Mark 16

Mark 16:1

For Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome, it was a sad Sabbath day indeed. The One in whom they believed, the One to whom they had clung, their Hero, their Leader, their Friend was no longer with them. It wasn’t a matter of theology, or His redemptive work on the Cross of Calvary. They loved Jesus personally. They enjoyed being with this One who was so gracious, who forgave so freely, who spoke so truthfully. It wasn’t a matter of their Messianic hopes being dashed. It was simply a matter of missing Him.

Mark 16:2

“I love them that love Me,” the Lord says, “and those that seek Me early shall find Me” (Pro_8:17). Expecting to see nothing more than Jesus’ dead body, in their time of depression, discouragement, defeat, sadness, and confusion these women rose early. How much more, then, should we be willing to get up early to seek the living Lord? This isn’t an obligationit’s an opportunity available to each of us on any given day. If you feel as though you’re in the dark now, be like these women. Rise early and seek the risen Lordfor these who sought Him early would be the first ones to understand and experience Resurrection Sunday.

Mark 16:3

The stone was rolled away not to let Jesus out. After all, He could walk through walls (Luk_24:36). Rather, the stone was rolled away to let these womenand others who would followin. Why? To see the reality of the Resurrection. The Resurrection proves the validity of Jesus’ sacrifice because without it, we would never know if His work on our behalf was accepted. Then it would be a toss-up between believing Jesus, Buddha, Mohammad, or any other self-proclaimed prophet or guru. The Resurrection places Jesus in a different category than any other so-called holy man. Secondly, the Resurrection not only proves the validity of His sacrifice, but it provides the ability for us to live in Christ. The Christian life is not a matter of trying to be a “good” Christian or even of imitating Jesus. It is not imitation, but rather impartation. That is, Jesus is alive. He rose again. And He sends His Spirit to come and dwell in me, to tell me what I should do and then to give me the power to be able to do it. That’s why the Resurrection is essential.

Mark 16:6

This was at a time when, having denied the Lord and having walked away from the Lord, Peter would certainly feel excluded from any Good News, from any hope of being used. If you feel the same way tonight, this verse is for you. To you who feel like you’ve denied the Lord or ignored the Lord, the angel says, “Tell His disciples and Peterespecially Peter, particularly Peterthat the Lord goes before you into Galilee and you will see Him. All you have to do is show up.” The word translated “afraid” doesn’t mean terrified. It means “ecstatic.” For these women who were so despairing only minutes ago, confused about life, depressed by life, without hope for lifeeverything had changed simply because they rose up early and sought Him, even though they did not believe they would even find Him alive. We must not talk about our obstacles, our schedules, our busyness, our activities, or our demands without taking into consideration the two-thousand-pound stone that stood between these women and the Lord they thought was dead. Because the stone didn’t stop them, now they’re ecstatic.

Mark 16:9

According to the original language, so deeply had they loved Jesus, that after three days, these rugged fishermen were still weeping with convulsive sobs. But when Mary Magdalene reported that He was alive, what did they do? They went right back to weeping and hurting. Why? Because of the thief of unbelief. Maybe you’re weeping tonight because your body is hurting, your business is collapsing, or your relationships are eroding. In reality, however, none of those are the source of your tears. Because the living Lord has said to you everything is working together for good, because He has said we are to give thanks in all things, because He has given us promise after promise that He is with us and will never forsake us, it is neither your job, marriage, family, finances, or health that cause your tears. It is unbelief. Period. It has been rightly said that a little faith will get you to heaven, but a larger faith will bring heaven to you. Indeed, I will experience heaven in my heart to the degree that I have faith that the Lord is alive, that He’s faithful, and that everything is working out exactly as He promised. If the disciples had believed at that moment, like Mary, they would have moved into ecstasy. But they chose not to believe and remained in their sorrow longer than necessary.

Mark 16:12

“We saw Him!” the ecstatic pair on the road to Emmaus exclaimed (Luk_24:35). “No you didn’t,” said the downcast disciples. “We talked to Him!” said the travelers. “You couldn’t have,” said His followers. Hour after hour, day after day the disciples remained in a needless state of depression and despondency simply and solely because of unbelief.

Mark 16:14

Jesus didn’t upbraid the disciples for their denying, for their running, for their fear. He upbraided them for one thing only: their unbelief. But then, as only our Lord, does, He quickly moved on.

