The second portion of Chapter 16 in Mark’s Gospel has led to lots of controversy especially from Gospel critics. You might not be aware about this controversy at all but the oldest manuscripts found actually end at verse 8.
“And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.“
Considering what follows in todays readings is the appearance of Jesus to the eleven apostles and charging them with the great commission of going out to baptise and so on this has become a position for sceptics to attack the resurrection. What is awkward about using it to attack the resurrection is that verse 6 of chapter 16 affirms that it happened.
“Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him.”
So within the undisputed text the Gospel author, Mark, absolutely believes in the resurrection and records it. The Church has clarified her position long ago, whether Mark wrote the verses from 9-20 or not, they are canonical scripture and have been read in the Liturgy for millennia. It is perfectly possible that the longer ending we have in the canon was missing from the ancient manuscripts because of damage or it is possible someone other than Mark made an addition or even Mark himself later made an addition. What is important is that the text is recognised as inspired and the undisputed verses are a witness for the resurrection not against it.
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
Jesus’ mission was to the Jews, the lost sheep of Israel, now that his Passover is complete and a New Covenant is installed, it is time to fulfil the promises God made to the prophets. It is time to incorporate the Gentiles, all the other nations of the world into this New Covenant. So Jesus tells the Eleven living disciples, Judas committed suicide remember and Matthias has not yet been picked, to go out in all the world and preach the Gospel. The Good News. It’s important to briefly explain what the Good News is in both its natural and supernatural contexts.
In the natural context the Gospel or euangelion is the Good News of a new King reigning over a region. When a man was granted authority or inherited the throne from his father, a messenger would go out to the people to preach the euangelion, the good news of a new King.Taking this to the cosmic scale brings us the supernatural context, not an earthly king but a heavenly king now reigns over all.
It brings us to a type of naturalism, a people is a body like a human body and the leader or king is the head. A nation is a body of people, the king in charge is the head that directs it. Now on a supernatural scale a body of people, that of the entire human race, has been invited to submit to the new King of Kings, Jesus the Christ.
Going back to Genesis we have the Tower of Babel incident where the human race, that was united, was divided by God into different locations, languages and races and all but Abraham and his progeny were disinherited by the leadership of God as king. The Good News that is being preached is the reunification of the human race under the God-King, Jesus of Nazareth.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
He assents to the message and is baptised will be saved, we should be clear that belief or assent is not an intellectual tick box made but a submission to God. Even demons can intellectually “believe” that Jesus is God, it doesn’t do anything, what is required is the absolute trust in him, something only humans are capable of. If they have this trust they will necessarily be baptised as that is what he directs, will be saved. In this context trust and baptism saves you from being cut off from God’s family, preserved by the rule of Satan. A person must cooperate with grace actively, it is not a one and done thing. Those who do not assent to the message will be condemned, cut off from this new founded family of God
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
Continuing his speech to the eleven, Jesus uses previous mechanisms that were used in his ministry but will now be extended to his apostles. Miracles will act as signs, witnesses to their message. These gifts are not present in everyone nor present in the same way at all times, their main purpose is to act as witnesses to the claims of their message. Those who struggle with the problem of evil and suffering typically harp on the point of healing miracles and how God doesn’t just heal everyone of their ailments but that is because that is not their purpose. They are signs, witnesses to the claims not a get out of pain free card.
Exorcisms will be a sign common to these as well as being able to speak in tongues. Most people understand the notion of exorcism but there is some confusion about speaking in new or other tongues. It is not randomly babbling noises that make no sense but being able to speak in the language of a person you are evangelising that you originally did not know. Still miraculous of course, but its not the silly things that people make up. The gift of tongues is most famously expressed in the Book of Acts during Pentecost where people of other languages can understand the preaching of those who could only speak Aramaic.
18 they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
They will be able to do things that would naturally kill or harm them, picking serpents without being bitten or not suffering from the bite, they can drink poisons and not be harmed. They will be able to heal the sick by laying their hands on them. Again like the previous verse all these things are present in the Book of Acts which detail the events of apostles after the Gospels.
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