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Introduction: With the exception
of Acts
2:38, I probably quote Mark
16:16 more than any other Bible passage. We have heard
this verse in sermons and Bible classes. We know what Mark
16:16 means. Regrettably, we rarely look at the
surrounding verses, which contain great lessons for us as well.
Discussion: I. What happened in Mark 16:14-20? A.
By this
point, Jesus had risen from the dead (Mark
16:6). Between the time Jesus was resurrected and actually
appeared the apostles themselves, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene
and two other disciples. When these three witnesses reported to
the apostles, they did not believe them (Mark
16:11, 13). Five things happen in Mark
16:14-20 revolving around the apostles’ unbelief. B.
In Mark
16:14, Jesus rebuked the apostles for their lack of belief
when they received testimony from credible witnesses. These men
had seen Jesus walk on water (Mark
6:45-52), feed five thousand with five loaves and two fish
(Mark
6:33-44) and even raise others from the dead (Mark
5:35-43). Additionally, Jesus had told his disciples this
would happen (Mark
9:31). No wonder Jesus reproached them for unbelief and
hardness of heart. Keep this in mind. C.
The second
thing that happened in these verses is the great commission.
Despite the fact that these men had not believed eyewitness
testimony, Jesus was still going to offer them a great role in the
kingdom. He commissioned them to preach His Gospel to all mankind
(Mark
16:15). As part of this commission, Jesus explained whom
this Gospel would save. “He who has believed and has been
baptized shall be saved” (Mark
16:16). D.
Thirdly,
along with the commission for the apostles, Jesus made a promise
to the apostles. If they believed Him, implying obedience to the
commission, they would perform great signs. Some have difficulty
at this point, believing these signs are promised to follow “he
who believes” from Mark
16:16. However, that is not the case. Notice the pronouns
used. While giving the commission, Jesus spoke of “he” who has
believed and has been baptized. However, when Jesus speaks of
accompanying signs He now speaks of a different group: “those”
who believe. The different pronouns demonstrate a shift. Mark
16:17-18 is not part of the great commission. It is a
promise to the apostles of help in obeying the commission. In
fact, continue noticing what happens in these verses and we will
see the fulfillment of this promise in a few verses. E.
Fourthly,
the apostles believed and obeyed the commission of Jesus. Instead
of hiding, afraid they might suffer their Master’s fate, they
boldly followed the great commission. Of course, according to
history, it seems all but one of them followed in their Master’s
footsteps as martyrs. F.
Finally, we
see Christ’s promise fulfilled. Jesus had promised that great
signs would follow those who believed. Now, as the book closes
out, we actually see the signs and who they followed. They did not
follow those who believed the teaching of the apostles. Instead,
they followed the belief and obedience of the apostles to the
commission and were used to confirm the word of the apostles so
others would believe the apostles’ teaching. G.
To sum up,
when we study the context of these verses, we find out that we
were not the subject of these verses. No doubt, the application
regarding salvation applies to us. But the message in these verses
was about the sin of the apostles, the rebuke they received and
their repentance and obedience to the Lord. Considering this, we
can learn some lessons from these verses. II.
The apostles
were not greater than we are. A.
A common
misunderstanding today is that the apostles were greater than we
are and were therefore more blessed than we are. However, they
were just like we are. They had weaknesses also. The apostles are
our examples, not because they had some superhuman strength or
faith. Rather they are our examples because they had the same
difficulties we have, but they overcame them and served Christ. So
can we. B.
I want to
remind you of something. It is often the case when someone speaks
of the weakness of the apostles’ faith at this point, that some
well meaning brother (and I have been this brother before) will
try to bring some reality to this situation and ask who of us
would have believed? Let’s consider their situation, they had
seen Jesus do amazing things (see above). Yet, when given credible
testimony, they didn’t believe. We today, haven’t seen any of
this. We simply have the credible testimony. No wonder Jesus says
to Thomas in John
20:29 that those who believed but didn’t see are
blessed. That includes us. Every single believer today has
demonstrated a greater faith than the apostles had following the
resurrection. C.
Please,
don’t take that to mean that the apostles should not be
respected. They should, but not because they are greater in
stature or faith. Rather, because of the role they were given as
the first to give testimony of Jesus and as those through whom the
doctrine of Christ came to us. III.
Jesus is
merciful. A.
Jesus had
spent three years with these men. He had taught them. He had shown
them amazing miracles. He had allowed them to perform miracles. He
had even told them what was going to happen. Yet, when He was
risen, He found them in unbelief. Can you imagine the frustration,
irritation and even anger that you and I would have with these
men? But not Jesus. B.
Despite
their immediate unbelief, Jesus extended grace and mercy. Not just
that these might be some of the saved, but that they would have
one of the greatest roles among the saved. They would be the
apostles, those who bore witness of Him to the remotest part of
the earth (Acts
1:8). On top of this, He was going to give them great
power to help them fulfill their roles. C.
It doesn’t
matter what kind of person you were before you became a Christian
or what kind of Christian you have been. If you will submit to
Jesus now, He will bestow mercy upon you. You will be saved and
used for great things. Granted, we are not promised the miraculous
powers. But we can do great things for God. Don’t wallow in
self-pity thinking God cannot love or use you. If He could use
these men, despite their weaknesses. He can use you, despite
yours. IV.
Jesus’
promises come true. A.
Despite
their unbelief, Jesus still made some amazing promises to the
apostles. They would be able to cast out demons. They would speak
with new tongues. They would be poisoned but without harm, whether
from snakes or deadly poisons. They would heal the sick. B.
Not only do
we read Mark’s testimony that the Lord worked with them with
accompanying signs, but we also see the fulfillment of these
things in Acts
2:4, where the apostles spoke in new tongues. Peter healed
the lame man in Acts
3:6. Acts
2:43 describes the power displayed, not by all Christians,
but by the apostles. Jesus’ promise to the apostles came true. C.
Jesus’
promises for us will also come true. But note that the apostles
had to believe Jesus for the promise to come true. We too, must
believe Jesus’ promises acting on them in accord to His
commandments in order to receive what He has promised us. This
leads us to our final point. V.
We can be
saved by believing and obeying the teaching of the apostles. A.
Mark
16:16
was spoken to the apostles so they could understand their place in
God’s plan. But in saying this to them, Jesus secondarily speaks
a promise to us about salvation. That promise is this, the
apostles were going to teach about Jesus. Whoever believed the
testimony of the apostles and obeyed in baptism would be saved. B.
The apostles
had to believe to receive Jesus’ promise. We too must believe.
Reread that statement. “He who has believed and has been
baptized shall be saved.” For some reason the second half of
this verse confuses people. Take note that the two halves make two
promises to two different people. One is a promise of salvation
and the other is a promise of condemnation. Keeping that in mind,
allow me to advise you. If you want the promised condemnation,
then focus on the second half of the verse. On the other hand, if
you want the promised salvation, then obey the first half of the
verse. Believe and be baptized and God will save you. Conclusion: Amazing how much is contained in just a few verses. Even more amazing is how we might have missed these lessons if all we ever focused on was just the one verse, Mark 16:16. As we conclude, allow me to invite you to consider these lessons and where they led us. Jesus keeps His promises. If you don’t believe and obey His word, Jesus has promised you condemnation. But, despite your disbelief to this point, Jesus is giving you opportunity now to believe and receive His promise of salvation. Why not believe and be baptized right now?
Glory
to God in the church by Christ Jesus
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