COMMENTARY ON MARK


LESSON NUMBER 185


Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

 (Mark 16:17-18)


THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE

 

 

INTRODUCTION

               The passage before us is considered by many to be absent from the original manuscript – even though we do not have access to the original manuscript. Briefly stated, “As early as the 4th century A.D., the church fathers Eusebius and Jerome noted that the earliest Greek manuscripts in their possession did not contain verses 9-20. The earliest manuscripts of the gospel of Mark do not contain those verses, so they are an interpolation, a later addition not original to the writing of Mark and cannot be considered Scripture or claimed to be the words of Jesus Christ.” DISCERNING TRUTH The final twelve verses, 16:9-20, are not present in two fourth-century Greek manuscripts, the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus.” D.C. PARKER, THE LIVING TEXT OF THE GOSPELS However, all English versions, from Wycliffe through modern versions, include the text, and the vast majority of reputable commentators accept the text as valid, and harmonious with the rest of Scripture. I am proceeding in the persuasion that these are the words of the Lord.

 

               Jesus does not send His disciples out without His presence and power. Their work will be accomplished in an arena in which the devil and his hosts are aggressive, and they will not be able to confront his power in a powerless condition. Satan cannot be outwitted in human wisdom, and natural aptitudes are not sufficient to overthrow his charms. Also, his diabolical influence is directed toward the church – particularly those who are disseminating the Gospel, and invading territories he has long dominated. Those who go in the name of the Lord are doing more than simply increasing the base of knowledge among the people. Their primary work does not have to do with making the world a better place to live. Satan has no objections to that as long as the people make this world their home, living without eternity in view. He has no objection to peace as long as there is no corresponding righteousness, and “the fruit of righteousness” is not “sown in peace by those who make peace” NKJV (James 3:18). Neither, indeed, will he vigorously oppose philanthropic work, as long as the word of the Gospel is not delivered to them. But where that word is preached, his opposition is certain.

 

THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE

                Matt 28:17a And these signs shall follow them that believe . . .”

 

               Jesus is specifically referring to those who are preaching “the gospel to every creature” (16:15) – those who are making disciples, and teaching them to observe all things that Jesus has commanded them (Matt 28:19). While it is quite possible that these “signs” can occur among all those “that believe,” this word is particularly addressed to those who have entered into the Lord’s “harvest,” and are engaged in the proclamation of the good news.

 

               THESE SIGNS. Other versions read, “these miraculous signs,” NLT “these tokens,” GENEVA “these miracles” IE and “these attesting signs.” AMPLIFIED As used here, the technical definition of “signs” is “that by which a person is distinguished from others and known . . . an unusual occurrence, transcending the common course of nature.” THAYER Here, the point is not what is done, but the one who does it. In particular, a sign is a validation that what the person has declared is the truth, and that the person who did it has been sanctioned and commissioned by God. There is no purpose for “signs” if the individual is not uniquely from God, and is delivering a word from God.

 

               These “signs” also have an impact on the ones through whom, or in whom, they are done. Early in the history of the church, when opposition arose against its messengers, the disciples prayed for God to grant them “all boldness” to speak God’s word – and to do so “by stretching forth” His hand “to heal; and that signs and wonders” might be done by the name of His “Holy Child Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30). In this case, the purpose of the signs and wonders was not confined to validating the message and the messengers. It also bolstered their confidence, and gave them boldness to declare the Word in the face of hostility and aggression, and even personal suffering and hardship.

 

               In these words Jesus is also assuring the disciples that His absence would not diminish the power that would be given to them. In fact, it would rather be enhanced. Even though Jesus had commissioned Mary Magdalene to tell His disciples He was ascending to the Father, it appears that they did not yet think in terms of Him bodily leaving them. On the night of His betrayal, as He ate the Passover with His apostles, He repeatedly told them He was going away (John 13:33,36; 14:2,3,4,12,28; 16:5,7,10,16). At that time some of the disciples reasoned among themselves, “What is this that He saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see Me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see Me: and, Because I go to the Father?” (John 16:17).

