Parting Words
Mark 16
Text:
Introduction:
The Lord again is preparing His disciples for His departure. He knew that He would be ascending back into Heaven. He also knew that when He left, His followers would have the task of continuing His work in the world. They would have the task of carrying the message of salvation to the ends of the earth.
If they were going to carry out that mission, they needed an understanding of exactly what that mission would require.
They needed to know that there would be successes, and they needed to know that there would also be failures.
They needed to know that some people would believe their message, while others would reject the same message.
They needed words of comfort, words of hope and words of instruction.
That is exactly what they heard from the Lord that day.
Today we’ll focus on the Lord’s parting words to His disciples.
In these words we will see three clear statements from the Lord.
Notice:
1. The Requirement of the Saved (vs. 15)
Mark 16:15
15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
A. Our Message – preach the Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The Gospel is comprised of three essential components.
- Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures
- He was buried
- He rose again the third day according to the scriptures
B. Our Mission Field – into the world; to every creature
No place was off limits. No people group was left out. It did not matter how wicked the people were, where they lived, or what they looked like, they were to be given this message.
2. The Responsibility of the Sinner (vs. 16-17)
Mark 16:16-17
16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
The saved have a responsibility to share the Gospel of grace. Sinners also have a responsibility when it comes to the Gospel.
Their responsibility is three-fold:
A. To Answer – He that believeth
B. To Act - Baptized
This verse has been misunderstood and misapplied by many who want to add baptism to faith as the condition for salvation.
- The thief on the cross was never baptized (Luke 23:43)
Luke 23:43
43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
- The gentiles who believed in Caesarea were baptized after they believed (Acts 10:44-48)
Acts 10:44-48
44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
- The Lord did not baptized anyone (John 4:1-2)
John 4:1-2
1 When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John, 2 (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
- Paul stated that he was glad that he had only baptized a few of their number (1 Cor. 1:14-16)
1 Corinthians 1:14-16
14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; 15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. 16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
- Nearly 150 passages in the New Testament teach us that salvation is through faith alone.
- In the New Testament, baptism is connected closely with death and burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:1-5)
Romans 6:1-5
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
If Jesus is not talking about being baptized for salvation, what is He talking about? Jesus is talking obedience to God. Those who are saved by grace will have a desire to follow the Lord in believer’s baptism. They will have a desire to give a clear, public witness to their new found faith. For many, their baptism in their first opportunity to tell a crowd that they have trusted Jesus and that He has saved their soul.
C. To accept – Shall not be damned
The lost sinner has the opportunity to believe the Gospel and be saved. He also has the right to reject the Gospel and remain lost in sin. The sinner must understand that if he or she rejects Jesus Christ and the Gospel of grace, they must face the consequences of that decision.
3. The Recognition of His Servants (vs. 17-18)
Mark 16:17-18
17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
Jesus ends His words to His disciples by telling them that “signs” would follow the true believers.
This word means that God will put a difference between His people and the people who remain lost in sin.
The word “follow” means “to accompany”. “Tokens”, marks of separation, or proofs of salvation, will “accompany” the lives of the redeemed.
These verses have also been misunderstood by many who desire to have something more than simple faith in Jesus Christ. There are many who want a token, some tangible sign that they are saved and that God’s power rests on them.
The actions described in these verses refer to events that took place during the early days of the church.
When the Lord Jesus sent out the disciples with the Gospel of grace, He authenticated His message through amazing displays of His power.
When the apostolic period ended, the need for these miracles ended and they ceased to function.
Why did they cease? I think the answer is found in
1 Cor. 13:8-11.
1 Corinthians 13:8-11
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
These verses refer to “that which is perfect”. You must understand that the early church did not have a complete record of God’s words to man.
Before the end of the apostolic age, the New Testament had been completed and man could hold and read the very words of God.
Man had a complete revelation of God’s words to humanity and no longer needed the miracles to affirm the message.
Let me take a moment to show you what I mean. Every miracle mentioned by the Lord in these verses can be found in the book of Acts but one.
Watch this:
- Cast Out Demons (Acts 8:7, 6:18. 19:11-16)
- Speak with New Tongues (Acts 2:4-11, 10:46, 19:6)
- Take up Serpents (Acts 28:5)
- Lay hands on others for Healing (Acts 3:7, 19:11, 28:8-9)
In other words, this prophecy was literally fulfilled in the First Century, by the apostles. God worked the miracles through them to prove to the lost that His Word was true.
Are there any miracles today? Is there a need for “signs following” today? Should we speak in tongues, take up serpents and drink poison to prove that we have been saved? Is that how the Lord has chosen to reach the world?
God has chosen to reach the world through preaching, 1 Cor. 1:21.
1 Corinthians 1:21
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
While God can still do miracles and send signs to confirm His message, the greatest miracle in the world today is the livers of those He has changed through the power of the new birth.
He has saved us and set us apart. He has given us the “sign” of a new life, 2 Cor. 5:17.
2 Corinthians 5:17
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The world saw the miracles of the Apostles in the First Century and knew that the message was from God. The world sees holiness, faith and simple obedience in the lives of the redeemed and knows that the message is from God. There is still a mark on those who are saved by grace. It is not the mark of some miraculous sign. It is the mark of a changed life!
Close:
As the Lord Jesus prepared to return to Heaven, His mind was on His men. He wanted them to be prepared for the day when they would have the responsibility of sharing His message with the world. So, He gave them the Great Commission and sent them out to tell the world about Him. Our Lord’s final thoughts while He was here rested on the Gospel of grace.
The Gospel is still the single most important issue in the world today. You are impacted by the Gospel whether you understand that or not. In truth, you stand today on one side of the Gospel or the other. The following story will illustrate what I am trying to say.
Illustration:
Most of you know the story of the “Titanic”, the ship that was labeled unsinkable, that sank on April 14, 1912. Of the 2,223 people on board only 706 survived. Of the 1,523 people who ended up in the icy water, only six were rescued.
But did you know that one of those six was actually saved twice that night?
To tell this man's story, though, I have to first tell you about another man, a Scottish preacher named John Harper. Harper boarded the Titanic with his six-year-old daughter, Nana. He planned to travel to the Moody Church in Chicago, where he'd been invited to preach for three months. When the ship struck the fateful iceberg and began to sink, Harper made sure his daughter was placed into one of the lifeboats. He then began what would be the last evangelistic work of his young life.
As the freezing waters began to fill the ship, Harper was heard shouting, “Let the women, children and the unsaved into the lifeboats.” Survivors reported that Harper took off his own life jacket and gave it to another man. “Don't worry about me,” he reportedly said, “I'm not going down, I'm going up!”
When the ship began to sink, more than 1,523 passengers jumped or fell into the icy waters. As they gradually drowned or froze to death, Harper was seen swimming from one passenger to another, pleading with them to accept Christ.
Only six of the 1,523 people struggling in the water were later rescued, including a man who later identified himself as Harper's last convert. This young man had climbed up on a piece of debris. Harper, who was struggling in the water near him, shouted out, “Are you saved?”
“No,” the man replied.
Harper then shouted the words from Scripture: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” The man did not answer, and a moment later he drifted away on the waves.
A few minutes later, the current brought the two men back together. Again Harper asked, “Are you saved?”
Once again, the answer was “No.” With his dying breath, Harper shouted, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” He then slipped under the waves for the last time.
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