the error of their way; but he never forsakes them. Our salvation no more depends on us after conversion than it did before. We are “kept by the power of God through faith;” and the faith is itself the gift of God. Yes, we must persevere in faith; and all who are born of God shall; but we persevere only because we are preserved in Christ Jesus! We are here reminded again that God’s saints in this world are sinners still. Frequently the Holy Spirit shows us this by example and by precept; but the surest proof of it is our own painful and bitter experience. There is much sin in the best of saints. There is great weakness in the strongest of God’s people. There is great corruption in the most upright. And there is great unbelief in the strongest believer. Our God would make us ever aware of these things, so that we might not despair of ourselves, and that we might be patient with our brethren (1 Corinthians 15:10). It is ever the glory of our God to bring good out of evil. The terrible, strong doubt and unbelief of these disciples is itself a validation to the truthfulness of their testimony, once they were convinced (Psalms 76:10).

Mark 16:15-18

CHAPTER 78 The Great Commission “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” (Mark 16:15-18) These words are given to us by Inspiration as our Lord’s final words to his church, his final words to you and me, as he was leaving this world. Here he tells us what our privileges and responsibilities are as his servants in this world. These are not the privileges and responsibilities of the apostles alone, or of gospel preachers alone. These are the privileges and responsibilities of all God’s people, his servants, in this world. It is the great privilege and responsibility of every child of God to do what he can for the furtherance of the gospel in his generation, to preach the gospel (and see to it that the gospel is preached) to all the world in the generation in which we live for the glory of Christ and the salvation of God’s elect. The Great Commission “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). — It is utterly impossible for me to state emphatically enough the importance, the comprehensiveness, and the depth of meaning there is in these words. Our Lord’s charge to us in this one sentence is generally called “The Great Commission.” This is our commission from our God as long as we live in this world; and it is great! It is called “the great commission,” because there is a great need. Our Lord commands us to go into all the world preaching the gospel, because all are lost without the gospel. In every corner of the earth the sons and daughters of Adam are the same. All are fallen, lost, without Christ, without God, without hope, and utterly ignorant of God, his grace, his Son and his salvation. Civilized or uncivilized, in Africa, China, or Great Britain, Mexico, California, or Kentucky, all who are ignorant of the gospel are in a state of wrath and condemnation. It is called “the great commission,” because we have a great message. Our Lord here commands us to preach the gospel. This is the work of God’s church in this world. We must not neglect charity: feeding, clothing and educating the poor. But that is not our commission. Our commission is far more important than that.

Our Lord commands us to preach the gospel. To preach the gospel is to declare the redemption accomplishments of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are to proclaim to eternity bound sinners the full glorious tidings of salvation by Christ’s blood and righteousness (Isaiah 49:1-6). The message we are sent to preach is Christ himself, God’s Salvation. Christ crucified is all the counsel of God, the whole gospel. He is the one in and by whom all the blessings of redemption and grace flow to his elect (Numbers 6:22-26; Acts 20:27; 2 Corinthians 2:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14). Gospel preaching is God’s ordained means of grace for chosen sinners. All men and women have a God consciousness. God’s wisdom and power are revealed to all in the splendor of his creation. His law is written upon the hearts of all. Yet, Romans chapters one and two plainly tell us that these things are insufficient for man’s salvation. All men know something about God by creation. They are responsible to be holy, because God tells them in their consciences that he demands holiness. Yet, they have no ability to comply with the demands of their own consciences. The light of nature and creation can never convert anyone. God has ordained the salvation of chosen sinners by the means of gospel preaching. Without the gospel none can ever be saved. This is not my opinion. This is exactly what the Scriptures say. The Holy Spirit’s exact words are these: It is the gospel preached unto us, “By which also ye are saved” (1 Corinthians 15:2). The preaching of the gospel “is the power of God unto salvation,” because it is the revelation of “the righteousness of God” (Romans 1:15-17).

