-The Great Commission
Some say the earliest reliable
manuscripts of the Bible do not include Mark 16:9-20. This is a look at the teaching in them to see
if they are unscriptural or not worth accepting as truth instead of arguing if
they belong or ignoring them because they aren’t legitimate. Yesterday we looked at v.9-16, today we
complete v.17-20 with more specific acts.
v.17 And miraculous
signs* will follow to those believing* these things: in My name*
they will cast out demons; they will speak new tongues;
(*sign, miracle, wonder, token) (*believe, commit, put in trust)
(*name implies power and authority of the person whose name is
used)
---cast out demons- Mt. 10:1,8; Lk. 10:17;
Ac. 5:16; 8:7; 16:18; 19:12;
---speak new tongues- Ac. 2:4,6,11; 10:45,46;
19:6; 1Cor. 12:10; 14:5;
v.18 they will take up serpents; and if
they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will be well.
---take up serpents- Ac. 28:3-6; Lk. 10:19
(could this
imply other’s persecution of us?- Ps. 140:1-3; Rom. 3:13; Jm. 3:8)
---drink deadly thing
without getting hurt- no references found by me
---lay hands on sick and
they will be well- Mt. 10:1,8; Lk. 10:9; Ac. 3:2-8;
5:15,16; 9:17,18;32-35,36; 14:10; 19:11,12; 28:8,9; 1Cor. 12:9
v.19 Then indeed, after speaking to them,
the Lord was taken up into Heaven, and sat on the
right hand of God. Lk. 24:50,51; Ac. 1:6-12; 1Tm. 3:16
v.20 And going out, they proclaimed
everywhere, the Lord working with them
and confirming the Word by miraculous
signs following. Amen.
specific (but unlisted above) signs,
wonders, miracles- Ac. 2:3; 5:1-10,15,18-23;
8:39,40; 9:4,8; 10:3,9; 12:7; 13:11; 16:9,26,27; 18:9; 21:9; 27:24
unspecified signs, wonders, miracles
following (preaching or gospel)- Ac. 2:43; 5:12;
6:8; 8:6,13; 14:3; 15:12; 19:11; Rom. 15:19; 1Cor. 12:10; 2Cor. 12:12; Gal. 3:5;
Heb. 2:4
Not mentioned in Mark
but we know these were done along with other acts elsewhere:
---cleanse the lepers-
Mt. 10:8
---raise the dead- Mt. 10:8;
Ac. 9:37-41; 20:9,10 (Possibly Ac. 14:19,20)
So I complete
this part by saying that there is much proof that Mark 16:9-20 does fit in to
the Bible. As for some additional
thoughts, if they were not included originally, consider how the chapter would
end. (v.8) “And they went out quickly and fled from the tomb. For they trembled
and were amazed. Neither did they say anything to anyone, for they were afraid.” It’s hard to believe the book would end that
way- hopeless and in fear. Read Mt.
28:19,20; Lk. 24:52,53; Jh. 21:24,25
and then reread Mk. 16:19,20. They would all end with hope and Amen. Which is the better fit to you?
I thought today would finish this topic, but I will need a
part 3 so that this is not too long.
I hope you return tomorrow for the completion of this
topic.