THE MISSION

The Gospel of Mark #54

Pastor Dennis Clanton

Woodland Church

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

(Mark 16:9–20, NLT) “After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her. Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them. Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead. And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.”

• There are some scholars that say this portion of Scripture is not authentic.

• Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, 400 AD

• Two Church Fathers Irenaeus (140 – 198 AD) and Hippolytus (160 – 236) quote from this portion of Mark.

• The signs followed not preceded the preaching of the gospel.

• The Lord never intended for anyone to put themselves in jeopardy to prove anything.

(Luke 4:9–12, NLT) “Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.”

1. We have a Message.

(Mark 16:9–10, NLT) “After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened.”

(Mark 8:29, ESV) “You are the Christ.”

a. The joy of sharing good news!

(Mark 16:10–11, NLT) “She told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him…”

b. Keep praying and sharing the Good News with the unbeliever.

“…they didn’t believe her.” (Verse 10b)

(Mark 16:12–13, NLT) “Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them.”

c. The authority and power of Jesus is never depleted.

(John 5:17, NLT) “My Father is always working, and so am I.”

(Mark 16:14, NLT) “Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.”

d. The fullness of God is in Christ.

(Colossians 2:9, NLT) “For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.”

2. We have a Master.

“When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” (verse 19)

(Mark 16:20, NLT) “…the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.”

a. Jesus builds the church.

b. Jesus is head of the church.

c. Jesus inhabits the church.

d. Jesus leads the church.

3. We have a Mission.

(Mark 16:15-16, 20, NLT) “And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned … And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.”

a. Pilate’s question, “Who are you?” is everyone’s question.

b. I am judge and plaintiff.

c. It is my choice to believe or refuse to believe.

d. To believe in Jesus Christ, the Lord, is to live in goodness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

(Romans 14:17–18, NLT) “For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God, and others will approve of you, too.”

• There is forgiveness of sin in Christ’s name for all repent.

• The message is Jesus Christ’ virgin birth, sinless life, miracles, sufferings, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and return.

• The scope of our work is the entire earth.

e. Share the good news.

f. Ask God to keep you focused.

g. Remember, we are witnesses.