Mark 16:9-16 | The Commission of the Risen Lord

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INTRODUCTION

As explained some last Sunday, Mark 16:9-20 is commonly called the longer ending of Mark. We are blessed of God to have such transparent identifiers and notes preserved in our Bibles and study Bibles from two thousand years of writing, copying, transmitting, and translating the New Testament text. God has given us an astonishingly sound history and verifiable witness of His inspired, inerrant, infallible Word that we have in Scripture. 

Whether written by Mark or not, these twelve verses discontinue the narrative of Mark and give a compact summary of the post-resurrection Jesus and His church—as recorded in the other Gospels and Acts. Its tone and content strongly emphasize the Lordship of the risen Jesus over His church and all His creation. As with all of Mark, it provides a witness of the early church’s understanding.

Jesus is seen in this short summarizing passage of Mark to be the risen “Lord” of His people and all creation. The compacted emphasis is all on Jesus as Lord of all creation, correcting and commissioning His disciples to preach the Gospel to all creation.

JESUS GAVE GODLY CRITICISM TO HIS DISCIPLES FOR NOT BELIEVING THE MESSAGE OF HIS RESURRECTION. (v9-14)

Mark 16:9–14

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. 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. 

12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 

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.

Q: Do you see the danger of holding a wrong theology of Jesus? Of God? What you believe and desire of Jesus matters. Bad theology leads to disobedience and even idolatry. 

Q: Do you truly desire to grow in faith and godliness? Are you willing to receive godly, constructive criticism? Will you only accept godly encouragement? Your answers to these questions may reveal much of your true desires, priorities, and confidence.

JESUS COMMANDED HIS DISCIPLES TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL TO ALL THE CREATION. (v15)

Mark 16:15

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Matthew 28:18–20

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach [make disciples of] all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world [age]. Amen.

So now that Jesus is the Daniel 7 ascended “Son of Man” with dominion over all nations… now that He is the Psalm 2 “begotten Son” ruling on the throne… now that He is the Psalm 110 “Lord” at the right hand of Yahweh, sending His “willing people” to represent Him in His day of power… We must be those “willing people” who preach the gospel to all creation.

Q: How about it, are you willing? As you go about daily, will you “preach” the Gospel? Will you go to other parts of the world to preach the Gospel? Will you support and send those who do? Will we obey Jesus as His church?

Q: Who gave you the mission to which you are currently devoted? Jesus’s commission should convict us about our priorities and our willingness to be more content with the “things” we have so that we can be more freed up to live out this high and holy calling. Don’t let the world’s priorities stifle your obedience to Jesus and your joy in living out this mission that Jesus has given to His church. How will you help us obey Jesus in preaching the Gospel to all creation?

THE ONE WHO BELIEVES AND IS BAPTIZED WILL BE SAVED. (v16a)

Acts 2:36–41

36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. 37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 

40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. 41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Mark 16:16

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…

Jesus’s instruction here includes descriptions of those whom God saves. These are not things we do to merit salvation. They are what is true of those saved by Jesus’s substitutionary death and resurrection. They are what is true of those who are made new creatures in Christ by His Spirit. Those who believe and are baptized, following Jesus as a part of His church, will be saved.

Q: Do you believe in Jesus as your Savior and Lord? Does your professed faith give evidence by you faithfully following Jesus among His church? Has Jesus’s church shown they believe your testimony by baptizing you? Or, are you a believer who has not committed to Christ’s church or who has not yet been baptized after conversion? Jesus and the church emphasize that true believers will be baptized.

THE ONE WHO REFUSES TO BELIEVE WILL BE CONDEMNED. (v16b)

Mark 16:16

He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

When talking about those who are saved, sometimes Scripture describes them as “those who believe” and other times as “those who repent,” but it always emphasizes either one or the other… or both.

Always, the biblically commanded response to the Gospel is one of being converted to Christ through repentance and faith that results in continuing to follow Jesus (though imperfectly) as a part of His church and making that desire known through baptism.

Q: If you have not yet turned from your sin to faith in Jesus, why wait any longer? Be reconciled to God through faith in Christ! Do you know anyone who has not yet turned with faith in Jesus? Tell them and warn them with the good news!

SERMON IN A SENTENCE: The risen Lord Jesus commissioned His church to preach the Gospel in all His creation, so believe and preach the good news.

In a simple sentence, the Gospel is that: God redeems repentant sinners through the crucified and risen Lord Jesus.

In a longer sentence, the Gospel is the good news that: God eternally redeems and righteously rules a people who repent from sin and trust in the crucified and risen Lord of all—Jesus.

In a complex sentence, God’s Gospel is the good news and Kingly announcement revealed in all the Bible that: the one true God created us to enjoy and reflect His glory in all His creation, and though we have rebelliously sought our own glory, earning God’s just judgment for our sin, God the Son humbled Himself in Christ Jesus by coming as the God-man to perfectly live, sacrificially die, victoriously rise, sovereignly reign, justly judge, and faithfully save sinners from God’s good wrath, reconciling back to Himself a beloved people born of His Spirit who repent from sin and lovingly follow the Lord Jesus by faith at the hearing of this good news and for all eternity in the new creation to the glory of God.