It is by the foolishness of preaching that God saves his chosen (1 Corinthians 1:21; Ephesians 1:13; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14). — “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures” (James 1:18). The Word of God, preached to sinners by the gospel, is the instrument by which sinners are born again by the Spirit of God (1 Peter 1:23-25). “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” — God will save his elect. There is no question about that. The redeemed of the Lord shall be converted by his grace. That is a matter of absolute certainty. Every chosen redeemed sinner shall, at the appointed time of love, be born again by the Holy Spirit’s irresistible grace and power. The elect of God, purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ, shall all be granted the gift of life eternal and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. But not one shall be saved without the preaching of the gospel. Without question, our God could have saved his elect without us. He could send angels, or frogs, or rocks to preach to them, or he could regenerate them without the use of means altogether; but he has ordained the salvation of chosen sinners through the use and instrumentality of other chosen sinners! What a privilege he has bestowed upon us! I’ve often thought I would love to have Dick Clark and Ed McMaan’s job. I don’t have any money of my own; but I would sure like to be the man who carried a ten million dollar check to someone’s house! Wouldn’t you? That would be a great job to have. But you and I have one that is indescribably better. We are the people commissioned of God to carry his salvation to perishing sinners! “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Ephesians 3:8-11) Let the redeemed of the Lord, sinners saved by God’s free grace in Christ, tell sinners everywhere about the Redeemer and about God’s free grace to sinners in him. Let us give ourselves relentlessly to this glorious work of preaching the gospel. Let us all do whatever we can to fulfil our commission in this age for the glory of Christ. The General Call “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). — The effectual, irresistible call of the Spirit always produces faith in Christ. No man can do that. It is the work of God alone. Yet, the effectual call and irresistible grace of God the Holy Spirit comes to elect, redeemed sinners through the general call that is issued to all men in the preaching of the gospel. This general call is neither more nor less than the preaching of the gospel to all men. We preach the gospel to all people indiscriminately, because we do not know who God’s elect are and because our Lord commands us to do so. Our responsibility is determined by the Word of God, not the decree of God. I repeat myself deliberately. This is the means by which God saves his elect. Richard Sibbes once stated, “All good things come by preaching,” because he understood that all God’s elect have salvation and all its blessings conveyed to them by the gospel. The gospel we preach carries the promise of grace, salvation and eternal life to all who trust the Lord Jesus Christ. – “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” The only way any sinner can ever be saved is by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. And every sinner in the world who believes on the Son of God is saved. It is our faith in Christ that makes our calling and election sure (Hebrews 11:1-6). Faith in Christ is the one thing needful. — “He that believeth not shall be damned.” This is the matter of great concern. – Do we have this gift of faith in Christ? Multiplied thousands are washed in the waters of baptism, who are not washed in the blood of Christ! Multiplied thousands attend church every Sunday, who have never yet worshipped the Lord Jesus Christ! Multiplied thousands eat at the Lord’s Table, who have never yet tasted the grace of God in Christ. It is not doctrinal orthodoxy that unites our souls with the Son of God, but faith in him. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:10-13) The gospel gives the promise of grace, salvation and eternal life to all who believe on the Son of God. But in preaching the gospel we also set before eternity bound sinners the warning of certain and eternal wrath for all who refuse to bow to the Son of God, trusting him alone as their Lord and Savior. –”But he that believeth not shall be damned.” How fearful the thought! How awful the words! Yet, they are true and faithful, and must be proclaimed by those who would be true and faithful to the souls of men. God must and will punish sin. He will send you to hell forever, if you refuse to be saved by the merits of his dear Son. — “O that men were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!” The Gospel Confession Look at verse sixteen again, and learn that baptism, the believer’s confession of the gospel, the believer’s confession of faith in Christ, is not an insignificant matter, but rather a matter of tremendous importance. — “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Let me be crystal clear. Baptism does not save anyone. Baptism does not wash away sin. Baptism does not convey grace. Baptism does not regenerate. Baptism does not contribute anything to the saving of our souls. However, believer’s baptism and faith in Christ are intimately connected. True, saving faith in Christ and obedience to Christ go hand in hand. Where there is no obedience to Christ, there is no faith in Christ. — “Faith without works is dead!” There are several things which need to be understood about this blessed ordinance of the gospel. 