MARK 16

Today we finish the great book of Mark, our titles are; Verses 1-8 The resurrection. Verses 9-13 Jesus appears to his disciples. Verses 14-18 Jesus commissions the eleven. Verses 19-20 The Ascension. Mark 16 and verse 1 reads.

Mark 16:1] And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

To anoint him after the second sabbath of the week. The first sabbath of the week was the high sabbath, the Passover. The Passover was on a Wednesday. Let’s go through this day by day. Christ was crucified on a Wednesday. Wednesday evening at sundown to Thursday evening at sundown was one day. Thursday evening to Friday evening was the second day. Friday even to Saturday even, was the third day. And sometime after that, during the night, he resurrected. Making him three days in the tomb, and the day after the second sabbath being the following day, a Sunday. This other Mary we have here is Mother Mary who is mother also to James the half-brother of Jesus and the writer of the book of James. And Salome is the wife of Zebedee and mother of James the elder and John who Jesus loved. Mother Mary and Salome are sisters. We have here three women that went to the tomb.

Mark 16:2] And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Early in the morning on Sunday.

Mark 16:3] And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
[4] And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

The LORD rolled the stone for them, remember how Jesus always had everything prepared ahead of time.

Mark 16:5] And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

Angels are always seen in their youth. We were all created in the first earth age, our spirit bodies never see corruption.

Mark 16:6] And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Let’s go to the Psalms of resurrection. Psalms 16 and verse 8 reads.

Psa.16:8] I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.
[9] Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

Here is why we came here.

Psa.16:10] For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
[11] Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

All flesh shall die, but the spirit returns to the Father instantly. Let’s go to 1Corinthians 15 and verse 52 reads.

1Cor.15:52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

This pertains to the seventh trump when Jesus returns, we shall all be changed instantly at the same time into our spiritual bodies. But we came here to see about how it is that we have two bodies.

1Cor.15:53] For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

The corruptible is the flesh returning to the spirit body. The Mortal pertains to your soul. Mortal means; liable to die, immortal means; deathlessness.

1Cor.15:54] So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
[55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

Notice that Death is capitalized, it is another name for Satan. Let’s go to Hebrews 2 and verse 14 reads.

Heb.2:14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

That was the reason God came in the flesh, to defeat Satan, O Death where is thy sting. Back to Mark 16 and verse 7 reads.

Mark 16:7] But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

Remember Jesus told them several times that he would see them in Galilee, let’s go back to Mark 14 and verse 28 reads.

Mark 14:28] But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

I guess Peter was too busy thinking he would never leave Jesus, till the cock crowed. The last 12 verses of Mark are said to not be in the manuscripts. However, if you go to the manuscripts, you will find them. Dr. Bullinger has a wonderful work on this in his Companion Bible. You will find it in Appx.168. Those who say they are not in the manuscripts, have been either taught wrong, or are simply lying. Beware of false teachers. Back to Mark 16 and verse 8 reads.

Mark 16:8] And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
[9] Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Says here that Jesus had cast out seven devils, evil spirits. Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute. Again, beware of false teachers.

Mark 16:10] And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
[11] And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

To not believe Mary Magdalene is one thing, but Mother Mary also is just unbearable for me. But neither John or his brother James believed their own mother also. Jesus had told them, as I said before, many times that he would be risen. Let’s go back to Mark 10 and verse 32 reads.

Mark 10:32] And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,
[33] Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
[34] And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Or when Peter, James and John were with him on the mount of transfiguration. Matthew 17 and verse 9 reads.

Mat.17:9] And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

How could they not remember this? The only conclusion I can come up with is it was for our understanding and not theirs. If they had seen with their eyes and heard with their ears, then maybe they would have sinned and tried to stop God’s Word from coming to pass exactly as it is written. Back to Mark 16 and verse 12 reads.

Mark 16:12] After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

This is better said in Luke on what just happened. He met other disciples on the road, going to a bath house in the opposite direction from where they should have been going. Let’s go to Luke 24 and verse 25 reads.

Luke 24:25] Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
[26] Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

This is why I think that their eyes were shut, that the Word of God would come to pass exactly as written.

