Mark 16:9-20
Appearances & disbelief (Vv. 9-14)
Go & Tell / A Confirmation of the Message (Vv. 15-18, V. 20)
Seated at the Right Hand of God (V. 19)
Is it possible that the promise of immunity to snakebites and poison was given in the context of persecution and the traveling conditions during the early spread of the gospel and the apostolic age? It is possible that Jesus was referring to situations where persecutors would force believers to do certain life-threatening things. The first two clauses, according to Greek grammar, could be translated, “If they are compelled to pick up snakes, and if they are compelled to drink deadly poison, it shall not harm them.” The use of “if” makes this conditional and not mandatory.
There is no question that God can do whatever he wants, when he wants, and however he wants. There is no question that God can perform miracles today. Yet, we find that even in the Bible miracles were not the norm but were the exception. The purpose of miracles was to authenticate God’s message. Even in the life of Jesus we see fewer miracles at the end of his earthly ministry, except for one—the resurrection.
Carl Laney says, “A thorough study of the apostolic miracles indicates that they fulfilled their function in the apostolic era and ceased around A.D. 70. This is evidenced by the decline in miracles following Pentecost, with none being recorded in the last decade of the apostolic age. The early church fathers Chrysotom and Augustine confirm the fact that there was an absence of miracles after the apostolic age” (Laney, Answers to Tough Questions, pp. 217–218).
Miracles are possible today, but there is no biblical basis for us to expect them or command them. The true miracle is the ability to live out the Christian life. This can only be done through the indwelling resurrection power of Jesus Christ. When people observe us living a Christlike life in today’s world, they see the miracle of redemption and salvation through Jesus Christ in our lives.