1st — Baptism follows faith in Christ; it cannot precede faith. Without faith in Christ, baptism is nothing but an empty, meaningless religious ritual. It serves no purpose, except to make the unbelieving ritualist twofold more the child of hell than he was before. Infant baptism not only does not help children, it positively hurts them. It gives them hope without faith, as they grow up believing they are Christians, rather than being faithfully taught that they must be born again. 2nd — Believer’s baptism is an act of obedience to Christ our Lord. As such, it is the answer of a good conscience toward God. 3rd — Baptism is the means by which believers first confess their faith in Christ publicly. It is a picture of the gospel, a picture of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, and our death, burial and resurrection with him representatively. It is a public identification with Christ, his gospel and his people. Believer’s baptism is a line of separation from the world and its religion. It is a pledge of commitment to Christ. It is a confession of our hope of resurrection with Christ at the last day. The Gracious Confirmation Look at the great, gracious, encouraging promises given in Mark 16:17-18. Our Lord Jesus knew what great obstacles we would have to overcome, what tremendous difficulties we would have to endure, what battles we would have to fight, and how easily we would be inclined to give up the effort. Therefore, he cheers and encourages us with the promise of divine, supernatural, omnipotent power to attend our labors, power that will be unceasingly confirmed to us. “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” It must be stated emphatically, in this day of charismatic chaos and confusion, that the age of signs, and tongues, and miracles ended with the apostolic age and the completion of the Scriptures. These things were literally fulfilled in the book of Acts, in the apostolic age, the formation years of the church. But no one has these apostolic gifts today. They were gifts by which the apostles were confirmed as God’s messengers, as his inspired spokesmen in the writing of Holy Scripture (Hebrews 1:1-2; Hebrews 2:3-4). Having the complete Word of God, God no longer speaks by dreams, and visions, and signs, and wonders. There is no need for me to speak in tongues or perform a miracle to convince anyone that my message is of God. All you need to do is compare what I say with God’s Word. Since that which is perfect has come (The Book of God!), then that which was in part has been put away. If miracles were every day events, if they were common things, they would not be miracles! However, just because the age of physical miracles has past, that does not mean that this text has nothing for us. In fact, its spiritual implications are even more delightful and blessed than the physical miracles performed in apostolic times. Our Lord here promises us that, as we go into all the world preaching the gospel, his presence and power will be with us incessantly, and will be manifestly confirmed to us. It is a great pity that our faith is so weak that we need for our God to confirm his Word to us; but it is a great mercy that our God condescends to our weakness. His eye is always upon us. His arm is always stretched out for us. His power is manifestly confirmed to us (Isaiah 59:19). The next time you go to the house of God, the next time you are gathered to worship the Lord Jesus, look around and behold “men wondered at.” The household of faith is a house of miracles, divine miracles, by which our God confirms the saving power of his grace revealed in the gospel we preach. His people are a people out of whom the Lord has cast seven devils, by the power of his grace. We are a people who speak with new tongues. Mouths once filled with cursing and bitterness are now filled with mercy and grace! His are a people who are forced every day to take up the serpents of this world and drink the deadly concoctions of the wicked. Yet, we are unhurt by the serpents’ bites and the poisons of the ungodly! We are a people who were sick with the deadly palsy of sin, who have been restored to health by the grace of God, a people who, like Lazarus, have been raised from the dead. God’s saints are a people who are literally going through the world, preaching the gospel, and thereby laying hands upon multitudes of sin-sick, impotent folk, dead in trespasses and sins, who are recovered by the grace of God! Let us take this great commission to heart. Let each believer take it as the Word of God to him personally. Let every gospel church take this as the great commission given by the Son of God to it, as though it were given to that one assembly exclusively. “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

