Mark 16:12-20 (NKJV) Jesus Appears to Two Disciples
(Luke 24:13–35)
12 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.
The Great Commission
(Matt. 28:16–20; Luke 24:44–49; Acts 1:6–8)
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 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.”
Christ Ascends to God’s Right Hand
(Luke 24:50–53)
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. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
V12 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.
Evidently, Jesus’s body build, shape, facial features, and voice were altered. He had a purpose for this, which was to test the disciples and encourage their faith. Compare 1 Peter 1:3-10.
V13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.
After Jesus broke bread and prayed, He disappeared. Those disciples had recognized Him. Leaving there, they went to tell the other disciples that they had seen Jesus, but no one believed them. After all the witnesses so far, they still didn’t believe.
Jesus addressed this to Thomas: John 20:29 NKJV – Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed [are] those who have not seen and [yet] have believed.”
V14 Later, He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
He did not yell at them. He pointed out their unbelief even in the face of personal testimony. Hardness of heart refers to their resisting what they thought to be impossible, even though Jesus had predicted His resurrection. But, nothing is impossible for God that He wishes to do.
V15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
Every creature is every person. All have the opportunity to believe. We are always to be ready to share the Gospel.
The basics of the Gospel in a cartoon version: https://livingwaters.com/are-you-a-good-person/
V16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
Baptism is not necessary for salvation. All people are condemned when born. Psalms 51:5 (NLT) For I was born a sinner—yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
Baptism does not save (“he who does not believe will be condemned”).
James Leonard
https://arminianbaptist.blogspot.com
“For our part, Baptists believe that the first urgency—the first order of business for a new follower of Jesus—is to obey his command to be baptized. Baptism is not optional. Nor is it to be deferred for the sake of one’s personal feelings or preferences. If one fails to be obedient to this first command, what is the point of following Jesus at all?
“Yet, baptism is not something which saves. Rather, the person who is already saved is called to be baptized. That is, baptism is for those who have already decided to follow Jesus. Indeed, baptism is a person’s declaration to the world: “I am a Christian. I follow Jesus. I pledge my life and devotion to him.” As such, baptism is not a private event. It is a public event, to be undertaken before many witnesses.
“Moreover, baptism is a multifaceted symbol: 1) the washing away of sins through faith in Christ; 2) the death and burial of the old life, and the beginning of the new life; and 3) the placement of a person into the family of God, the Church.
If you are already a believer but have not received believer’s baptism, we invite you to come down to the river to follow Christ in baptism.”
V17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
These things have happened and perhaps will again, but we shouldn’t expect these things for every believer.
V18 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.”
(Holman Commentary) “Just a word of caution. The person who takes up snakes to prove his or her faith is yielding to the temptation Satan presented to Jesus on the pinnacle of the temple in Matthew 4:5-7. Satan said, in effect, “Cast yourself down and see if God will take care of you.” Satan wants us to “show off our faith and force God to perform unnecessary miracles.” Warren Wiersbe puts it well: “ Jesus refused to tempt God, and we should follow his example. Yes, God cares for his children when, in his will, they are in dangerous places; but he is not obligated to care for us when we foolishly get out of his will. We are called to live by faith, not by chance, and to trust God, not tempt him” (Wiersbe, p. 155).”
V19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
Our Lord Jesus finished His first coming ministry. He ascended to heaven and sat at the right hand of His Father (highest honor).
V20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
They believed and went out.
Why did the apostles die? See here↓
https://biblehub.com/q/why_did_the_apostles_die.htm
We learn:
- Some of the activity of the early church from Jesus’s resurrection to ascension.
- The Great Commission
Questions:
- Do we believe in Jesus’s resurrection?
- Are we ready and able to share the Gospel when opportunity arises?