The End? Mark 16:9-20

Intro:

Fear: When unbelief and hardness of heart keep me from doing what God has told me to do

Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include…The gravest textual problem in the NT. It seems like quite the cliff hanger. Did Mark mean to leave it off talking about Fear or was he unable to finish the book for some reason? The verse seems to break off mid-sentence ending with a conjunction (for). This is not normal

Abrupt subject change from women to Jesus

Mary Magdalene is introduced as if she wasn’t just referenced

1/3 of the significant greek words used are not “Marcan”

Style is different

So what doe we do with this? Well first of all, it all agrees with the rest of the NT. It is not teaching something here that is not taught or confirmed someonewhere else.

It was most likely not written by Mark as a conclusion to this Gospel.

However, it is a patchwork or summaries of the resurrection appearanceance from the other Gospels and a look ahead to what would happen in Acts. This ending showed up very early and was accepted by the early church.

Outline:

Unbelief: “He Appeared” (vs. 9-14)

Ultimatum: “Go” (vs. 15-18)

Unimaginable: “Taken Up” (vs. 19-20)

Summary: Fear paralzes when unbelief and hardness of heart keep me from doing what God has told me to do.

Prayer:

Unbelief: “He Appeared” (vs. 9-14)

Mary Magdalene

He rose early on the first day of the week

He appeared first to Mary Madgalene- a woman

From whom he had cast out 7 demons- not the greatest reputation

She went

and told “those who had been with him”- unique address found only here and no where else in Mark

as they mourned

and wept

But when they heard

That he was alive

Had been seen (non-Marcan) by her

They would not believe it

Two of them- from the previous group that Mary told, the Emmaus disciples, goes from 1 to 2

After these things

He appeared in another form- in his resurrected body His identity was hidden from them

to two of them

as they were walking into the country

They went back

and told the rest

But they did not believe them

the Eleven

Afterward he appeared

to the 11 themselves

as they were reclinging at table

He rebuked them- stong verb not used elsewhere of Jesus

for their unbelief

and hardness of heart

because they had not believed those who saw him after he had rised

Application

How many times do we choose not to believe when we are overcome with mourning or weeping?

The 2 disciples were leaving the city, they were leaving the circumustances they were in and the revelation of Jesus turned them around! What circumstances have you walked away from this week that you need to return to with news of a risen Jesus?

The 11 are rebuked, not for betrayal, not for cowardice, not for disertion, but for unbelief and hardness of heart.

There is something here that should affect all of us, the disciples refused to believe what other people saw. May we not be the same! How many times do we not believe what those who saw Jesus have written in God’s Word?

The Roman audience had never seen Jesus, but they are faced with the question of whether or not they will trust those that have...

Mark wants the people who were to read this letter not to respond in unbelief because they never saw Jesus.

The harshest rebuke of Jesus is resevered for those with unbelief and hardness of heart. Which one are you more tempted towards?

Unbelief in the resurrection Jesus: Faith

Hardness of Heart- willingness to change, resloute one’s own desires and feelings

Jesus is the only one that could change their hearts even though others had gone and told them. Don’t allow fear to keep you from continually telling those around you about the resurrected Jesus

What needs to appear in your life this week to help you with unbelief and hardness or heart, what do you need to hear or see? What songs, conversations, confessions do you need to have? What passages of scripture do you eyes need to see around the house? Memories of God’s faithfulness in the past?

You know what Bible verse we have hanging from our coffee ledge in the kitchen- Matt 11:28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” it is the same one that Charlie wrote about in Challenge central

Ultimatum: “Go” (vs. 15-18)

He said to them

Go into all the world

and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation- imperative, a command with an emphasis on “All”, not just Jews but Gentiles

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved

whoever does not believe will be condemened- binary, there is a fork in the road. One will either believe and be baptized or not believe. Saved or condemned.

These signs will company those who believe

The Bible Knowledge Commentary 16:17–18

The signs authenticated the faith the early believers proclaimed, not the personal faith that any one of them exercised.

In my name they will cast our demons

They will speak in new tongues- glossa, languages that they have not studied

They will pick up serpents with their hands

Not the word for poisonous snakes- like snake charmers- but the word found in Genesis 3 speaking of temptation

If they drink any deadly poison,

it will not hurt them- “drink the cool aid”

They will lay their hands on the sick,

and they will recover

Application:

Fear has the potential to stop us from doing what God has commanded us to do. Whether it is believing what is written in his word, Repenting of sin in my life, or obeying what is written in his word.

I think this is why this section was added and accepted by the early church because it doesn’t allow fear to be the final voice. It showcases what God was doing and about to do.

Are there certain people, circumstances, or situations that you do not believe the proclaimation of the gospel will help? Have you hardened your heart based off of your own desires or thoughts? Have you stopped doing what you know is right?

Maybe you need to join our mission team here at the church and help us as a church be faithful to continue to go and preach the gospel to all, especailly those here in brantford. If so, you need to talk to Jeff Gilmore

Unimaginable: “Taken Up” (vs. 19-20)

So then the Lord Jesus

after he had spoken to them

was taken up into heaven

sat down at the right hand of God

There is nothing more that needs to be done to deal with sin. What Jesus has done is sufficient

And they went out

Preached everywhere- same as 15

While the Lord worked with them

Confirmed the message by accompanying signs

Application:

Where is Jesus in your life right now? Does he remain here in this building? Is he only involved in answering questions about the Bible or during christian conversations?

How is your preaching these days?

I was so encouraged by these words “While the Lord worked with them”. The “with them” part is what is so good. Dear believer, Jesus has promised to be with us and complete the work that He started in us. Don’t give up! Jesus never will.

In what ways are you tempted to look beyond the work of Jesus as though what He did was not sufficient to deal with the problems, issues, hardships, and joys of this life? What areas of your life, unbelief, ultimatum, or the unimaginable do you need the Lord to work with you on?

How are you doing with the unimaginable in your life these days? Things you never thought would happen whether good or not. Are you seeking this without the Lord’s Work?

Summary:

Jesus Paid it all

Communion

Bread/Body- Unbelief, what areas of your life are tempting you to question the sufficiency of the risen Jesus?

Juice/Blood- Hardness of heart what ares of your life are tempting you follow your own desires instead of what God’s desire is?