Mark 16:19-20

CHAPTER 79 “So Then” “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” (Mark 16:19-20) Every word in these two verses is of immense importance. We ought to read them with great care, praying that God the Holy Spirit will both teach us their meaning and seal them to our hearts. Mark’s Conclusion “So then…” — That is a good way to wrap things up. Mark is here drawing his gospel narrative to a close. He is wrapping up his message. He is bringing his story to its conclusion. He is saying to us, “This is the conclusion to the story of the earthly life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.” What will the conclusion be? How will he finish the story? Read on…“So then, after the Lord had spoken unto them…” — Notice how Mark speaks of the Master, the risen Christ. While on the earth, he wore the name of his humiliation, “Jesus.” But here Mark speaks of him as “the Lord.” That is more than a title of respect. It is a title of respect, which identifies our Lord Jesus Christ as “the Lord,” not “a” Lord, not one Lord among many Lords, but “The Lord.” Then he proceeds to describe his lordship. Let us ever speak with reverence when we speak of our God and Savior. To speak his name lightly, or without the intention of bringing honor to him is to take his name in vain. — “Holy and reverend is his name!” What is Mark referring to when he says, “after the Lord had spoken unto them”? We know, of course, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the eternal Word in and by whom God reveals himself to men. Without him, apart from him, God cannot be known by man. Man’s quest for God, his search after God, is like a blind man groping about in a dark void. No man knows who God is until God is revealed in the Person and work of the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:1-3; John 1:14; John 1:16-18; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Hebrews 1:1-3). Christ is the living Word of whom the written Word speaks. Jesus Christ is God; and he alone is the Revelation of God. God does not speak to men, nor will he be spoken to by men, except through the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man, our Mediator. But John is here talking specifically about that which our Lord had spoken just before his ascension and exaltation. He is talking about the Lord’s commission to his church to go into all the world and preach the gospel, and the Lord’s promise to confirm them as his servants and give success to their labors, as well as his own unceasing companionship unto the end of time. He promised us his presence, his protection and his power forever. We do not have to guess about this. The Holy Spirit tells us plainly that this is what he is referring to here (Acts 1:2-3). Christ’s Ascension When our great God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, had finished everything he came here to do, “he was received up into heaven, and sat down on the right hand of God.” How utterly thrilling that is to my soul. He who is my Savior, he who came here to save me, who shed his blood to redeem me, who gave his Spirit to quicken and preserve me, has been received up into heaven! There’s a Man in Glory! What does that mean? That means men are welcome in Glory! If one man entered into the holy place, perhaps another can. If there’s a Man in Glory, maybe this man will be found there! The Lord Jesus “was received up into heaven.” He was received there as the God-man, our Mediator, as “the Lord our Righteousness,” as our sin-atoning Sacrifice and Substitute, as our Great High Priest and all-prevailing Advocate and as our Forerunner (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9). When our Lord Jesus Christ was received up into heaven, the angels of God watched him and worshipped him, Satan and the devils were led captive by him, and his Father crowned him. “He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” He sat down because his work was done. He sat down on the right hand of God, the place of supreme dignity and power, because he is the King of Glory (John 17:2; Romans 8:31-34; Hebrews 10:11-14; Psalms 24:1-10). Child of God, here is a blessed cordial for your heart and soul in this world of sorrow and woe. — Christ sits upon the throne of grace, the throne of sovereign, universal power and dominion. He who loved us and gave himself for us is the