 

               Further confirming that they had not yet perceived the fact that Jesus was going to leave them, just before He actually ascended into heaven, and after the words of our text were spoken, His disciples asked Him, “Lord, wilt Thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). Thus Jesus speaks to them of the special advantages they will receive when they set out to preach the Gospel and disciple the nations, even though, at this time, they doubtless associated such privileges with the bodily presence of the Lord.

 

               SHALL FOLLOW. Other versions read, “will accompany,” NASB “will be with those,” BBE “shall attend,” MRD “will be associated with,” NJB and “will go with.” IE The signs and those who were declaring the message were tied together. The signs were not the primary thing, for they were an accompaniment, not the focus. The men were the primary focus of attention, and that was because of the message that they brought. They were unusual men, being sent forth by the Lord, and they had an unusual message. Therefore, Jesus said, unusual things would accompany them, validating that they were who they declared themselves to be. Those who are eager for signs to assuage their unbelief are referred to as a “wicked and adulterous generation” (Matt 12:39).

 

               THEM THAT BELIEVE. Jesus delivers this word in such a manner as to quell an inordinate appetite for extraordinary external phenomenon. In this word, the promise extends beyond the apostles, including other believers who were preaching – like Stephen (Acts 6:8) and Philip (Acts 8:6-7). Observe that although Jesus is directly referring to those who would “preach the Gospel to every creature,” He does not say the signs will follow those who preach, but those who “believe.” As with all Divine works, these signs would be discretionary. They would not always follow – such as when Stephen was being stoned (Acts 7:56), or when Paul was in prison (Phil 2:27), or when he was forced to leave Damascus (Acts 9:25) and Thessalonica (Acts 17:10).

 

               Believing is a requisite in the Kingdom of God. Ultimately, the one who believes will “not be ashamed” (Rom 10:11) or “confounded” (1 Pet 2:6). However, along the way they may be “troubled on every side,” “perplexed,” “persecuted,” and “cast down” (2 Cor 4:9). Our persons, labors, and circumstances, are all subject to the will of God. In saying that certain “signs” will follow those who believe, Jesus is not guaranteeing this will always be the case. If the Son of God Himself “could do no mighty work” in certain environs (Mk 6:5), you may rest assured those whom He sends forth will not be exempt from such an experience. The point Jesus is making in this text is that the work His disciples will be doing will not be thwarted by the snares of the wicked one. The work and the workers are underwritten by heaven.

 

CASTING OUT DEMONS AND SPEAKING IN NEW TONGUES

               Mark 16:17b . . . In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues.”

 

               Here, Jesus is dispensing power – something that He can do, because He possesses “all power in heaven and in earth.” This is a delineation of the statement recorded by Luke: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto Me . . .” (Acts 1:8). The power, as evidenced in the signs that are here mentioned, pertains to them in the role of Christ’s appointed and commissioned witnesses. As His witnesses, their role was not social reform, political stability, or domestic idealism. Their fundamental role was the proclamation and exposition of the Person, accomplishments, and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the process of that activity, and at the discretion of the Lord, these signs would accompany them, validating their persons and word, and encouraging their hearts.

 

               IN MY NAME. Other versions read, “using My name,” NRSV “use the power and authority of My name,” GWN and “making use of My name.” WEYMOUTH I have long been discontent with the traditional explanation of “in My name” – i.e. speaking out the name of Jesus, and by so doing causing certain things to happen. The authority that is associated with “in My name” means more the utterance of Jesus’ name being empowered from heaven. As used here, this expression postulates a Christ that is bodily absent from the world. The words being said, and the authority accompanying them, are found in those who are joined to the Lord. They have His mind, His Spirit, and His life. They have been sent and empowered by Him. They are His authoritative representatives in the earth, and do what He would do if here bodily.