Luke 24:27] And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
[28] And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
[29] But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
[30] And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
[31] And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
[32] And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

It was at this time that their eyes were opened to the scriptures.

Luke 24:33] And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,
[34] Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

Back to Mark 16 and verse 13 reads.

Mark 16:13] And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

The eleven didn’t believe these disciples either. Jesus will now come to them and he won’t be happy.

Mark 16:14] Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Seems that Jesus expected them to remember. But that they didn’t believe their own brothers definitely upset him, because of the hardness of heart comment. Paul gives us an interesting account of this in 1Corinthians 15 and verse 4 reads.

1Cor.15:4] And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Paul knew scriptures very well.

1Cor.15:5] And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

Cephas must have been one of the two, the other being Simon, that Jesus met in the way above, that the apostles didn’t believe.

1Cor.15:6] After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
[7] After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
[8] And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

When Jesus struck him blind on the way to Damascus.

1Cor.15:9] For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Paul never quite forgave himself, but I want you to forgive yourself of all sin after you have repented. After all, Jesus paid a very high price for our sins to be forgiven. Back to Mark 16 and verse 15 reads.

Mark 16:15] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
[16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

This is the answer to John 3:16, believeth what? That Jesus died and rose again on the third day. It is also the definition of baptism. Jesus died, the going under the water, and that he rose again, the coming out of the water.

Mark 16:17] And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Two things said here. First is the casting out of devils. He gave us this power to cast out demons in Luke 10 and verse 19 reads.

Luke 10:19] Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
[20] Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

The second was to speak with new tongues. This pertains to our destinies. Let’s first go to Luke 12 and verse 10 reads.

Luke 12:10] And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
[11] And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
[12] For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

We are speaking of the unpardonable sin here. To refuse the Holy Spirit from speaking through us when we are delivered up to Satan at the sixth trump. Luke 21 and verse 12 reads.

Luke 21:12] But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.
[13] And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
[14] Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
[15] For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.

And remember Mark 13, which we covered not long ago. Mark 13 and verse 11 reads.

Mark 13:11] But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

This is the destiny of God’s Elect. Back to Mark 16 and verse 18 reads.

Mark 16:18] 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.

Speaking of the disciples of Christ, that is you and me also today. This take up serpents or drink any deadly thing pertains to our credibility against those who come against us. We also see that we may lay hands on and heal the sick. Let’s go to James 5 and verse 14 reads.

James 5:14] Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
[15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

The LORD has left power in our hands to do good works. As God’s Elect, we must have the Word of God sealed in our foreheads. Let’s go to Revelation 9 and verse 3 reads.

Rev.9:3] And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
[4] And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

As prophesied in Isaiah 54 and verse 17 reads.

Isa.54:17] No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Back to Mark 16 and verse 19 reads.

Mark 16:19] So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

Jesus returns to sit on the right hand of God and becomes our advocate. He will return for the second advent with a rod of iron. And the LORD will pour out that cup of wrath. Let’s go to Psalms 110 and verse 1 reads.

Psa.110:1] The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
[2] The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
[3] Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

Speaking of you as his Elect.

Psa.110:4] The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus is KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

Psa.110:5] The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
[6] He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
[7] He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.

This lift up the head is from the first prophecy in Genesis 3:15, his (Satan) seed will bruise his heel (when they nailed his feet to the cross) and her seed (God’s Elect) will bruise the serpent’s (Satan) head at the second advent. Let’s go to Acts 1 and verse 9 reads.

Acts 1:9] And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
[10] And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
[11] Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Jesus will return at the seventh trump as he ascended, he will descend from heaven on the Mount of Olives. Back to Mark 16 and verse 20 reads.

Mark 16:20] And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Paul gave us a great example in 1Corinthians 2 and verse 4 reads.

1Cor.2:4] And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
[5] That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

This is confirming the word with signs. It is not our strength, but the power of God through us that convinces others that God is True. A great book, Mark writes vivaciously with the wisdom of a young disciple of the LORD. Let’s go to his throne.

Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.

KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible