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Mark Chapter
Sixteen
I.
Content of the Chapter
The Resurrection and
Ascension of the Bondman the Savior
A. His declaration of the resurrection (v.1-8);
B. His manifestation after the resurrection
(v.9-13);
C. The mission entrusted with the disciples
(v.14-18);
D. He still worked with His disciples after His
ascension (v.19-20);
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Mark. 16:1 “Now when the Sabbath was
past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that
they might come and anoint Him.”
YLT: “And the sabbath having past, Mary the Magdalene, and
Mary of James, and Salome, bought spices, that having come, they may anoint
him,”
The
Background: according
to the funeral custom of the Jews, the corpse should be bound up in linen with
the spices, and the head should be wrapped by napkin (see 11:44).
Literal
Meaning: “after
the Sabbath”, the Sabbath ended at sunset of Saturday.
“Bought spices”, they did not have
business dealings on the Sabbath. They had bought the spices before the sunset
of Friday (see Luke 23:56).
“That they might come and anoint Him”,
obviously, they did not expect that the Lord would rise again.
Spiritual
Meaning:
“Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome”, these three women
followed the Lord until the cross (see 15:40) and were the last ones who left
the tomb (see 15:47) and the first came to the tomb. Therefore, they could
represent those who were so attracted by the Lord that they loved and sought
the Lord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
Though
the Lord Jesus had died, the three sisters came to the tomb to anoint Him
because of loving Him, showing that their love had transcended death and was
stronger than death (see Song 8:6).
2)
They
had not anointed the body of the Lord Jesus finally, for she had risen!
Therefore, he who desires to anoint the Lord should catch the opportunity (see
14:3-4). Once one has missed the chance, it will be too late to repent. If we
love the Lord, we shall catch every chance to love Him without delay.
Mark. 16:2 “Very early in the morning,
on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.”
YLT: “and early in the morning of the first of the sabbaths,
they come unto the sepulchre, at the rising of the sun,”
Literal
Meaning:
“the first day of the week”, there were seven days a week according to the
Jewish calendar, and the seventh day was the Sabbath (see Gen 2:2-3).
Therefore, the Sabbath was the last day of a week, and the next day was a new
beginning of another week, i.e. Sunday, also “the Lord’s day” called by Christians
(see Rev 1:10). The Jews took Sunday as “the first day of the week”, and
believers in the New Testament called Sunday “the Lord’s day” in order to
remember the resurrection of the Lord Jesus (see Acts 20:7; 1Cor 16:2).
Spiritual
Meaning:
“the first day of the week”, it symbolized the beginning of a new age. The
burial of the Lord had finished the old creation, and the resurrection of the
Lord had brought about the new creation.
“When the sun had risen”, it symbolized
that the Lord’s life had broken through the power of darkness and brought those
who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death the dayspring from on high (see
4:16; Luke 1:78-79).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The
Lord Jesus rose in “the first day of the week”, symbolizing that the
resurrection of Christ had brought a new beginning. The old things had passed
away. Behold all things have become new (2Cor 5:17).
2)
“When
the sun had risen”, whenever we believers live in the old creation, we will
live in darkness. And whenever we live in the new creation, we will enter the
spiritual early morning.
3)
The
Lord rose “the third day” after His suffering (see Matt.16:21; 17:23; 20:19).
In the creation of God in Genesis, it was also in the third day that there was
life (see Gen 1:11-13). Therefore, that the Lord rose in the third day
symbolized the manifestation of the life of God.
4)
The
Lord said: “I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)”. Resurrection has
revealed not only He is the Lord of life (see Acts 3:15), but also that life
has sorrowed up the death (2Cor 4:10-11; 5:4).
Mark. 16:3 “And they said among
themselves, "Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for
us?" ”
YLT: “and they said among themselves, `Who shall roll away
for us the stone out of the door of the sepulchre?'”
The
Background: at
that time, a rich man’s tomb was a stone cave chiseled out of a rock, looking
like a house which had a stone bed, stone tables and stone chairs for the
purpose of mourning for the dead. There was a low rectangle groove used to put
the body with the spices. The entrance of the stone cave was blocked by a big
round stone in a track chiseled out of a bedrock. Only strong men could roll
away the stone out of the door of the sepulcher.
