May wife Paula and I loves a good thriller, a body has been found someone has been murdered in the most dreadful circumstances. How did it happen who did it, and how is it going to end? I often tease her that this is not suitable viewing for a Pastor and his wife. Have you ever been in a situation maybe reading a book or watching or listening to one of these new long form detective documentary series like “The making of a Murderer” and wondering how is this story going to end? You might even ponder the question is their going to be a twist in the tale, a surprise at the end.
Sometimes when reading a book some people are tempted to read the final chapter instead to find out what’s happens in the end. Did you know that controversial 1960’s playwright Joe Orten was convicted of damaging public property by defacing his local library books. As well as scribbling obscenities in them, they also tore out the last few pages of all the Agatha Christies novels, so people would get to the end and never find out whodunnit.
Maybe for us, in this day and age, when we get to the end of reading the life of Christ, we are so familiar with what happens at the end, that this colours our reading of it from the very beginning. I am sure most of us, if not all of us knew when we started on this long series of Podcasts, that would turn out to be 44 episodes, that at the end of the story he would be crucified, and he was going to die. We maybe even already knew that he was also going to be raised again and ascend into heaven. All those events did indeed happen and are set out for us very clearly also in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. However, the end of Mark Gospel account is full of surprises. Question have even raised because of the controversial nature of the text as to whether it should even be in the Bible. It almost seems to be teaching that we should be handling snakes and drinking poisons.
This is a very challenging piece of scripture but it worth getting to the bottom of it. I would like to begin by asserting that I believe it should be in the Bible. Let me first explain why I believe this, and I will get to the other perceived problems as we progress. Sometimes if you have a modern translation of the bible (Like the N.I.V) usually before the last 11 verses there is a little Asterix directing, you to a footnote that says something like this. “Some early manuscripts and some other ancient versions do not have verses 9–20”. However, it is interesting to note that these verses appear in their entirety in the authorised, King James versions of the bible with no such footnotes or qualifications. So, let me try and throw some light on these queries.
Let me first of all state, this text appears in every manuscript of the bible that have been produced except two, and in those editions where the verses are missing there is still a blank space to draw attention to the fact that this is not the end of the book rather there is actually something missing from the end of this Gospel account. The two manuscripts that these verses are not contained in are dated around 350AD. However, the missing verses are referred to in the writing of a man called Irenaeus who wrote in the latter part of the 2nd century, over 150 years earlier. The text also appears in the writing of Justin Martyr who wrote about 100 years before those editions. So, the text appears in all the main manuscripts and although it doesn’t appear in a couple of early manuscript it does appear in writings about the gospel of Mark that were written approximately 100-150 years before those two manuscripts.
Now that’s the technical argument why Marks account doesn’t end at verse 8. But there is also a very practical reason why it cannot end there. If it ended at verse 8 the ending would be unnaturally abrupt and it would be a completely abnormal ending. In fact, the final sentence of verse 8 isn’t even complete.
Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
(Mark 16:8)
Not a great way to end the gospel story, is it? It’s hard to pick up in the English translation but in the original Greek text it actually ends with the word for…. For, F.O.R. Anybody who knows anything about New Testament Greek knows you don’t end a sentence with, for. It a bit like ending an English sentence with the word because. You don’t end sentence or thought with the word “for”. You begin a sentence or an idea with the word “for”.
Furthermore, and I think this is the biggie, do you really think that is the way Mark would have ended his Gospel. It’s just not reasonable because verse 8 exists to set up a situation where the apostles are scared and afraid. Verse 8 exists to set up the coming narrative where Jesus will appear to them one more time to help them overcome their fear and embolden them to go out and preach the gospel.
Ok, suppose we accept it’s genuine and these verses need to be there, but what is all this stuff about snakes and poisons. We will get to that but let’s first look at, Verses 9-10 first.
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.
(Mark 16: 9-10)
The very first person that Jesus appears too is Mary Magdalene. It is useful to remember that at this time in the culture women really were second class citizens. The Lord honours women here by first appearing to a woman. The Lord appears to Mary Magdalene, and she goes and tells the disciples. So there mourning, grieving and weeping and she comes in and says to them he is alive.
When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
(Mark 16: 11)
“Jesus is alive”, but they don’t believe it. How disappointing, they don’t believe her. Let me show you why I say that’s disappointing. Look with me again back at Mark Ch 9.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
(Mark 9: 9)
Did they know he was going to be raised from the dead? Yes, they did because he told them so a few weeks earlier. Did they know what that meant? Yes, they did because they had even discussed it.
They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what “rising from the dead” meant.
(Mark 9: 10)
And later in the chapter we are even told this.
They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.”
(Mark 9: 30-31)
Had he told them this before, yes, twice already. Come with me now to chapter 10.
They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again, he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. “We are going up to Jerusalem,” he said, “and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.”
(Mark 10: 32-34)
That was at least three times they have been told, and by Jesus himself, and it still didn’t sink in and now Mary come to them and says I saw Him, and they still don’t believe. OK, let’s continue in the main text and see if things improve.
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
(Mark 16: 12-13)
It would almost be amusing if it wasn’t so important. 111The Old Testament said by two or three witnesses should everything be established. So, we have the testimony of Mary Magdalene, and the witness of these two other ex-followers of the Lord travelling cross country on the road to Emmaus, and they still did not believe it. Twice they have been told after the event and twice they have not believed. Keep that in mind when we read the next verses.
Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
(Mark 16: 14)
So, the Lord appears to them and the first thing He does is rebuke them for their unbelief and “hardness of heart”. The picture Jesus is drawing here, people who have a hard heart are unable to absorb what God wishes to pour into them. A hard heart is like a stone it cannot receive the message, it cannot absorb it in and apply it internally, and out of that situation comes unbelief. And Jesus firmly rebukes them for this. Then He says.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
(Mark 16: 15-16)
In spite of rebuking them for unbelief, please note he doesn’t say, “I am done with you lot”, he actually says, “I am just beginning with you”. So even though they are riddled with unbelief, they are still commanded to go into the world and tell the people of the good news of Jesus. Some of the people he is telling to go here I few minutes ago didn’t even seem to believe he has risen from the dead but he tells them to go anyway.
Part of what they are to do in this commission is to baptise. We know from Matthew chapter 28 that they were to go make disciples and to baptise them in the name of Jesus, and they shall be saved. And here Mark also mentions that they should baptise. Believe and be baptised and you will be saved. Not believe and be baptised in order that you be saved. So, he gives them a commission and then he makes a promise and then this is where the really big surprise comes.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new (other/foreign) tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
(Mark 16: 17-18)
So, he commissioned them, and make a promise, and lists five miraculous signs. Cast out demons. Speak with tongues. Handle snakes. Drink deadly poisons. Heal the sick. So, what does that all actually say? Let me tell you what it most definitely does not say. It does not say these signs will follow all who believe. It does not say these signs will follow everyone who believes…. NO What it does means that these signs shall be seen among those who believe as a group. Within the family of believers worldwide these signs will be witnessed. He then tells us the purpose of these sign.
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. The next question we might reasonably ask is when might these signs occur? Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
(Mark 16: 19-20)
At the beginning of the preaching of the word, these believers, the Apostles, were given these signs to confirm the message. That is why throughout early church history the particular signs and wonders mentioned in these two verses are usually called “apostolic signs or described as “confirming” signs”. Now let me add this. In my opinion, these particular confirming signs ceased after the apostolic era. In fact, in Hebrews chapter 2 it tells us this will be so; This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
(Hebrews 2: 4)
I believe there is biblical evidence to say that the signs not specifically mention later in the Pastoral letters as ongoing gifts of the spirit would in fact cease after the apostolic era and the truth of the matter is they did. There is absolutely no question that in the history for the church some of these types of signs did not occur after the apostolic era ended. Until very recent church history about the last 100 years and really only in the last 50.
Christ Ascends to God’s Right Hand
So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. Please note, Jesus is right now sitting on the right hand of God interceding on our behalf. Not yet sitting on the throne judging. At this time, he sits at the right hand of the father in the position of an advocate and one who offers prayer on behalf of you and me. Like a great high priest offering intercession for us. Note the apostles where commanded to, go “out and preach everywhere and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.
Do you know that various church traditions report the following about what the apostles did after receiving this command. Peter went to Babylon and Rome, where he was crucified upside down. Andrew went to Southern Russia and Turkey. James the son of Zebedee visited Spain and upon his return to the middle east was killed by Herod Agrippa. John also went to Turkey including Ephesus. Phillip went to Western Europe and one tradition says he got as far as France. Bartholomew and Nathanial went to Iran and then further east into Asia Minor, where he was skinned alive then beheaded. Tradition says Thomas preached in Persian where he met the wise men and baptised them. Then he is supposed to have taken them with him into India. Matthew stayed in the Holy Land for a further 15 years then went to Persian and Ethiopia. James the son of Alpheus went to Syria. Jude went to Armenia, Syria and Northern Persia (modern day norther Iraq.)
Simon the Canaanite travelled to Mesopotamia, Spain and some even say Britain where he met up with Joseph of Arimathea. Regardless of whether that final part is true we do know for sure, but we do know he was eventually martyred in Persia. The point I am making is they went everywhere, just as they were told everywhere. So, Mark finishes his gospel by saying these believers did what the lord told them to do.
So, let me sum all this up by saying how I believe this applies to us today. The message is quite straight forward really, in that after Jesus arose, and he commissioned the disciples. He arose and told them to go preach the gospel to the whole wide world. How much of this applies to us today? Let me tell you what does not apply to us. Firstly, you don’t have to drink poison, you don’t have to handle snakes. Relieved! – Good 4 of these 5 Apostolic signs were reported as having been done in the Book of Acts. Apostolic signs and wonders are recorded for us in the book called “The Acts of the Apostles” for that very reason. But what definitely still does apply to us today?
Let’s look again at verse 15. “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”. Could 11 people on their own fulfil that commandment? NO.
Mathew tells a little more in his account in that this commission is to preach the gospel to all creation, to the end of the age. So that means this commission also apples to us today and it will apply to all believers always until this done. They struggled with unbelief, yet they still told to do it, and they still went. We say we believe, what’s our excuse?
You may remember last week we talked about Joseph and Nicodemus two men who should have been in great fear. The disciples it turned out were quite right to be in fear of their lives by doing this. Yet they overcame their fear and did what the Lord commanded. What’s your excuse?
I have suggested in this lengthy series, and I shall say it again, if we think of ourselves, then we will remain silent. But if you think compassionately about others, and about the Lord then you will tell other what He means to you. However, if we remain silent, others will stay trapped in their broken lives. We should think of them and speak about what the Lord has done. If we remain silent, other remain trapped, If we speak, other can be set free.