MARK: WORKING MESSIAH

SEVENTH DIVISION: WHO WILL CONTINUE HIS WORK? 16:9-20

ANNOUNCE THE RESURRECTION (Eye witnesses)	PREACH THE GOSPEL (Sent witnesses)
16:9-11  Jesus, resurrected, appeared to Mary Magdalene – from whom he had cast out 7 demons   1)      She announced the appearance to them – they wept   2)  They did not believe her	16:14-18 Jesus appeared to the apostles 1)      They were seated at table ·        He appeared to the 11 ·        He reproved them for their unbelief and hardness of heart 2)  Go and preach ·        Those who believe and are baptized will be saved ·        The signs that follow those who believe
16:12-13  Jesus appeared to others in another form in the country   1)  They announced this to the others   2)  They did not believe them either	16:19-20  After the Lord Jesus spoke to them he was received into heaven 1)  Seated on the right hand of God 2)      They preached everywhere the Lord working with them He confirmed the word with the signs that followed them

 (The corresponding PowerPoint® presentation is Mark 7^th Division WHO WILL CONTINUE or click here on Mark Seventh Division Who Will Continue? PP or click on the same title on the Mark studies home page.)

 

The Outline:

FIRST SECTION: THEY ANNOUNCE THE RESURRECTION (Eye Witnesses)

I. Jesus, After Rising Again, Appeared To Mary Magdalene, From Whom he Had Cast Seven Demons 16:9-11

II. Jesus Appeared To Others In The Country 16:12-13

SECOND SECTION: THEY PREACH THE GOSPEL   (Sent Witnesses)

III. Jesus Appeared To The Eleven 16:14-18

IV. The Lord Jesus Helped Them Preach 16:19-20

Questions To Aid In The Study Of Mark 16:9-20

 

FIRST SECTION: THEY ANNOUNCE THE RESURRECTION (Eye Witnesses)

 

This last division of the gospel deals with the whole question of who would carry on the work of the Messiah.

 

It is divided into 4 stories or scenes.

 

I. Jesus, After Rising Again, Appeared To Mary Magdalene, From Whom he Had Cast Seven Demons 16:9-11

 

The author of the gospel does not conceal the fact that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene. She had been possessed of demons! He continues to make an emphasis on the importance of helping us see that Jesus had mercy on those who did not deserve his help, and on those who could not help themselves. Let's thank God for his love and care because none of us understand fully our miserable condition before him, a God three times holy (Isaiah 6:3). Let's not boast, ever, of being sufficiently good to be accepted by God in our natural state, rebels and transgressors of the law and will of God. Just as he helped Mary in her impossible circumstances, he helps us as well.

 

Mary announced the resurrection of Jesus to the ones who had been with him, the eleven. They were sad and they were weeping. They did not believe her. We have a problem here. If it was true that Jesus had resurrected and was alive, and later they were to announce it to the people, how were the people going to believe, not having seen him as the eleven saw him later?

 

This problem only got worse.

 

II. Jesus Appeared To Others In The Country 16:12-13

 

 

Jesus met two others who were walking in the country. These two went and told the others. They did not believe them either. What a problem!

 

I think that the Lord was preparing the eleven, and the other disciples, for their future ministry. They would know what it was like to listen to the news of the resurrection and find it hard to believe. They would understand better the future hearers of the gospel who had never seen Jesus after his resurrection! They would persevere in the preaching of the gospel knowing that they were talking about something they had witnessed even when they knew many of their hearers had never seen Jesus.

 

It would be good to cite here what Jesus said to Thomas the disciple who said he would not believe unless he saw! 28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:28-31 NIV).

 

SECOND SECTION: THEY PREACH THE GOSPEL (Sent Witnesses)

 

III. Jesus Appeared To The Eleven 16:14-18

 

 

When, at last, Jesus appeared to the eleven, they were seated around the table. He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had announced to them the resurrection. Hardness of heart was a recurring problem for them (Mark 6:51, 52).  They continued to battle with their hardness of heart. But now they understood that it was not worth rejecting the testimony of eye witnesses. They themselves became “members” of the band of those who had seen Jesus alive.

 

We believe them because their testimony has been transferred to us in written form, with proofs of its reality, and with the help and conviction of the Holy Spirit.

 

I think it is important to quote the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 where he writes about the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2  By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5  and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8  and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born (NIV).

 

Someone may tell you they find it very hard to relieve that Jesus Christ rose from the dead 2000 years ago. They just cannot believe it. I  met a man who was an engineer on a flight between Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan, the 11th of November, 2002. This man was a fellow Christian and was a pilot of one of the large cargo companies. His name was Jack, as is mine, and he told me something interesting. He said he was reading a book by Ray Comfort and that Ray was saying in his book that the burden of proof of anything lies with the one who denies something not with the one who affirms. He gave the following example.

 

To say that there is no gold in China is more difficult to prove than to say that there is gold in China. To prove that there is no gold in China one would have to know whether it was anywhere at all in that vast land. He would have to know if there where even a speck of gold out in the mountains. It would be impossible. But to say that there was gold in China would be more easily proven since all you would have to do is look until you found a little in a ring, or bank or in someone’s teeth!

