Signs That Follow
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Intro: Tonight as we finish the Gospel of Mark, I want us to look at what has become a controversial issue within the church, “Signs.” As Jesus commanded His disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature”, He said certain signs will follow those who believe. Jesus names five signs that will follow believer’s in His name;
Casting out of demons, speaking in new tongues, taking up serpents, not being hurt by drinking poison, laying hands on the sick for healing.
Mark is the only gospel that names specific signs whereas the other gospels say that “all authority has been given to Jesus and He tells his disciples to go in His authority” and that “they would receive power from the promise of the Father to accomplish His work.”
So the question we need to answer tonight is, “Why aren’t these signs/miracles manifest in the church today?”
Text: Mark 16:17-18
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
1. Signs;
1. Signs;
Signs are supernatural events [miracles], validating the divine origin of the Apostles message [cf v.20].
Just as with Jesus’ miracles, these signs would authenticate the source of their power and draw people to belief.
11 Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him.
37 If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me;
38 but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
In My Name;
Casting out demons- demonstrated Jesus’ power over Satan’s realm. This had already been done by the disciples [12/70]. But this was continued in the church to attract attention to the doctrine of Christ.
5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them.
6 And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.
7 For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed.
8 And there was great joy in that city.
18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.
Speak with new tongues- the key word here is “new”. It means a language that they have not previously learned. Not gibberish, but language that is intelligible. This was demonstrated at Pentecost.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5 And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven.
6 And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.
45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered,
47 “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”
48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.
This was a sign to Jews that Gentiles could be saved too and be a part of the church!
Take up serpents- this is not talking about handling snakes but protection for those who unintentionally encounter a danger like this.
3 But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
4 So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live.”
5 But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm.
6 However, they were expecting that he would swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they had looked for a long time and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.
Drink anything deadly- unintentionally drinking poison. There are no recorded instances of this in the NT, but there is one in the OT.
38 And Elisha returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. Now the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.”
39 So one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, though they did not know what they were.
40 Then they served it to the men to eat. Now it happened, as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, “Man of God, there is death in the pot!” And they could not eat it.
41 So he said, “Then bring some flour.” And he put it into the pot, and said, “Serve it to the people, that they may eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot.
Lay hands on the sick for healing- the disciples did this when they walked with Christ and it continued into the NT church era.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.”
7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God.
12 And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon’s Porch.
13 Yet none of the rest dared join them, but the people esteemed them highly.
14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women,
15 so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them.
16 Also a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
11 Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul,
8 And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him.
2. Where are the signs today?
2. Where are the signs today?
The question about these two verses is whether the “signs” indicated were meant to be (1) permanent activities practiced by all believers, or (2) temporary works associated especially with the apostles.
These signs were necessary in the beginning of Christianity, serving as signs to attest the truth and authority of the apostles’ message in a time when the N.T. itself was in process and incomplete. In order that faith might take root and increase, it must be nourished by miracle; for so even we, when we plant shrubs, only water them until we see that they are taking root, and when we see that they have rooted themselves, we cease to water them.
Spence H. D. M., ed. (1909). St. Mark (Vol. 2, p. 348). Funk & Wagnalls Company.
These signs were what Paul calls “the signs of an apostle” and I believe were for a temporary time.
12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
But I also believe these signs are still here today and do follow those who believe. Maybe not in the mind blowing manifestation they were then, but still in a miraculous fashion.
Casting out demons- When we share the gospel with someone and God saves them, He delivers them from Satan’s dominion.
13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,
Speak with new tongue- When a person is saved he speaks with a new tongue
25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another.
Taking up serpents/drinking poison unintentionally- I believe God intervenes to protect us from various harm when we are walking in faith and about His ministry. [Ills. I have a TB nodule on my lung from a mission in Mexico, but it is dead]
11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
Laying hands on the sick- I believe in laying hands on the sick and praying for God to intervene and heal.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Close;
The overall task of the church today is the same as in the days of the Apostles, to “take the gospel to all the world.”
The manner of that work is still the same, “go in the name of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
The promises given by Christ are the same as well, “signs” [supernatural events] “follow those who believe.”
We are promised the power needed for the ministry!
12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.