Enlightenment in the Word: if we love and serve the
Lord, we will be confronted with many difficulties and obstacles (like the big
stone). However, we shall not worry how to resolve it.
Mark. 16:4 “But when they looked up,
they saw that the stone had been rolled away--for it was very large.”
YLT: “And having looked, they see that the stone hath been
rolled away -- for it was very great,”
Literal
Meaning:
“the stone had been rolled away”, the purpose of the stone’s being rolled away
was not letting the Lord Jesus come out (for He had no such demand), but making
the women come in (see v.5).
Spiritual
Meaning:
“the stone had been rolled away”, it symbolized that the risen power had
removed all the obstacles, thus manifesting the risen life.
Enlightenment in the Word: if we advance bravely
without escaping all the difficulties and afflictions, we will find that many
difficulties (stone) have been already taken away.
Mark. 16:5 “And entering the tomb, they
saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and
they were alarmed.”
YLT: “and having entered into the sepulchre, they saw a young
man sitting on the right hand, arrayed in a long white robe, and they were
amazed.”
Literal
Meaning:
“saw a young man sitting on the right side”, the young man who the angle
rolling away the big stone (see Matt. 28:2). When the Lord was born, there was
an angle announcing the glad tidings of great joy (see Luke 2:10). When the
Lord rose from the death, there was also the angle coming to prove the fact.
Both of them were earthshaking matters, so there were angles coming to announce
the good news and let all that dwell in the earth hear and see.
Mark. 16:6 “But he said to them,
"Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is
risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. ”
YLT: “And he saith to them, `Be not amazed, ye seek Jesus the
Nazarene, the crucified: he did rise -- he is not here; lo, the place where
they laid him!”
Meaning
of Words: “risen”:
awake, rise;
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
“You
seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.” ---- If any one love God, he is
known of Him (1Cor. 8:3).
2)
As
long as we have only a little readiness of heart toward the Lord, we must be
accepted by Him (2Cor. 8:12).
3)
“He
is risen! He is not here.” ---- Though He had been put in the tomb, the tomb
was by no means His destination. Likewise, we will die, but death is not our
destination.
4)
Death
could not lock Him as the tomb cannot hold Him (see Acts. 2:24). Believers also
cannot remain in the places of death. Since we have already had this life of resurrection,
we should usually have the experience that “death is swallowed up of life”.
5)
If
Christ is not risen, then our faith is vain (1Cor. 15:14) because:
1.
The
Lord Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power, by the resurrection
form the dead (Rom. 1:4).
2.
God
has proved that the Lord Jesus is the Son of God to us His children, in that He
has raised up Jesus (Acts. 13:33; Ps. 2:7).
3.
Jesus
was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification
(Rom. 4:25).
4.
If
Christ is not raised, we are yet in our sins (1Cor. 15:17).
5.
Christ
was raised from the dead, and became the first-fruits of them that slept. Even
so in Christ shall all be made alive (1Cor. 15:20-23).
6.
If
believers won’t be risen, in this life we only have hope in Christ and we are
of all men most miserable (1Cor. 15:19).
Mark. 16:7 “But go, tell His
disciples--and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will
see Him, as He said to you." ”
YLT: “and go, say to his disciples, and Peter, that he doth
go before you to Galilee; there ye shall see him, as he said to you.'”
Literal
Meaning:
“but go, tell His disciples--and Peter”, only Mark recorded the words “and
Peter” in the four Gospels. For the Gospel of Mark was dictated
by Peter and written by Mark. Others might not take particular notice of the
words of “and Peter”, but Peter felt so comforted and encouraged when hearing
these words. Peter failed and stumbled three days before ---- he even denied
the Lord three times (see 14:66-72). Since he had committed such serious
faults, he feared that the Lord Jesus would deny him (see Matt. 10:33).
However, he did not expect that the Lord specially mentioned his name after His
resurrection, showing that He had completely forgiven him. Therefore, so many
years later, when Peter recounted the situation at that time, he could still
not forget the gracious words of “and Peter”.
“He is going before you
into Galilee”. ---- It was to remind the disciples what the Lord had said after
the Feast of the Passover (see 14:28).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
Even
the faults as serious as Peter had committed were forgiven by the Lord. Our
iniquities or offences will also be forgiven by the Lord. What is really
important is that one shall climb up again and walk ahead after being stumbled.
