Review of Mark 16

Review of Mark 16

by Victor Fawole

THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN HISTORY

Welcome to the last chapter of the book of Mark. What an interesting ride we’ve had so far! It makes more sense that we read this book as we approach Easter. The Son of God became a servant so as to redeem us and make us sons of God. Let us dig in and enjoy the final page of Mark’s gospel.

1. HIS RESURRECTION IS MY RECEIPT

Mark 16:5-7 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”

Remember all the predictions Jesus made? This is the ultimate of all, and glory to God… He rose as He promised! This is the most important event in the history of humanity. The validity of our faith and the guarantee of our salvation are strictly hinged on the resurrection of Jesus. Whenever someone asks me the hope of my eternal salvation, I present Christ’s resurrection as my receipt. The work of my salvation was accomplished by the Son, accepted by the Father and applied by the Spirit. Hallelujah!

If you desire a deeper understanding of the importance and power of the resurrection, please listen to these teachings by Pastor Dammy:

Although the earliest manuscripts of Mark do not contain verses 9-20, the portion should not be entirely discarded. I’d like to call our attention to three more things in this “ending” of Mark.

2. HIS ASCENSION IS MY ASSURANCE

Mark 16:19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

Recently, there has been an attack on the doctrine of the bodily ascension of Jesus. I stumbled upon a video on the internet, where a popular preacher said that Jesus didn’t actually ascend physically into heaven. He took time to refute Acts 1:9

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

He even claimed that the angels didn’t know well (that at least, they don’t have as much knowledge as us — believers), and they wrongly interpreted Jesus’ movement. He claimed that Jesus “became” the Holy Spirit and entered into the disciples instead. He claimed that the angels were wrong when they said:

Acts 1:10-11 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

That is an erroneous position to take when handling scriptures. The bodily ascension of Jesus was not only recorded, it was also taught by the apostles.

The significance of a physical, literal, and bodily ascension of Jesus cannot be overstated and should not be underemphasized. It indicates so many things like:

  • The end of His earthly ministry
  • The success of His earthly work of redemption
  • The return of His heavenly glory
  • His exaltation by the Father (Eph. 1:20-23; Phil. 2:9)
  • The beginning of His new work as High Priest (Heb. 4:14-16) and Mediator of the New Covenant (Heb. 9:15)
  • The literal, bodily, and visible pattern for His second coming

Why then is it to our favour that Jesus ascended into heaven? He did so to:

  • Prepare a place for us (John 14:3);
  • Make intercession for us (Rom. 8:34); and
  • Give gifts to us (Eph. 4:8).

For a deeper understanding of the doctrine and power of Jesus’ ascension, listen to this Pastor Dammy’s sermon titled: What Is Finished?

3. HIS POSTURE IS MY PEACE

Mark 16:19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

The sitting posture of Jesus in heaven is one that should always bring peace, joy, and confidence to the heart of every believer. The Bible says that He sits at the right hand of God. Paul and Peter were very loud on this!

Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Hebrews 1:3 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,

1 Peter 3:21-22 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Acts 2:32-33 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

Acts 5:30-31 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.

Ephesians 1:20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

Hebrews 8:1 Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens,

Hebrews 10:12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,

These verses (and more) are joy-givers. What does it mean to us (believers) that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God?

  • Jesus reigns over everything forever
  • Our sins are forgiven forever
  • Death is conquered forever
  • His sacrifice for sins is perfect, complete, valid and fresh forever
  • We have been sanctified forever
  • He lives forever to make intercession for us

What then should be our responses to this truth? Believe it and rejoice! I recommend these resources by Pastor Dammy:

4. HIS POWER ACCOMPANIES OUR PREACHING

Mark 16:20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

This verse summarizes the experiences of the apostles in the book of Acts. As the disciples preached, the Holy Spirit granted them to perform miraculous signs. The most common signs were healing, casting out demons, and speaking in the unlearned languages of other people. Of course, we’ve learnt about the biblical position on the gift of tongues through Pastor Dammy’s teachings (https://gospelofgraceoutreach.org/srm-tags/tongues/).

The miracles performed by the apostles validated their message and mission. The Lord worked with them by removing obstacles, supporting them, strengthening them against oppositions and persecutions, and by giving the gospel huge success and saving men.

When we go out on gospel missions, Jesus will work with us. As we do what Jesus told us to do, He will do what only He could do – the accompanying signs. This is the excellent pattern for ministry. Signs are meant to follow believers; we are not to follow after signs.

Hallelujah!

Thanks for reading.

Grace to you. Amen.

Leave a Reply