 

He added in the book that it is obvious that there is much more that we do not know about the universe and the history of the universe than that we do know with certainty. So who are we to say that the resurrection of Jesus never took place? We would never be able to say with certainty that it never took place!

 

Then he sent the disciples out to preach. They were going to take the place Jesus had always taken at the head of his band of disciples, preaching and teaching the word. In spite of their failures and limitations the Lord left the work in their hands, and now in ours, the great work of the preaching of the gospel. But, how can it be? It's not possible! What a privilege!

 

Jesus told them that those who believed and were baptized would be saved. Here we see the inner testimony, to believe, mentioned, and also the exterior testimony, baptism, mentioned. The rest of the New Testament helps us understand the relationship between these two important realities.

 

Jesus also listed the signs that would follow those who believed:

 

1.        In my name they will cast out demons…

2.        …they will speak new tongues…

3.        …they will take serpents in their hands…

4.        …if they drink poison, it will not harm them…

5.        …they will place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.

 

All these signs except the fourth are mentioned in the New Testament. Maybe this is one of the reasons why some believe that this last part of the gospel, 16:9 to 20, is not part of the original gospel written by John Mark.

 

But there is something else that is widely discussed. Were these signs limited to the circle of the eleven apostles, Paul, and to that first generation of believers, that is to say the apostolic era, or should these things be expected of believers, especially the leaders, in every era?

 

Even though I have a position that I prefer on this subject, I am not so sure of myself to say with complete confidence what I believe is the absolute truth on this topic. May each of us be convinced in his own heart, but also have patience with the brother, or sister, who differs with us!

 

IV. The Lord Jesus Helped Them Preach 16:19-20

 

 

Then Jesus was received up into heaven. He sat down at the right hand of God. The words that begin the Letter to the Hebrews describes in majestic words the act mentioned here.

 

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high… (Hebrews 1:1-3 AV/KJV).

 

But when Jesus sat down at the right hand of God in heaven his worked had not yet been fully accomplished! The apostles continued to work. The last verse of this gospel says that they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord helping them. Here we have one of the phrases of the gospel that pleases me the most. Jesus helped them. How good to read that Jesus helped them! In more than one place in the Psalms the psalmist exclaims that God was his help! 1 The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; 2  Send thee help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion... (Psalm 20:1, 2 AV/KJV).

 

In the creation God sought a helper for the man. He did not find one and made woman (Genesis 2).

Eva exclaims, upon giving birth to her first born, that she did it with God's help (Genesis 4:1) .

More than once Joshua is called Moses' helper (Exodus 24:13) .

 

John Mark was helper on the first ministry team with Barnabas and Saul, later called Paul. (Acts 13:5) Isn't this why we find this emphasis in his gospel? All those whom the Lord calls, not as great preachers, but as helpers, they can be encouraged with the reality that after being the great and divine Preacher for three years, Jesus retired leaving others to preach in his place, and he is helping them. After leaving the team halfway and being rejected by the apostle Paul on the second trip, we see that Mark learned and Paul considered him useful to the ministry. Mark became useful to us, by having written this gospel. We thank God for all those whom God calls to be helpers. Brother, sister, don't despise the call to be a helper!

 

Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come…(Acts 26:22 AV/KJV). Paul recognized God's help in his preaching.

 

Let's depend on the help of God, not on our abilities, nor on our gifts. We use the abilities and we develop the gifts but never, but never, depend on them! Let's depend on the Lord. Let's tell him in prayer that without him we can do nothing.

 

The Lord confirmed the word with the signs that followed. It is important to have proof of “life”. As human beings we not only speak but also act. The gospel is also like this, “it speaks and acts”. Paul said in the first chapter of the Letter to the Thessalonians that his gospel did not come to them in word only but in power, conviction, and the Holy Spirit, knowing the testimony of the apostles amongst them. They lived what they preached.

 

Going beyond the testimonies of dedicated and holy lives let's deal with the topic of the signs for a moment. We know that many signs were done at that time.

 

The Letter to the Hebrews seems to make very specific mention of the things written here.

 

3 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will (Hebrews 2:3, 4 AV/KJV)?

 

I am going to leave it with you to continue praying and meditating on this issue. There are good Christians who love the Lord, who have different points of view on this theme. I have, as I said before, my doctrinal preferences, but I would much rather share them personally, not in these pages.

 

 

So let’s review this short conclusion. The first two scenes tell us that Jesus appeared after his resurrection to real people. These announced the appearances to the eleven. They in turn were sent to preach everywhere, which they did.

 

God has blessed his people with this gospel, the shortest one, with its own emphasis and organization. Organized? Yes it is! I hope that this study has encouraged, helped, and given you a framework within which to be able to continue studying, preaching and teaching the magnificent good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Lord of the prophets, the beloved Son of the Father, the Savior of the world, and … the One who came to serve us, work with us and help us!

 

Questions To Aid In The Study Of Mark 16:9-20

1. What is the key issue dealt with in this short conclusion of this gospel?

2. Why would Jesus appear to others of his followers before appearing to the 11 apostles? What experience would this give the apostles that many others would experience in the future?

3. What did Jesus command the apostles to do? What did they do? Does his command apply to us today?

4. How did the Lord participate in the activity of the apostles? Does he do the same for us today? What other Scriptures would support a positive response to this question? Would Philippians 2:13 an example of this?