Unit: Gospel of Mark
Theme: Everyone’s Invited
Lesson text: Mark 16:9-20
Supplemental texts: Matthew 28:18-20; Luke 24:13-35; John 20:11-18, 24-29; Acts 1:9-11; 28:1-6
Aim: Take Jesus’ invitation to others, no matter what their background.
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By Mark Scott
Jesus gave five commission statements, and he is serious in them being fulfilled. In Matthew he said to “make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). In Mark he said to “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). In Luke/Acts he said to announce “forgiveness . . . to all nations” and take the witness to the “ends of the earth” (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8). In John he sent his disciples into the world as the Father had sent him (John 20:21). Even the “barbarous people” of Malta were to receive the gospel (Acts 28:2, King James Version). On this Easter Sunday, the church needs to remember that it has the best of the good news to share. The church dares not be stingy with it.
Intellectual honesty demands accurate work with this famous passage. The original documents that became our New Testament were produced by hand and subsequently were hand copied. God ensured that the message he wanted the church to have was preserved by inspiration. But that does not mean no differences existed in those ancient copies. Sometimes scribes or others in the early church added true stories from the ministry of Jesus that the original author did not write into some of the manuscripts (e.g., John 7:53—8:11). The textual support (i.e., the science of comparing manuscripts to determine their accuracy) of our lesson text is stronger than in some other passages (as the one mentioned above), but still it is weak.
Bruce Metzger observed that this passage has six textual variants within it. He states, “Thus, on the basis of good external evidence and strong internal considerations it appears that the earliest ascertainable form of the Gospel of Mark ended with 16:8” (A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament, 126).
Multiple Appearances
Mark 16:9-14
One of the many evidences of the resurrection of Jesus is the independent and corporate eyewitness testimonies of people who saw Jesus alive. While the Gospel writers seemed to have made little attempt to harmonize their works (which gave them even greater authenticity), there existed between them a collaboration of the truth of the resurrection.
Mark mentioned that Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene on the morning of the resurrection. John’s testimony said the same (John 20:1-2, 11-18). Her testimony was not believed even though Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw that Jesus was not in it (John 20:3-9). Mark also recorded that Jesus appeared to two others as they were walking in the country. Luke’s testimony said the same (Luke 24:13-35). This testimony was likewise not believed. Mark said that Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating. John’s testimony said the same (John 20:19-29). Once again, refusal and hardness of heart kept the disciples from belief. This fit with Mark’s theme of no one really “getting Jesus.”
Nuanced Commission
Mark 16:15-18
Each of the five commission statements from Jesus are nuanced in the thematic direction of the individual Gospel writers. This is true of Mark’s Gospel. Mark is the only Gospel to mention miraculous signs as part of the missionary enterprise of the church. That fits with the fact that 31 percent of Mark’s Gospel centers on miracles.
Jesus commanded the disciples to “go into all the world [kosmos] and preach the gospel to all creation.” It is a global commission statement that concerns all peoples. Those who believe this gospel (Mark 1:14-15) and follow that belief in baptism will be saved. Obviously since the Bible teaches believer’s baptism, if belief is not embraced, then no belief/baptism equals condemnation.
Five miracles attended the earliest disciples (vv. 17-18); with one exception, all occur in Acts. The disciples would drive out demons—similar to the seven that the Lord cast out of Mary Magdalene. They would speak in tongues (Acts 2; 10; 19). They would pick up snakes and not be harmed (Acts 28). They would drink poison and not be hurt (no record of this). They would heal people (Mark 6:13; Acts 3; 8; 9; 13; 14; 20; 28).
One Ascension
Mark 16:19-20
The ascension of Christ is an important doctrine in the New Testament, especially for Luke and the writer of Hebrews (Luke 24; Acts 1; Hebrews 1; 2; 4; 9; 10). But Mark also mentioned it. Jesus was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. In obedience to Jesus, the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the miracles gave evidence of the truth of their message. All the nations are invited to the Easter message and to the risen Christ.
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