 

               Nothing in the Kingdom of God is impersonal. That is, there is no work of God in which the Lord Himself is absent, or operates by proxy. Also, there is no valid worker who is not joined to the Lord, and in whom the Lord is not active, working to will and to do of His own good pleasure. In the sense of this text, those who do something in the name of the Lord are those in whom Jesus is both dwelling and working. Where these conditions are not found, it is not possible to effectively do anything in the name of Jesus.

 

               CAST OUT DEVILS. Linguistically speaking, the proper word is “demons.” Lexically, the word means “a god, goddess, an inferior deity . . . an evil spirit,” THAYER “a supernatural being or spirit.” LOUW-NIDA The Greeks also applied the word to “departed souls.” LIDDELL-SCOTT Doctrinally, these are depraved spirits that operate under Satan, “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph 2:2). Early translators appeared to have used the word “devils” to distinguish this conglomerate of wicked spirits as operating under THE devil, and in strict accord with his agenda.

 

               To “cast out demons” is to “drive out,” NIV “throw out” IE or “force” GWN demons to leave those whom they possess. It is to “expel” MONTGOMERY them from their habitat, thrusting them out against their will. Those who have given thought to this know the remarkable nature of such a work. They know that there is no mere procedure that can accomplish such a thing.

 

               When He was yet among men, Jesus gave power to the twelve to cast out demons (Matt 10:8). Later He also gave this power to “other seventy” who were also sent out, to whom demons were subject (Lk 10:17). Now, Jesus declares the dark world of evil spirits would be subject to them. This also would be according to Divine discretion. We know that Philip also possessed this power, for during his ministry in Samaria “unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them” (Acts 8:7).

 

               Paul taught that professing Christians could drink from “the cup of demons,” but could not do so while drinking “the cup of the Lord” (1 Cor 10:21). There are also teachings that are perpetrated by demons (1 Tim 4:1), and demons presently believe there is “one God,” and “tremble” at the thought of it (James 2:19). Who is equal to neutralizing their power?

 

               SPEAK WITH NEW TONGUES. Other versions read, “new languages,” AMPLIFIED and “foreign languages.” WILLIAMS The word “new” means “new” to those who spoke these languages. That is, they would speak in a language that was not their native tongue, nor was it one that they had been taught or learned. These are existing languages that can be understood by those who are accustomed to speaking them. We have examples of this phenomenon on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4,11). This is the only Scriptural account of the disciples speaking in other languages, and they were understood by those who spoke them. Those at the house of Cornelius spoke in other languages, and Peter and those with him heard them magnifying God (Acts 10:46). Certain Ephesian disciples, upon their baptism into Christ, spoke and prophesied in other languages (Act 19:6).

 

               As with all spiritual gifts, speaking in other languages was functional, bringing profit to the hearers (1 Cor 12:7). As Jesus sent these messengers into “all the world,” they would not be hindered by the various languages spoken in different regions. While Greek was the universal language, it appears that it was not spoken in every region. Yet, the emissaries of the Lord would be able to speak in “new tongues,” declaring the Gospel in those regions. I gather that Paul referred to this ability when he wrote, “I speak with tongues more than ye all” (1 Cor 14:18).

 

PERSONAL SAFETY AND THE SICK RECOVERING

                Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”

 

               Jesus continues to elaborate on the “signs” that would accompany those who were declaring the Gospel to every creature. The fact that these are not proclaimed in the epistles confirms that they were not intended to be the ordinary manner of Divine working in the church. Neither, indeed, was any time-limit placed on them. These were “signs” given at the discretion of the Lord – as He deemed them to be appropriate and helpful. It is wrong to attempt to formulate a static doctrine concerning these matters. Rather, it is on the part of wisdom to leave them in the Lord’s hands. No Kingdom laborer should assume such things will never be required, or that have been rendered obsolete, thus leaving believers subject to every whim and device of the wicked one.