One shall never abandon himself with the thought of being forsaken by the Lord!
2)
Many
times, the Lord may be more concerned about the believers who are weak and
stumbled. When we are stumbled and have no strength to draw near to the Lord,
we shall remember the words of “and Peter” ---- it is also “and you” and “and
I”.
3)
The
witness of resurrection strengthens those who are of the Lord and makes them be
firm (see 1Cor. 15:58), and also leads men to meet the Lord Himself. Therefore
we should not only pursue to see and experience the risen Christ, but also bear
witness of His resurrection (see Acts. 3:15).
4)
The
risen Christ is the common message of the angel and human beings. Those who are
in heaven and on earth should try their best to declare Him.
5)
The
message of resurrection were unexpectedly told to the strong apostles by weak
women ---- in the church we should learn to be humble and modestly receive
spiritual provision from any brother or sister.
6)
“He
is going before you into Galilee.” ---- The Lord, like a shepherd, walks in
front of the folk of sheep. He is our forerunner and shall bring many sons unto
glory (see Heb. 2:10).
7)
“Into
Galilee”, when the bondman the savior began His ministry on this earth, He
started to work in Galilee of the Gentiles (see Matt. 4:12-17) instead of
Jerusalem the Holy City. After His resurrection, He went to Galilee instead of
Jerusalem, showing that He completely rejected the earthly Judaism and preached
the salvation of the New Testament to the Gentiles.
Mark. 16:8 “So they went out quickly
and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said
nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. ”
YLT: “And, having come forth quickly, they fled from the
sepulchre, and trembling and amazement had seized them, and to no one said they
anything, for they were afraid.”
Literal
Meaning:
“they said nothing to anyone”, this was their immediate reaction at that time,
and they told it to the disciples afterwards (see Luke 24:9).
“For they were afraid”, there are three
reasons for their “being afraid”:
1. The glorious and dreadful
countenance of the angel made them trembled (see v.3-4).
2. Since hat they had seen was
quite extraordinary, they were astonished.
3. If they told it to others,
their words might be appeared in their eyes as an idle tale (see Luke 24:11).
Mark. 16:9 “Now when He rose early on
the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He
had cast seven demons.”
YLT: “And he, having risen in the morning of the first of the
sabbaths, did appear first to Mary the Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven
demons;”
Meaning
of Words: “rise”: lift up, raise up (the
word is different from “be risen” in verse 6);
The
Background: in
many old scriptures, there was no the paragraph from verse nine to verse
twenty. Therefore, some bible exegetes thought that the Gospel of Mark ended in
verse 8. Perhaps, the end of this book might have been lost and the paragraph
of this scripture was added by others when they copied it. However, the editor
held that the canonic New Testament was confirmed under the sovereignty of God
in the early days of the church and was passed down up to now. We believers
should regard this paragraph as the word of God without any criticism.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
After
the Lord’s resurrection, He did not firstly reveal Himself to His great
disciples like Peter, James and John, but to the infirm Mary, out of whom He
had cast seven demons. Many believers usually believe that only those
experienced and renowned spiritual elders can meet the Lord. However, it is
some unknown and ordinary believers that often meet the Lord.
2)
We
should never despise the young and infirm brothers or sisters. Sometimes, there
are precious experiences in them that can help us to know the Lord.
3)
Why
did the Lord firstly reveal to Mary Magdalene? The only cause was her love
toward the Lord (see 14:21):
1.
Because
of her love to the Lord, she followed Him from Galilee all the way, served Him
and followed till the cross (see 15:40-41).
2.
When
the Lord was buried after His death, Mary was one of those who left the tomb in
the end (see 15:47; Matt 27:61).
3.
Men
could do nothing on the Sabbath, and she was one of those who came to the tomb
firstly after the Sabbath (see v.1; Matt 28:1).
4.
When
others saw the empty tomb, they returned. However, only Mary stood outside by
the tomb weeping. Such earnest longing and love to the Lord made the Lord could
not help revealing to her earlier (see v.9-18).
4)
Though
Mary had not anointed the risen Lord because of her ignorance, the Lord still
revealed to her, indicating that he who loves the Lord truly can know the Lord most easily. Though we are less intelligent
than others, if we love the Lord with our whole heart, the Lord will still make
us know Him.
