GO AND PREACH THE GOSPEL

Mark 16:9-20 / Keywords 16:15

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.

 

[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.

 

1. After Jesus rose, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene. Jesus had healed Mary of her demon possession. Now she would tell those who followed Jesus that she had seen him and that he was alive. They were all mourning and weeping. When they heard the news, they did not believe. Later Jesus appeared to two of his followers as they were walking in the country. They also reported this to the rest of the disciples, but again they did not believe. Finally, Jesus met the Eleven personally. He rebuked their stubborn refusal to believe. Jesus came to confront unbelief, for it is sin. Jesus has risen. It is not time to dwell in unbelief, but in his resurrection.

 

2. Next Jesus commanded these same disciples, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” They struggled with their unbelief, but Jesus appointed them to struggle in a new way as gospel messengers. They were called to be life givers, to call all creation out of unbelief and into life. The risen Jesus promised to be with them in their mission by the signs that accompanied them, but after he spoke with them he was taken up into heaven. They would preach the gospel everywhere, and the Lord has been using their gospel preaching to this day.

 

Prayer Lord, thank you for Jesus, who died for my unbelief. Use me as a gospel servant and life giver in these times.

One Word Preach the gospel to all creation