Jesus is Building His Church
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Introduction
We come to the end of our study through Mark’s gospel. We have seen a lot in our study. We have gone through a lot as a congregation during this study. And we come to the very last passage. A passage which raises all sorts of questions.
But no question is of more importance than this one, “Is this passage even supposed to be in our bibles?”
Most of your translations will have big brackets around this portion, and the note at the bottom probably says something like, “Earlier manuscripts end at verse 8.”
Meaning, that as there have been more and more manuscripts found of the early copies of the New Testament, this portion was sometimes not found. Or it was found in a different location (in a different gospel). Or some other variation. Seemingly pointing to the fact, that some scribe added this section at some time after Mark wrote this gospel.
Now, what do we do with that? Does that then undo the integrity of Scripture? Can we no longer trust our Bibles to be without error?
It does not undo Scripture’s integrity, and we certainly can trust our Bibles to be without error.
But how is that the case? If there are slight variations in manuscripts…how does that not give us warranted doubt and lead us to not trust we actually have the Word of God as it was originally given?
For a number of reasons. We can trust, that the God who is powerful enough to save us, and to give us a revelation of Himself in His Word, is also powerful enough to preserve that word throughout time.
And the evidence points to this reality:
There are a vast number of early manuscripts available. There are just over 5,700 manuscripts of the New Testament, in the Greek language alone....that’s not counting the over 10,000 in Latin, and those in other languages.
There is absolutely no other ancient document that even comes remotely close to that number of copies.
Most of the variations, or differences, which are typically due to a scribe making a mistake in copying the manuscripts by hand…or on some occasions, scribes adding in material....most of those variations are very minor.
Meaning they do not change the meaning of the text in any way at all.
With the small number of variations that do change the meaning, it is often quite easy to determine which is the original reading of the text.
Remember, we have thousands of manuscripts…between them all, we can often come to its meaning.
This leaves us with only a few, not clearly resolved variations…that do not alter the meaning of the New Testament’s message
Often because the message of those variations, is often found in other places within the New Testament
Now..when it comes to this, “long ending” as it is called, of Mark…scholars seem pretty much agreed, that this is not actually found in the text. So I debated about whether or not to approach it at all.
But I want to for 2 reasons…one to put this idea of textual criticism on your radar, and encourage you to study, so that you can be equipped apologetically to answer those with questions in this field of thought.
Two, everything brought out here…is brought out elsewhere…and it serves as a good conclusion to us for our study through this gospel.
With all of that as a backdrop, this morning we look at verses 9-20, and focus upon... what all of the endings of the gospels seem to focus on...
that which would then roll right into the book of Acts…and that is this: THE LIVING JESUS, BUILDS HIS CHURCH.
That is the big thought I hope you keep on your mind while we’re working through these verses today…THE LIVING JESUS BUILDS HIS CHURCH
9 Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.
13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole 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 cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
The Living Jesus, Builds His Church
Let’s consider 3 points in light of this text
1. Jesus is Alive
1. Jesus is Alive
We see that in verses 9-14. And as we’ve already said, even if these verses aren’t in the original, we know this is a point stressed in the other gospels as well.
We see that in verses 9-14. And as we’ve already said, even if these verses aren’t in the original, we know this is a point stressed in the other gospels as well.
Matthew records it in chapter 28
Luke in chapter 24
John in chapter 20
We learn that He visits with the Mary Magdelene (v.9); He visits with the other women, His disciples, including two on the road to Emmaus (v.12); and in the other gospels, the story of Thomas is also told
And what we find consistently, is what we find here as well…that the initial reports were not believed
11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
So that, when Jesus does appear to them personally, this text records Him rebuking them
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.
This is similar to the way Luke records it
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”
37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.
38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”
37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.
38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”
37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.
38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?
39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
Jesus is the crucified One…and as we saw last week, He has been raised by the Father.
And now…He is living. He moves about, He visits, He teaches, He opens minds to Scriptural truth, He eats with His disciples. All of this builds the evidence that the One Crucified is TRULY alive.
He truly died…He truly is alive
Apply
And that is a crucial point for you and I to grasp…for all the reasons we noted last week including, without the resurrection, you aren’t saved.
But Jesus was raised…and He lives. And the gospel writers continue to give us evidence to back up this claim.
Many seem to think of Christianity as a religion where the brain is checked at the door. Where you gather to worship in order to “experience” God…but you ought not think too deeply about things because that may mess up your relationship.
But nothing could be further from the truth. Christianity is a logical religion based on real, historical, never been proven wrong statements of truth.
In fact, I’d go as far as to say that if a person’s so-called “experiences with God,” is not as a direct result of coming to a new level of understanding some objective truth, it is highly questionable whether or not you are having an experience with the one true God.
Christians do not serve an abstract Jesus who is only discerned through subjective notions of feeling something, which makes Jesus nothing better than a middle school crush marked by puppy love…
Christians serve the real, historical Jesus. The One who is God the Son
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
who was born of the virgin Mary.
who suffered under Pontius Pilate,
who was crucified, died, and was buried;
Who rose again on the 3rd day; who ascended to heaven
who is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
who was born of the virgin Mary.
who suffered under Pontius Pilate,
who was crucified, died, and was buried;
Who rose again on the 3rd day; who ascended to heaven
who is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
Truth is truth. We don’t need to feel, see, or experience something for it to be validated. It just is…and JESUS…is alive. Don’t be skeptical and hardened to this reality as the disciples…believe it.
Be encouraged. Be courageous to preach the truth dear believer. The Jesus in whom you put your whole-hearted trust, is the real, historical, biblical Jesus. He is true…because He is truth.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
In Jesus, all our hopes are anchored…for He is the crucified One, who has been raised!
“On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand...”
The Living Jesus, builds His church.
Jesus is alive…secondly...
2. The Great Commission
2. The Great Commission
The Living Jesus, is building His church…and He does so by the means of His church fulfilling their mission on earth.
The Living Jesus, is building His church
We see this in verses 15-18
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
They were to leave no one out…everyone should hear the proclamation of the gospel; the good news; the message about Jesus’ coming to earth to save sinners
Matthew’s gospel would record it this way:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Make disciples
Not only, teach them the commandments of Jesus…but teach them to observe those commandments (this is lived out in a community of believers)
We see something similar to that, in our text in Mark…some will believe, some won’t.
As you go…your job is to present the message…present the news from the King as an ambassador is supposed to do.
And as you do, some will believe..and others won’t. And that’s the dividing line. Those who truly believe, will enter the church.
They will receive the initiatory rite, the initiatory sign…of baptism. Baptism enters them, visibly, into the church.
We have replaced baptism with other means in our day: walking an aisle to pray at the front; signing a card; raising a hand; praying a prayer. None of those enters a person into covenant relationship with other Christians....but a group of believers that gather regularly, hear the Word, and partake of the Lord’s Supper together…are a group of believers who have received the initiatory sign of covenant membership and that is baptism.
SIDE-NOTE: I urge you, if you have believed, and have never been baptized as a believer…to talk to someone about that today
Jesus gives this commission to His disciples…and He does so within the context of the victory of His resurrection.
Christ is risen…victory has come…take the King’s message of good news to all creation.
As you do…those believing and baptized will be saved. Those not believing, therefore having no reason to be baptized, will be condemned.
Then, we come to two verses (17-18) which have been often wrongly interpreted and misapplied, especially throughout the 20th century
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
What this does not mean:
That we should handle snakes, and drink poison
That all true believers today, will be able to heal the sick, cast out demons, etc.
If that’s the case, there are zero true believers on the planet
What this text is saying, is exactly what took place in the building of Christ’s church.
Read the book of Acts…and everything listed here, with the exception of drinking poison, is something that took place and was recorded.
That’s what the end of verse 20 seems to be telling us also (the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs).
These supernatural signs, were used by God, to validate the message of the apostles. That message which would be preserved, later to be gathered together in one volume…which we would one day call our New Testament.
There is no reason for a believer today to seek the appearance of these supernatural sign gifts…for the message has already been validated, and we already claim to believe it.
1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.
2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution,
3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,
4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
We now listen to the message we have in our hands....BECAUSE…it was spoken by our Lord…then by those who heard the Lord…and God bore witness to THIS message, with signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will.
And of course, this is where church history helps us…for we see, that seems to be the consensus of the church as early as the second century.
These miraculous things had ceased…so when pockets of people started professing to see them again, the church rejected it…because they already had the message. THE salvation, spoken by the Lord, and by His apostles, that God confirmed with signs…we cannot neglect it.
Apply
So then, we as a church, are not seeking for God to validate His Word…we are already believers
It has already been validated to us by the Holy Spirit’s work of CONVINCING us of the truth
Instead…from the position of belief…we go on trusting Him who gave it to us.
By doing so, we become the instruments used by God to continue to build Christ’s church.
Confidently go forward, and preach the gospel; make disciples; teach them to observe Christ’s commands.
AND IF YOU’RE HERE AND YOU’RE NOT A BELIEVER…WHAT FURTHER EVIDENCE ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR?
- God, who created you…had every right to throw you and I both into the flames of hell from the beginning of our existence
You have sinned…and deserve hell. But for every true believer, Christ took upon Himself the hell you and I deserve, and He gives us instead, eternal life.
Run away from your sinfulness today..and trust that Jesus did this on your behalf. Stake your entire life upon His promises. Trust that living Jesus invites you through His Word today, to run to Him and believe upon Him…and He will save you!
Jesus is alive
We see Him give the commission to go and proclaim the good news.
Finally...
3. Jesus’ authority
3. Jesus’ authority
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
This is what we considered some last week. As the resurrected Jesus ascends in , we ask, “Where does He go next?