Mark. 16:10 “She went and told those who
had been with Him, as they mourned and wept.”
YLT: “she having gone, told those who had been with him,
mourning and weeping;”
Literal
Meaning:
“as they mourned and wept”, it showed that they were weeping in despair for the
sake of the death of the Lord Jesus.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
“She
went and told those who had been with Him”, we may earnestly look forward to
share all the knowledge and experience in the risen Christ with other saints.
2)
“As
they mourned and wept”, he who knows only the death of Christ cannot avoid
weeping. However, the knowledge and experience in the risen Christ will bring
us hope and joy.
Mark. 16:11 “And when they heard that He
was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.”
YLT: “and they, having heard that he is alive, and was seen
by her, did not believe.”
Meaning
of Words: “see”:
behold, see carefully; “did not believe”: refuse to believe;
Mark. 16:12 “After that, He appeared in
another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country.”
YLT: “And after these things, to two of them, as they are
going into a field, walking, he was manifested in another form,”
Spiritual
Meaning:
“He appeared in another form to two of them”, they were the two disciples who
left Jerusalem and went to Emmaus (see Luke 24:13), typifying believers who
went downhill in their spiritual way.
Mark. 16:13 “And they went and told it
to the rest, but they did not believe them either.”
YLT: “and they having gone, told to the rest; not even them
did they believe.”
Meaning
of Words: “believe”:
trust;
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.”
YLT: “Afterwards, as they are reclining (at meat), he was
manifested to the eleven, and did reproach their unbelief and stiffness of
heart, because they believed not those having seen him being raised;”
Literal
Meaning:
“the eleven as they sat at the table”, Judas Iscariot among the twelve had
committed suicide by hanging at this time (see Matt. 27:5).
“Because they did not believe those who
had seen Him after He had risen”, it indicated that they did not believe the
witness borne by saints of the resurrection of the Lord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The
hardening of heart is the main reason for unbelief.
2)
The
Lord rebuked those disciples not because they did not see the Lord personally
but that they did not believe the testimony borne by those who had seen the
risen Lord. Therefore, we should not overlook the testimony of Christ borne by
saints, lest be rebuked by the Lord.
Mark. 16:15 “And He said to them,
"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
YLT: “and he said to them, `Having gone to all the world,
proclaim the good news to all the creation;”
Literal
Meaning:
“preach the gospel to every creature”, “every creature” refers to not only all
the nations but also all things. All things had fallen and been corrupted on
account of men, and had lost the harmonious relationship with God (see Gen.
6:11-13). Therefore, all the creature has been made subject to vanity and
groans together and travails in pain together (see Rom. 8:20-22). Today, all
things have been reconciled with God by the redemption accomplished by the
death and resurrection of the savior the Lord Jesus (see Col. 1:20). Therefore,
we believers should not only preach the gospel to “all the nations” but also
manifest the testimony of life worthy of the gospel (see 1Cor. 4:9; 11:10;
Phil. 1:27) before “all the creature” (especially the spiritual ones).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The
Lord manifested first, and entrusted the mission afterwards. The Lord entrusted
the mission of preaching the gospel to the disciples face to face in the
manifestation of His resurrection, for all the power to fulfill the divine
mission completely rested in the manifestation of te risen Christ.
2)
Only
those who have seen the manifestation of the risen Christ are those who are
really entrusted with the divine mission as well as those who can really
fulfill the divine mission.
Mark. 16:16 “He who believes and is
baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”
YLT: “he who hath believed, and hath been baptized, shall be
saved; and he who hath not believed, shall be condemned.”
Literal
Meaning:
“He who believes and is baptized will be saved”, “believe” refers to the
internal fact of men ---- who receive the Lord Jesus into them by opening their
heart (see John 1:12). “Baptize” is the external acts of men ---- whose faith
is manifested by the fact of being immersed into the water.
Note that here it does not say “he who
has believed and been saved will be baptized”, but that “He who believes and is
baptized will be saved”. Therefore, here “believing” and “being baptized” are
taken as two conditions of being saved. If we want to know the meaning of this
sentence, we should know the real meaning of “being saved”. In fact, “being
saved” in the scripture can be divided into two sorts:
1.
Being
saved eternally (being saved from sins) ---- that is to obtain the eternal life
and avoid the eternal perdition. The condition is faith only (see John 3:16),
and being baptized is not needed.