 

               THEY SHALL TAKE UP SERPENTS. Other versions read, “pick up serpents,” NASB “pick up snakes,” NIV “handle snakes,” CJB “take away serpents,” GENEVA “be able to handle snakes,” NLT “shall drive away serpents,” PNT and “shall kill serpents.” TNT The word translated “take up” means “to lift up, raise . . . to raise from the ground.” THAYER You may recall that this was one of the signs God gave to Moses, to be displayed before the Israelites. When the Lord told Moses to throw his rod on the ground, it became a slithering snake, and Moses ran from it. God then told him to seize it by the tail, and upon doing so, it turned to a rod again (Ex 4:3-5). This does not, however, appear to be the sense of this word of Jesus.

 

               An incident that seems to fit this description took place when Paul was shipwrecked on the island of Melita. There, while gathering wood for a fire that had been kindled by the occupants of that island, “there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.” The snake, noted for being “venomous,” was seen “hanging from his hand.” NKJV Only when the islanders had seen the snake hanging from his hand did Paul shake “off the creature into the fire,” suffering no harm. The people observed for “a great while” that when he should have swelled up and fallen dead, Paul remained unharmed. Having thought he was a murderer, they “changed their minds and said he was a god” (Acts 28:3-6). The Gospel was not impeded, and Paul was able to do the work of God on that island. The whole event was no doubt an effort of Satan to bring an end to Paul’s work. However, from a higher point of view, it was a sign that validated him as the messenger of the Lord. It appears to me that this is the kind of sign of which Jesus spake. He could not have been speaking of a mere demonstration before the people, for there are a number of men who have mastered the art of picking up poisonous snakes and handling them without being harmed. Such an activity is not a sign. Jesus was not speaking of the intentional handling of snakes, something that is practiced by several southern cultic groups.

 

               IF THEY DRINK ANY DEADLY THING. This is a similar sign – something that occurred incidentally, or without deliberation. Jesus alluded to a similar provision when He told the seventy, “And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you” (Luke 10:8). That is, do so with gratefulness, and without fear of inadvertently ingesting something that is harmful. It is interesting to observe that Mohammed, who referred to himself as a true apostle of God, died as the result of unknowingly ingesting poison. Had he really been what he claimed, this would not have happened.

 

               In his writings, Papias, martyred in A,D. 161, wrote that Mathias, who replaced Judas, “drank a poisonous draught, and by the grace of the Lord, received no hurt.” Hist. Eccl. 50:3. c. 39 We have no Scriptural accounts of this taking place. And, indeed, it is not necessary for us to have any. The point Jesus is making is that they would have appropriate protection as they were engaged in the will of the Lord. They would not be thrust from the battle field by some accident or fortuitous action. They were not sloppy in their manners, but when they conducted themselves wisely, going about the will of the Lord, Satan would not catch them unawares – not even when they ate and drank.

 

               THEY SHALL LAY HANDS ON THE SICK. Keep in mind, these are “signs” that follow those who believe, and are engaged in the work of the Lord. Paul did this when he was on the island of Melita. There he laid his hands on the father of Publius, a chief man of the island, and he was healed “of a fever and of a bloody flux,” or dysentery. NKJV When Ananias placed his hands on Saul of Tarsus, he was healed of the blindness caused on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:17-18). When Paul spent two years in Ephesus, “God wrought special miracles” by his “hands” (Acts 19:10). That this was also a discretionary work is confirmed by the near-death experience with sickness that Epaphroditus had while he was with Paul (Phil 2:27). That is, Paul could not heal people at will.

 

               As with the Lord Jesus during His ministry, Divine power can only be used for Divine purposes, and in strict accord with the will of the Lord. Ananias could lay hands on Paul and heal him of his blindness. However, there was no man or woman of God, however much they believed, who could relieve him of that “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor 12:7-10).