absolute Monarch of the universe. Living in this evil world, in this world of trouble, care and heartache, we are often cast down. Living in this world of sin and death, we are decaying; our bodies and minds are wearing away, as they must. We have before us the prospect of death and judgment and eternity. Here is our comfort: — We lean back upon him who is our Lord and Savior, the King of Glory. We cast ourselves upon him. We fall into his omnipotent arms. We are weak; but he is strong. We grow weary and sleep; but he that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps. We fall; but he never can. We are dying; but he is Life! J.C. Ryle wrote, “Blessed indeed is this thought! Our Savior, though unseen, is a living person. We travel on towards a dwelling where our best Friend is gone to prepare a place for us (John 14:2). The Forerunner has entered in and made all things ready” Preached Everywhere Once the Lord Jesus was received up into heaven, “they went forth and preached everywhere.” They went because they were sent. — “How can they preach, except they be sent?” They preached. That is the business (the only business) of God’s church, and that is the business (the only business) of God’s servants! They preached what they knew: — The Gospel. They preached Christ. Christ is the Gospel. As Robert Hawker put it, “Christ in himself is comprehensive of the whole Gospel.” The words “preach,” “preached” and “preaching” are used 37 times in the Book of Acts. Every time, the subject matter preached is Jesus and the Resurrection. Unless Christ is preached, no preaching has been done in the biblical sense of the word. They preached everywhere. That is the sphere of our labor. To the best of our ability in the generation in which we live it is our responsibility to preach the gospel to all men everywhere. The Lord’s Work “The Lord working with them!” — Imagine that! What a Companion in labor they had! But Christ is more than our co-laborer. We are the tools. He is the Worker. We are just hoes and hoses in his hands, by which he tends his garden. He works with us, using us as he sees fit in his vineyard (Romans 12:3; 1 Corinthians 3:5-9). Would to God we could learn this! It would put an end to all jealousy, envy, strife and division among God’s servants. The work is the Lord’s. He works with his tools as he sees fit, where he pleases, to accomplish his purpose. And he does it in such a way as to exalt himself and abase man, “that no flesh should glory in his presence.” Yet, we could not be more highly honored, for “we are laborers together with God.” “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” — Read the Book of Acts, and you will see how this fact is demonstrated time and again. Read the history of God’s church in this world, and you will see this Scripture emblazoned upon the pages of history. “The Word of God is not bound.” — The Word of truth is not preached in vain. In spite of Satan’s rage, in spite of persecutions from popes and pagans, politicians and priests, the Word of God has flourished from land to land, from people to people, and from generation to generation. God has caused his little vine, sown in a dry, desert wilderness, to grow into a huge, fruitful tree. We have seen these words fulfilled for ourselves. Have we not? I ask you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, do you not see the confirmation of God’s power and grace upon us to do the work he has sent us to do? The Word of God by his prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 2:3) is fulfilled in our midst every day, even as it was in the apostolic era. I have been preaching the gospel of Christ for over forty years. In all those years, I have never yet knocked at a door he did not open, come to a raging sea he did not divide before me, met an enemy he did not slay, or have a need he did not supply. These things were written for our learning, for our comfort, for our encouragement. The Word of God is never preached in vain. Our labor spent in the cause of Christ is never labor spent for nothing. We may never see the result of our work for Christ while we live in this world. If we did, our chests would burst with horrible pride. But in that day when God makes all things manifest, we will see that our labor was not in vain. Let us cast our bread upon the waters, and wait. After many days, it shall return (Psalms 126:6; Isaiah 55:11; 1 Corinthians 15:58). There is one more word in Mark’s gospel that must be understood. Do not overlook it. — “Amen.” That means, “So be it,” or “So it shall be.” Here Mark says, “Amen,” to all that Christ did. I do too. — “Amen,” to all that Christ taught. I do too. — “Amen,” to all that Christ sent us to do. I do too. — “Amen,” to all that Christ promised to do with us. I do too. I say, “Amen,” to the purpose of God in Christ, the revelation of God in Christ, the Word of God revealing Christ, and the work of God by Christ. Amen.