9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
I mentioned it last week, but didn’t read it…but He goes to His coronation
9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.
12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
11 “I looked then because of the sound of the great words that the horn was speaking. And as I looked, the beast was killed, and its body destroyed and given over to be burned with fire.
12 As for the rest of the beasts, their dominion was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
15 “As for me, Daniel, my spirit within me was anxious, and the visions of my head alarmed me.
16 I approached one of those who stood there and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me and made known to me the interpretation of the things.
17 ‘These four great beasts are four kings who shall arise out of the earth.
18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever, forever and ever.’
Daniel 7:
This is the point being made in the text before us in Mark....that the title, “Son of Man,” that Jesus loved to use when referring to Himself, is the one in who goes before God the Father and is crowned King over all.
Jesus has ascended to heaven…He has been crowned…He is seated at the right hand of the Father’s throne.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Not only is the Great Commission given in light of the victory of the resurrection, but also in the ascension and the crowning of Jesus as the King of all kings.
Just before Luke records the ascension in , we read this in
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Jesus..is on the throne
Because He is…we should confidently go out and do His work
We should preach the gospel…the good news of the King
We should do so as ambassadors, for the one true King who is reigning over and above all the rest
3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
He is sovereign over all…and Jesus is reigning now in His rightfully earned place of authority. He is reigning on earth through His church. And His kingdom will one day be brought to full completion and recognition.
Apply
We can apply that, in at least 2 ways.
1- We are ALL called, to make disciples
Jesus is ruling and reigning..and therefore
as we go out, to give the world around us this message of good news from the world’s King…we go with confidence that He will keep doing His work of building His church.
So as we go out, to give the world around us this message of good news from the world’s King…we go with confidence that He will keep doing His work of building His church.
The message we carry, is from the King. Not “a” king, but THE King.
We don’t have to wonder about whether or not His power is greater than the prince of this world.
We don’t have to be concerned about the message being found flawed.
We don’t have wonder whether or not it will “work.”
The One crucified is alive; the one alive has ascended; the one ascended has been crowned; the one crowned now rules and reigns.
The Living Jesus, Builds His Church
So we proclaim this message with love, with wisdom, with bold courage and conviction.
Why? Because we’ve been commanded…AND…because through it the Lord will add to His church
This is precisely what the early church did…they focused upon the preached Word of God
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.
Verse 20: “and they went out and preached everywhere...”
42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
4 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word.
Their focus was the Word…because through the Word, the church would be built.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
,
2 For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
3 And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
I just simply preached the simple gospel. Some will think it needs signs added to it…some think it needs the world’s form of communication…but Paul said, I can’t give in to either of those pressures.
I will simply preach it straight and plain. For some that will mean it’s a foolish message. For others, they will stumble over it.
But for those being saved, it will be God’s powerful message to save sinners.
But regardless, the King has issued His command. Go forward and proclaim, preach, like a town crier, like an ambassador, take my message of good news and declare it to all creation.
The Lord reigns, so be used by Him, to build His church…we are ALL called to make disciples.
2- We are all called to make disciples of one another
The call to preach the gospel to people, doesn’t stop when they come to saving faith
Show of hands, who in here at some point has struggled with legalism
The idea that you have to keep doing good things to make it to heaven?
What’s the remedy? The Gospel
We need the gospel on repeat to each other. So then, in Scripture, we are given several ways we can be used by God, within the church... to build up the church.
One another commands:
Love one another, forgive, pray, encourage, bear one another’s burdens, etc.
The Gospel is the central theme of obedience for these commands
Gifts given by God’s Spirit are not for your upbuilding, your private use....but for the church:
11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,
12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;
6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.
7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
12 So with yourselves, since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
4 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function,
5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;
7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
Repeatedly we see throughout the New Testament, that God has gifted each and every person within the family of God. So then, we get plugged in and covenant together with a local church…and after doing so, we begin to use the gifts given to us to help BUILD UP the church.
And the ultimate tool for building doesn’t change....it’s always the gospel.
And, ultimately, it is a church that is being built up by each other, that God then uses to draw sinners to Himself.
Conclusion
Is this text supposed to be in our Bibles? Ultimately, I’m not smart enough to give a definitive answer.
What I do know for sure, is that the content is found in other portions of Scripture.
What I do know is that Jesus was raised, He gave a command to go and spread His good news, and He ascended to heaven where He took His rightful place at God’s right hand.
So in light of the fact that the One who is over this church has ALL authority on heaven and earth…you and I should preach the gospel to the lost, to see them added to the church.
And we should preach the gospel to each other, to build up the church
Each of us has a role to play in both.
The Living Jesus, has been building His church…and He’s been doing so for 2,000 years. You and I, in our short little window of time, get the opportunity to be a part of this moment of building.
May our eyes be taken off of this temporary world…may our desires be refocused from building temporary kingdoms of shifting sand here. And may we get busy about bringing our God glory through Christ’s church being built.