Not too long ago, I grabbed lunch with a number of of my college students at a neighborhood espresso store. Our purpose was to get there early so we might beat the everyday lunch crowd. Fortunately, that plan labored and we had an ideal dialog over lunch. However as I pulled as much as the constructing and acquired out of my automobile, a person on the within of the espresso store began knocking on one of many home windows to get my consideration. As he knocked, he repeatedly pointed at my automobile.
Once I walked inside, I walked as much as him and began chatting. He requested me every thing he may suppose to ask about my automobile, together with a number of technical questions I couldn’t reply. I take pleasure in my automobile, however his enthusiasm jogged my memory of my choice to purchase it in addition to the lengthy story that led to its buy.
For almost all of their lives, my youngsters knew I used to be going to purchase that automobile. For a minimum of 14 years, I drove a base mannequin Honda Civic with crank home windows and no frills so I may direct as a lot of my earnings as doable to paying off our mortgage. That complete time I instructed the children, “Once I lastly repay this home, I’m shopping for a Mazda MX-5 RF with a retractable hardtop.” When the day got here and it was time to really purchase it, I nonetheless bear in mind one in all my sons saying, “I can’t imagine you lastly personal it. It’s so unusual to really see it within the driveway.” It felt too good to be true.
Automobiles are definitely enjoyable and it was a gratifying private aim to really purchase that automobile, however there are far more essential issues in life than automobiles and private funds. Actually, 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 truth that Jesus had risen as a result of that fact appeared 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 solid out seven demons. She went and instructed those that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 However after they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they wouldn’t imagine it.
After this stuff he appeared in one other kind to 2 of them, as they had been strolling into the nation. They usually went again and instructed the remaining, however they didn’t imagine them. – Mark 16:9-13
The closing verses of Mark’s gospel present an attention-grabbing abstract of occasions that appear like a synthesis of occasions which can be referenced within the different gospel accounts. The explanation which will appear to be the case is that’s exactly what these verses are. Actually, it’s extensively believed that these closing verses weren’t truly penned by Mark, however had been added someday within the second century by an unknown editor. The earliest manuscripts of Mark’s gospel don’t embody them, however I nonetheless suppose these verses provide a beneficial postscript on the earthly ministry of Jesus in addition to an encouragement to us to faithfully observe Him.
This account tells us that Mary Magdalene was the primary to see the resurrected Christ. At this level in her life, she was a loyal follower of Jesus. Years earlier, she had been stricken by demonic possession, however had been liberated from their presence in her life by way of Christ’s direct intervention.
“Quickly afterward he went on by way of cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the excellent news of the dominion of God. And the twelve had been with him, 2 and in addition some girls who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, known as Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,” – Luke 8:1-2
Mary Magdalene’s proclamation of Christ having risen from the grave initially appeared too good to be true to the weeping disciples, however quickly they too would imagine.
This abstract conclusion on the finish of Mark’s gospel additionally speaks of the 2 disciples who conversed with Jesus on the street to Emmaus with out realizing whom they had been talking to. Luke 24 tells us that Jesus seemed completely different after His resurrection and these disciples had been initially saved from realizing who He was. Within the midst of their dialog, Jesus defined that the Outdated Testomony was clearly pointing to Him and it described intimately all that the Messiah would at some point do. Following their dialog, it was revealed to them that they’d been talking with the resurrected Christ.
Whereas they had been speaking and discussing collectively, Jesus himself drew close to and went with them. However their eyes had been saved from recognizing him. – Luke 24:15-16
And he stated to them, “O silly ones, and gradual of coronary heart to imagine all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not vital that the Christ ought to undergo this stuff 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 issues regarding himself. – Luke 24:25-27
It’s attention-grabbing to contemplate what number of instances Jesus spoke of His loss of life and resurrection when He was conversing with the disciples. They didn’t appear to love when He spoke of this stuff they usually both failed to know what He was talking about or blatantly ignored it as a result of it didn’t match their most popular narrative. Even after He fulfilled the prophetic phrases He had spoken to them, they nonetheless struggled to wrap their minds round all of it. How may one who had been so savagely crushed and killed be alive and making appearances amongst them? Once more, all of it appeared too good to be true they usually didn’t wish to set their hearts up for disappointment if what was being instructed to them about His resurrection hadn’t truly come to go.
Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they had been reclining at desk, and he rebuked them for his or her unbelief and hardness of coronary heart, as a result of they’d not believed those that noticed him after he had risen. And he stated to them, “Go into all of the world and proclaim the gospel to the entire creation. Whoever believes and is baptized can be saved, however whoever doesn’t imagine can be condemned. And these indicators will accompany those that imagine: in my title they are going to solid out demons; they are going to converse in new tongues; they are going to choose up serpents with their arms; and in the event that they drink any lethal poison, it is not going to damage them; they are going to lay their arms on the sick, and they’ll get well.” – Mark 16:14-18
Being rebuked or challenged by a buddy isn’t sometimes nice at first, but when their rebuke comes from a spot of affection, and if their rebuke is correct, it needs to be welcomed and embraced. Jesus, who had simply spent a number of years strolling with His disciples, instructing and coaching them for all times and ministry, rebuked them for failing to imagine that He had certainly risen. Their hearts had been laborious and wanted to be softened. They wanted to be challenged as a result of unbelief wanted to be eradicated from their lives.
