Rachel Workman: [The earliest manuscripts and some other
ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]
9 When Jesus rose
early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom
he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those
who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When
they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe
it.
12 Afterward Jesus
appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the
country. 13 These
returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
14 Later Jesus
appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of
faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had
risen.
15 He said to
them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever
believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be
condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany
those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will
speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with
their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all;
they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
19 After the Lord
Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat
at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out
and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word
by the signs that accompanied it.
It's
important to remember who Jesus was speaking to here. He was speaking to his
disciples. He told THEM to go out and preach the word. He told THEM that they
would be given special powers to heal and not be harmed. He was not
speaking to us here. If someone claims to have these powers they are false
teachers.
______________________________
John Burnett:
9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared
first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were
mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that
she had seen him, they did not believe it.
12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to
two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but
they did not believe them either.
14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were
eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to
believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and
preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,
but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will
drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink
deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick
people, and they will get well.”
Verses 17-18 are some of the most misused verses in the Bible.
These instructions were given to the eleven Apostles and only the eleven
Apostles. The silly groups of people who handle snakes use these verses
to justify their practices. If Mary Magdalene or any of the Apostles came
to me and said they saw Him, I would start looking for Him but these stiff
necked guys didn’t believe and Jesus chastised them. Blessed are those
who have not seen, yet still believe.
______________________________
Allen Michaels: 9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to
Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She
went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When
they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe
it. Even after all that Christ had taught them and
all the miracles they had witnessed, they still did not believe that Christ
arose from the dead. They needed proof. What good is faith if we have already
seen in order to believe? We can’t see the wind. We can only see the effects of
the wind, yet we can recognize a windy day. Therefore, we believe in something
that we cannot see because we recognize the signs. The disciples had seen all
the signs and yet they still needed proof.
12 Afterward Jesus
appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.
13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not
believe them either. It’s not enough to read about
Christ as a personality or to study his teachings. We must also believe he is
God, trust him to save us, and accept him as Lord of our lives. This is the
difference between knowing Jesus and knowing about him. Only when we know
Christ will we be motivated to share with others what he has done for us.
14 Later Jesus
appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of
faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had
risen.
15 He said to them,
“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Christian disciples today in all parts of the world are
preaching this gospel to people who haven’t heard about Christ. The driving
power that carries missionaries around the world and sets Christ’s church in
motion is the faith that comes from the resurrection. I often feel as though I
don’t have the skill or determination to be a witness for Christ. Not to
mention there are people who would never believe that I’m a Christian due to
the things I say and do. I must personally realize that Jesus rose from the
dead and lives for all of us today. As we grow in our relationship with Christ,
he will give us both the opportunities and the inner strength to tell his
message 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be
saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. It is not the water of baptism that saves, but God’s grace
accepted through faith in Christ. Because of Jesus’ response to the criminal on
the cross who dies with him, we know it is possible to be saved without being
baptized. Baptism alone, without faith, does not automatically bring a person
to heaven. Those who refuse to believe will be condemned, regardless or not
they have been baptized. 17 And these signs will
accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will
speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their
hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they
will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
19 After the Lord
Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right
hand of God. When Jesus ascended into heaven, his
physical presence left the disciples (Acts 1:9). Jesus’ sitting at God’s right
hand signifies the completion of his work, his authority as God, and his
coronation as King. 20 Then the disciples went out
and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word
by the signs that accompanied it. Mark’s Gospel
emphasizes Christ’s power as well as his servanthood. Jesus’ life and teaching
turn the world upside down. The world sees power as a way to gain control over
others. But Jesus, with all authority and power in heaven and earth, chose to
serve others. He held children in his arms, healed the sick, washed the
disciples’ feet, and died for the sins of the world. Following Jesus means
receiving this same power to serve. As believers, we are called to be servants
of Christ. As Christ served, so we are to serve.
______________________________
Tomorrow’s reading for Proverbs
3:11-18
11 My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.[b]
13 Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14 for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15 She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.
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