JMA Newsletter Missions Mid-Month Nov 2023
This month, we're looking at Mark's Great Commission, found in ch16. The context of the passage goes from v14-20, but the actual Commission is in v15-18.
15"And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18they 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."
1. 15"And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
a. The Commission is to go and preach the Gospel.
b. "Go into all the world" GK kosmos, ('all the kosmos'; so kosmos means basically everything everywhere.) Jesus is saying go into all of everything everywhere and preach the Gospel.
c. Our 'target' audience is everybody, everything, everywhere, every institution, all politics, all entertainment media, social media- the whole of creation.
2. 16"He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."
a. Now, this verse is interesting because of what seems like a connection between salvation and baptism, "he who believes and is baptized will be saved'.
b. But in the context of this passage the very first thing we find is Jesus rebuking the disciples, Mark 16:14, "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." So, Jesus is totally connecting the unbelief of the eleven to this statement in v16, 'he who does not believe will be condemned'!
c. This kind of believing does not mean simply agreeing with, or accepting a thing as truth. The kind of believing Jesus is talking about is a full-on commitment, it is a selling out, no turning back, in it to win it, I have decided I'm following Jesus. All the way.
d. You know, there is no record or reference in the Gospels or in Acts of the disciples being baptized. But I bet they were after this convo.... just sayin'!
3. 17"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will (1)cast out demons; (2)they will speak with new tongues;"
18(3)they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; (4)they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
Four signs to expect:
a. Spiritual warfare, casting out demons, including principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12), because our calling is to the 'kosmos', the whole of creation, all people and places.
b. Outpouring of Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit not ceasing, Holy Spirit confirming His adoption process!
c. More spiritual warfare, miraculous preservation in spiritual attacks and push back.
d. Divine healing, as a connected part of the Gospel presentation and message, the same redemptive event purchased it all.
In My Name, means 'in My authority', even 'in My place', 'as My representative', 'My ambassador', connecting to the language of Matthew's Great Commission; "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me." Therefore, I am sending you (with that authority, bearing My Name) into all the places where there is currently darkness, to bring the light. (rkj paraphrase)
Friends, we have been given an amazing gift, an amazing assignment. We tend to think that the Great Commission applies to missionaries only, but according to the language in these verses, it is to all believers, in all places, at all times!
Mark 16:20, "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen."
May the Lord do this with us all, and more!
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