Mark 16:15

It was as if Jesus said, “I’ve corrected you. I am going to use you. Now get going! There’s work to do!” Although you’ve probably heard dozens of messages on this text with regard to foreign missions, quite literally what is being said here is not, “Go into all the world,” but, “As you are going throughout the world, preach the gospel to every creature.” In other words, the focus is not on where we are to go, but on what we are to do. Whether it be across the ocean or across the street, around the world or around the neighborhood, on foreign soil or on the campswhatever we’re doing, we’re to share the gospel. I’m convinced most of us really want to do this, but we fail to not so much because of intimidation, but because of articulation. That is, we are not really sure what it means to preach the gospel. Does sharing the gospel mean we’re to talk about the creation account of Genesis, about the end times of Revelation, about the praise and worship of the Psalms, about the working of the Spirit in Acts? What does it actually mean to share the gospel? Paul answers this question masterfully when he reminds the Corinthian believers of the gospel he had shared with them… For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures…1Co_15:3-4 The gospel is comprised of three simple but powerful components… The first component of the gospel is that Jesus Christ died for our sins. You have the opportunity to tell people their sins are forgiven regardless of what they’ve done, are doing, or ever will do because Jesus Christ was nailed to the wooden beam of the Cross of Calvary, where He bled profusely to pay the price for every sin. You don’t need to convince people they’re sinners. They already know it… According to scientists, male moths flutter around candles because they think hot wax smells like female mothsa confusion that is usually fatal! That’s what we do! We flutter around things that look hot, that smell goodonly to get burned time and time again. So I get to pick up hitchhikers and say, “You look like you feel pretty guilty. But guess what. You’re forgiven! A couple thousand years ago, God sent His Son to become a Man and die in your place. You’re free! Only one sin is unforgivable: your failure to accept what He did for you. But every other sin is already forgiven.” That’s Good News! The second component of the gospel is that Jesus was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Peter tells us that during the time Jesus was buried He went to hell and preached to the worst of the demons, telling them they no longer had authority over man because their toe-hold of sin had been obliterated by His blood (1Pe_3:18-20). Therefore, although Satan and his demons can try to intimidate us verbally, they are powerless in reality. The third and final component of the gospel is that Jesus rose againsomething no other guru, holy man, exalted teacher, or revered leader ever did before or has ever done sincethereby substantiating and validating His work on the Cross. In chapter 1, after Jesus healed a man of leprosy, He said, “Tell no man.” But what did the leper do? He “published it much” (Mar_1:45)he told everyone! Here, at the end of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to everyone.” But what do we do? We don’t tell anyone. Why? I believe it’s because we forget the beauty, the simplicity, the wonder of the gospel.

Mark 16:16

The Greek word translated “saved” is sozo, and while it indeed speaks of the miracle of being born again, it also speaks of experiencing the full orb of God’s blessing. We see the same word used in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts with reference to those who were healed from physical disease or delivered from the influence of demons. Thus, the healing and deliverance Jesus ministered were both physical and eternal. When asked if one has to be baptized to be saved, my answer is “Yes and no.” A person doesn’t have to be baptized to be born again. A person can go to heaven without being baptized, as evidenced by the thief who was saved even as he hung on a cross (Luk_23:43). But he would not experience the full orb of that which God intends a person to enjoy in liberty, maturity, and ministry. Following are six aspects of the simple yet potent picture of baptism… Baptism is illustration. As spoken of in Romans 6, baptism illustrates the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. This is why I believe the accurate mode of baptism is immersion. After all, we don’t bury heads. We bury entire bodies. Baptism is proclamation. Even if we appear to be “all wet,” it is in the act of baptism that we go public with our belief that Jesus died, was buried, and resurrected. Baptism is identification. The Greek word translated “baptize” is baptizo, which speaks of immersing cloth into a dye. Jesus did countless things we can’t do. But baptism is something He did that we can do as we are immersed in the same way He was, taking upon ourselves the blood-red dye of His death for us. Baptism is association. In being baptized, I am not only identifying with Jesus, but with those all over the world presently and down through the ages of history who, regardless of doctrinal or denominational distinctives, are baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. We might not agree on the timing of the Rapture, the meaning of Communion, or the use of tongues. But we are all wonderfully, powerfully associated in the waters of baptism (Eph_4:5). Baptism is liberation. Peter tells us that baptism has the same effect today that the Flood did in Noah’s day… Due to its pollution of sin encasing the world, God sent a flood to drown out the corruption. And the same water that cleansed the world lifted up the ark to plant Noah and his family safely on dry ground. So, too, when a person is baptized, the power of the world’s evil system is diminished and drowned out. This doesn’t mean he will no longer sin. It means the power has been broken, that he no longer has to sin, that he’s delivered to the firm ground of a walk with the Lord. Baptism is impartation. When Jesus was baptized and emerged out of the waters of the Jordan, the Holy Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove, empowering Him to minister, to preach, to work miracles. So, too, I believe that the time of baptism is the ideal time to receive by faith the empowering work of the Holy Spirit. “Repent and be baptized,” Peter declared, “and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Act_2:38). Thus, embracing by faith the filling of the Spirit as one emerges from the waters of baptism is what is seen in the baptism of Jesus and the teaching of Peter.

Mark 16:17

Notice Jesus did not say those who believe shall follow signs. He said signs would follow those who believe. In other words, as they went into all the world, if they were bitten by a snake or unknowingly partook of something poisonous, the Lord would protect them, and people would see His reality through them. It was as they went into all the world that signs and wonders would accompany themnot as they charged people for seminars or remained within the safety of the church.

Mark 16:19

Jesus left earth and went to heaven to be our Advocate, our Defense Attorney, to intercede for you and me (Heb_7:25).

Mark 16:20

Even as we see today, the Lord is indeed living and working. Amen!