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."
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. - Mark 16:14-20
I find it thought provoking when we read this passage of Mark that Jesus rebuked the eleven for their lack of faith and stubborn refusal to believe. Now 2000 years beyond the grave I am curious at how Jesus would respond to us. Jesus in this portion of scripture is getting ready to ascend to the right hand of God. I would suggest to all of us that whatever Jesus spoke to His disciples would have been pretty important.
For us as believers who claim the risen Lord it speaks of the signs that will follow those who believe. Would Jesus rebuke us, as He did the eleven, for our stubborn refusal as believers to allow the Signs that are to follow us, as He said would. This isn't our vain imaginations here, this is What Jesus himself said. In your time of reflection today ask yourselves these questions:
What are the signs that follow me as a believer of Jesus Christ?
Is my life a living epistle read of men?
Am I open and willing to allow the signs to follow my belief in Jesus?
Do I allow fear to block me being the vessel God wants to flow through today?'
Blessings,
Todd
Posts