With that rebuke out of the way in which, Jesus gave them a problem that’s simply as relevant to us as we speak because it was to the disciples after they initially acquired it. Jesus challenged them to enter all areas of the world and make the gospel recognized. That’s a problem that believers all through the centuries have taken significantly, and it’s a problem we should always proceed to make some extent to stay out proper up till the Lord returns or calls us residence.
Within the apostolic period, as these males made the gospel recognized to varied folks teams who had been unfamiliar with the reality of salvation, varied indicators accompanied their message. These indicators had been meant to verify that the message they had been talking wasn’t of human origin, however was actually divine in nature.
In order that they remained for a very long time, talking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the phrase of his grace, granting indicators and wonders to be performed by their arms. – Acts 14:3
“The indicators of a real apostle had been carried out amongst you with utmost persistence, with indicators and wonders and mighty works.” –2 Cor. 12:12
Some folks take a look at the feedback made in Mark 16:17-18 and imagine it features a record of indicators that believers of all ages will carry out. I’m of the opinion that these had been indicators demonstrated by the apostles and their shut associates throughout the foundational period of the church, however that these presents aren’t in frequent use throughout the current period. Whereas the Holy Spirit definitely can and does present folks as He wills with supernatural talents to serve others, I’m of the theological opinion that this particular record of non secular presents just isn’t generally distributed throughout the period wherein we stay.
However simply the identical, we’re nonetheless inspired to be women and men who converse boldly of the reality. I just lately had a dialog with a buddy who took the chance to share the hope of the gospel with somebody she had simply met in a neighborhood espresso store. She stated this was the primary time she had ever tried one thing like this and the expertise was probably the most impactful facets of the previous yr of her life.
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down on the proper hand of God. They usually went out and preached in all places, whereas the Lord labored with them and confirmed the message by accompanying indicators. – Mark 16:19-20
On the finish of Christ’s earthly ministry, He ascended again to heaven with the promise to return once more in like vogue at some future date. We do not know when that date could also be, however the phrase of God encourages us to stay with the understanding that He may return at any time. In His first coming, He got here in humility as a servant. In His second coming, He’ll return because the conquering King over all creation.
Within the meantime, Mark’s gospel mentions that after Jesus returned to heaven, He sat down on the proper hand of God. There are different Scriptures that talk of this as effectively, however what does it imply? What’s so important about Jesus doing this?
“Seeking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our religion, who for the enjoyment that was set earlier than him endured the cross, despising the disgrace, and is seated on the proper hand of the throne of God.” – Hebrews 12:2
The truth that Jesus sat on the proper hand of God signifies a minimum of two consequential truths. First, it is a demonstration of His divine authority. Second, it is a demonstration of the truth that His work to atone for the sins of humanity is completed. The earthly clergymen within the Jewish spiritual system stood day by day providing repeated sacrifices, however Jesus was supplied as a once-for-all sacrifice to remove the sins of man.
“And each priest stands day by day at his service, providing repeatedly the identical sacrifices, which may by no means take away sins. However when Christ had supplied forever a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down on the proper hand of God,” – Hebrews 10:11-12
It is fascinating to contemplate all that Jesus achieved on our behalf. The gospel of Mark chronicles all types of fascinating particulars of Christ’s earthly ministry. In an effort to rescue misplaced humanity, Jesus took on flesh and walked amongst us. He lived the right life that we had been incapable of residing as a result of we had been lifeless in our trespasses and sins. He suffered and died on our behalf as one who was harmless of sin but prepared to just accept the blame for our transgressions. Our punishment was laid upon Him on the cross, but loss of life could not defeat our sinless Savior.
Jesus rose from loss of life, 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 is such great information, and regardless that it could sound too good to be true, it’s true certainly. And if our hearts are satisfied of this fact, He’ll empower us to stay it out whereas inviting others to share within the hope we have acquired by way of our unbreakable union with Jesus Christ.
© John Stange, 2024. Initially revealed on Bible Examine Headquarters. Used with permission.
Picture credit score: ©GettyImages/shironosov
John Stange is the Lead Pastor at Core Creek Neighborhood Church and a professor at Cairn College the place he leads the Digital Media and Communication program. He additionally leads a web-based group known as Platform Launchers the place he helps folks construct message-based on-line platforms.
John has authored over 30 books and presently hosts a number of podcasts on the LifeAudio podcast community. His reveals have been downloaded tens of millions of instances by listeners all through the world.
You may be taught extra about John’s ministry, books, and podcasts at BibleStudyHeadquarters.com.