2.
Being
saved in this age (being saved from the world) ---- believers who have been
born again everyday face the difficulty of the condition, the enticement of the
world, the temptation of the enemy Satan, the evil of the flesh, the infirmity
of soul and etc. when they still live on the earth. Therefore, we still need to
be saved (see 2Cor. 1:10). The condition is not only faith but also being
baptized. Faith positively enables us to obtain the help of the spirit of Jesus
Christ (see Phil. 1:19) and to let the power of the Christ dwell upon us (see
2Cor. 12:9). Being baptized delivers us from the entanglement of the old man
(see Rom. 6:3-7) and the attack of the power of the darkness (which is typified
by the situation that the Egyptian host were covered under the water of the Red
Sea, see Ex. 14:22-30).
“But he who does not believe
will be condemned.” ---- The reason for “being condemned” is “not believing”,
not “not being baptized”. Because as long as one has faith, he will obtain the
eternal life and be delivered from the eternal condemnation (see John 3:18).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1)
The
salvation does not only deliver us from the hell in the future but also save us
from the world today.
2)
The
faith of the Lord makes us be saved in the sight of God. Being baptized makes
us be saved in the sight of the world.
3)
The
faith of the Lord makes us have the divine life. Being baptized changes our
daily life.
4)
“He
who believes and is baptized”, it shows that one shall believe first and be
baptized afterwards. If one who does not believe is baptized (e.g. the baptism
of a baby), there will be of no effect before God.
5)
If
one who believes the Lord refuses to be baptized, his faith has no apparent
evidence or assurance, so it is still not enough. No wonder that he cannot
sufficiently enjoy the goodness of the salvation.
Mark. 16:17 “And these signs will follow
those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with
new tongues;”
YLT: “`And signs shall accompany those believing these
things; in my name demons they shall cast out; with new tongues they shall
speak;”
Meaning
of Words: “follow”:
follow near, trace out (the root of the word is the same as that of the word
“the Comforter” or “with”); “sign”: indication; “new”: it is a kind of new
concerning the nature;
Literal
Meaning:
“these signs will follow those who believe”, it means that signs can be
manifested at any time in those who “believe”; sign” refer to the mark of God.
All the works done by God or out of God are signs.
“Speak with new tongues”, the so-called
“new tongues” referred to that tongue that they had never spoken, namely,
“other tongues” or “various dialects” (Acts 2:4-11). The structure, tone color
and tone of these tongues were totally “new” to them.
Controversial
Clarification: “those
who believe… will speak with new tongues”, according to this verse, someone of the
Charismatic Movement emphasized that all those who believed could speak tongues
and he who could not speak tongues had not been saved. This saying has
misinterpreted the Bible, and the reasons are as follows:
1.
Believing
the Lord is the only condition for obtaining the salvation (see the commentary
of verse 16). And the joy of the salvation is the clearest proof and no other
phenomenon is needed.
2.
Here
the Lord mentioned five sorts of signs. Speaking with new tongues was only one
kind of it. If believers can be counted as being saved as long as they can
speak with new tongues, they should likewise be able to do other four kinds of
signs. Therefore, we should not focus on merely one of the total five signs.
3.
All
the tongues in the Bible refer to meaningful languages, which can be
interpreted by those who understand (see 1Cor. 14:27). They are by no means the
empty, monotonous and meaningless “tongues” in the Charismatic Movement. The
truthfulness of the “tongues they interpret” is rather unreliable.
4.
Since
the Lord had commanded them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature (see v.15), He would surely give them great power to enable them
to speak the tongues that they had never spoken. This promise had been
fulfilled in the day of Pentecost (see Acts 2:1-2).
5.
We
believer that this promise is also effective to believers of later generations.
When it is necessary, we may also be able to speak the tongue that we can never
say before. And yet the purpose is to preach the gospel to glorify the Lord,
not to satisfy or even show off ourselves.
Spiritual
Meaning:
“In My name they will cast out demons”, it typifies overcoming the power of
darkness in Christ.
“They will speak with new
tongues”, it typifies the difficulties in the communication of men (including
the expression in languages and the interchanges of thoughts and concepts) can
only be settled in Christ.
