Mark 16:15-18 (NIV)
He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good
news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but
whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany
those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in
new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink
deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on
sick people, and they will get well."
Do you believe in Jesus Christ but don’t share your faith? Not sharing your faith is ignoring or disobeying this specific command of Christ to His disciples and subsequently to all His followers. While you don’t have to preach the good news, you are to speak about it to others. The good news is the gospel of Christ, that God offers salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross to all people. All who accept His offer of salvation will have their sins forgiven, will be reconnected to holy God, and will have life eternal for their souls. That is indeed good news.
Fritz Kreisler was a world-famous violinist (he died in 1962), who earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions, but he generously gave most of it away. So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn't able to buy it. A collector bought it so later when Kreisler raised enough money he visited the new owner's home and offered to buy the violin. The collector said it had become his prized possession and he would not sell it. Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had an idea. "Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?" he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music that the collector's emotions were deeply stirred. "I have no right to keep that to myself," he exclaimed. "It's yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear it." In the same way, Christians have no right to keep the good news to themselves; you have to take it out into the world around you and enable others to hear it.
Jesus clearly says that you either believe and are saved or you do not believe and are condemned (“katakrino”--to judge worth of punishment). You are one or the other. Remember that there is no such thing as being in the middle, being lukewarm, or being half way with God. It is definitely black and white, you either are or are not a believer.
This passage is very controversial. Jesus list 5 signs that accompany those who believe---driving out demons, speaking in new tongues (languages), picking up snakes, drinking poison and not being harmed, and healing sick people. We know/have heard about churches that practice snake handling to demonstrate that they are the true believers. We know that some zealous believers judge others by saying that it you cannot speak in tongues or cannot drink poison or cannot heal the sick that you are not a true believer. Is this what Jesus meant?
The word “signs” means “miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the men sent by Him”. It refers to a direct intervention by God. Certainly if God directly intervenes, He has power over everything and nothing is impossible with Him so indeed all these examples of miracles can happen. It is God who takes the initiative to perform these miracles, not people. So people who claim to perform these miracles routinely are not representing God.
I don’t have answers to questions about this controversial passage, but here are some questions:
Do you believe in Jesus Christ but don’t share your faith? Not sharing your faith is ignoring or disobeying this specific command of Christ to His disciples and subsequently to all His followers. While you don’t have to preach the good news, you are to speak about it to others. The good news is the gospel of Christ, that God offers salvation through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross to all people. All who accept His offer of salvation will have their sins forgiven, will be reconnected to holy God, and will have life eternal for their souls. That is indeed good news.
Fritz Kreisler was a world-famous violinist (he died in 1962), who earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions, but he generously gave most of it away. So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn't able to buy it. A collector bought it so later when Kreisler raised enough money he visited the new owner's home and offered to buy the violin. The collector said it had become his prized possession and he would not sell it. Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had an idea. "Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?" he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music that the collector's emotions were deeply stirred. "I have no right to keep that to myself," he exclaimed. "It's yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear it." In the same way, Christians have no right to keep the good news to themselves; you have to take it out into the world around you and enable others to hear it.
Jesus clearly says that you either believe and are saved or you do not believe and are condemned (“katakrino”--to judge worth of punishment). You are one or the other. Remember that there is no such thing as being in the middle, being lukewarm, or being half way with God. It is definitely black and white, you either are or are not a believer.
This passage is very controversial. Jesus list 5 signs that accompany those who believe---driving out demons, speaking in new tongues (languages), picking up snakes, drinking poison and not being harmed, and healing sick people. We know/have heard about churches that practice snake handling to demonstrate that they are the true believers. We know that some zealous believers judge others by saying that it you cannot speak in tongues or cannot drink poison or cannot heal the sick that you are not a true believer. Is this what Jesus meant?
The word “signs” means “miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the men sent by Him”. It refers to a direct intervention by God. Certainly if God directly intervenes, He has power over everything and nothing is impossible with Him so indeed all these examples of miracles can happen. It is God who takes the initiative to perform these miracles, not people. So people who claim to perform these miracles routinely are not representing God.
I don’t have answers to questions about this controversial passage, but here are some questions:
§ If
performing these signs are what is required to prove your faith, then no
Christian I know will enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, I do not believe
that they are requirements in the literal sense.
§ Why
do these signs have anything to do with believing in Jesus?
§ Is
there any other Scripture written where Jesus handled snakes and drank poison?
§ Do
these signs represent symbolic adversities that believers face in their
Christian walk on earth? Is this passage to be considered in the same way as we
consider other passages like the ones that say if your eye causes you to sin,
pluck it out or if your hand causes you to sin, cut if off?
While there might be more questions than answers, one point from this passage is clear: Understand that either you are a believer or you are an unbeliever and as a believer you are to declare your faith without any shame (Romans 1:16) to others in your life. You can focus on what you do understand from this passage. Are you a believer and, if so, are you sharing your faith with others both in word and deed? If you are not a believer, you need to realize the consequences and there is still time to give your life to Christ.
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