Mark. 16:18 “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." ”
YLT: “serpents they shall take up; and if any deadly thing
they may drink, it shall not hurt them; on the ailing they shall lay hands, and
they shall be well.'”
Literal
Meaning:
except for the fourth sign ---- “if they drink anything deadly, it will by no
means hurt them”, all the other four sorts of signs from verse 17 to18 have the
actual examples in the Book of Acts, e.g.: (a) casting off the demons (Acts
16:18); (b) speaking with the tongues (Acts. 2:4); (c) taking up the serpent
with one’s hands (Acts. 28:3-6); (4) healing the sick (Acts. 3:7);
Spiritual
Meaning:
“they will take up serpents”, “serpents” typifies the devil (see Rev. 12:9) and
those who are of the devil (see Matt. 3:7; Ps. 140:1-3). Therefore, it indicates
that those who are in Christ can dominate and control the devil and those who
are of it.
“And if they drink anything
deadly, it will by no means hurt them”, it shows that one in Christ will be
kept out of the harm of poisonous evilness.
“They will lay hands on the
sick, and they will recover”. ---- It indicates that in Christ men’s the
sickness of the spirit, the soul and the body will be healed, and thus they
will be kept in health, and their soul will be prosperous (3John v.2).
Mark. 16:19 “So then, after the Lord had
spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand
of God.”
YLT: “The Lord, then, indeed, after speaking to them, was
received up to the heaven, and sat on the right hand of God;”
Literal
Meaning:
“sat down at the right hand of God”, the word “sit” showed that His work on the
earth had come to a conclusion and so He sat down to enjoy the rest. “Right
hand” is the most honorable position (see 14:62; Ps. 110:1).
Mark. 16:20 “And they went out and
preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through
the accompanying signs. Amen.”
YLT: “and they, having gone forth, did preach everywhere, the
Lord working with , and confirming the word, through the signs following.
Amen.”
Literal
Meaning:
the previous verse mentioned that the Lord’ work on the earth had come to a
conclusion, so He “He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right
hand of God”. This verse told us that another stage of the Lord’s work on the
earth was carried out by the church, namely, His mysterious body. Such kind of
work would be “greater” than His work in the past (see John 14:12).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1)
The
Lord was not only with them, but also “worked with them”.
2)
“The
Lord working with them”, it proved that what they did was the work of the Lord.
What we are doing should be counted as the Lord’s work, and then we will enjoy
the Lord’s working with us.
3)
No
matter how men work, they are just men’s works. However, once the Lord works
(i.e. the Lord works with us), there will be “signs”, for He is God.
4)
The
purpose of signs is neither meeting men’s curiosity nor raising men’s
wonderment, but “confirming the word”. What God does is for the purpose of what
He has said.
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
The
Example of Love
A.
Prepared
the spices (v.1) ---- they had the readiness as well as the practice of
devotion to the Lord;
B.
Came
to the tomb very early in the morning (v.2) ---- they paid the cost to go to
the Lord;
C.
Saw
the stone had been rolled away (v.3-4) ---- they enjoyed the heavenly help;
D.
Saw
a young man (v.5) ---- they saw the angle of God;
E.
He
said to them, “do not be alarmed.” (v.6a) ---- he brought heavenly comfort;
F.
They
knew the heavenly mystery (v.6b-v.7);
G.
They
saw the Lord Himself (v.9);
The
Significance and Function of Believing
A.
He
who does not believe will be reproved by the Lord (v.11-14).
B.
He
who believes and is baptized will be saved (v.16a).
C.
He
who does not believe will be condemned (v.16b).
D.
Signs
will follow those who believe (v.17-18):
1.
In
the Lord’s name they will cast out demons ---- to overcome the power of
Darkness.
2.
They
will speak with new tongues ---- to overcome the worldly differences;
3.
They
will take up serpents ---- to overcome the devices of Satan;
4.
If
they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them ---- to overcome the
harm of poison;
5.
They
will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover ---- to overcome the
infirmity of the flesh;
The
Mission, Promise and Confirmation of the Risen Lord
A.
The
Mission of the Risen Lord ---- “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature” (v.15).
B.
The
Promise of the Risen Lord ---- “signs will follow those who believe”
(v.17-18).
C.
The
Confirmation of the Risen Lord ---- “the Lord working with them and confirming
the word through the accompanying signs” (v.20).
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou