Mark 16 is about Jesus' resurrection in the body of glory. It is also about Shekinah Glory or the light of glory.
Mark 16:15-18
16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
16:17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
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."
Receiving the light of glory, the disciples were sent by the Lord to serve Him. Likewise, the Gentiles/we are sent by the Lord to serve Him and become His witnesses after receiving the light of glory.
There are two kinds of testimony as follows:
The Gentiles who are not shepherded cannot be used by the Lord, and they will return to being sow and dog falling and rising in sins.
Luke 10:4-9
10:4 "Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
10:5 "But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.'
10:6 "And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.
10:7 "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.
10:8 "Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
10:9 "And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
The requirements of being sent are as follows:
There are two kinds of tools in our being sent as follows:
Mark 16:15-18
16:15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
16:17 "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
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."
Receiving the light of glory, the disciples were sent by the Lord to serve Him. Likewise, the Gentiles/we are sent by the Lord to serve Him and become His witnesses after receiving the light of glory.
There are two kinds of testimony as follows:
- Testimony about the Gospel of salvation to bring sinful people to believe in Jesus and be saved.
- Testimony about the teaching Word or the Gospel of God's glory to make the saved be sanctified and perfected.
The Gentiles who are not shepherded cannot be used by the Lord, and they will return to being sow and dog falling and rising in sins.
Luke 10:4-9
10:4 "Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.
10:5 "But whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.'
10:6 "And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest on it; if not, it will return to you.
10:7 "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house.
10:8 "Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you.
10:9 "And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'
The requirements of being sent are as follows:
- [Luke 10:5] Peaceful heart.
The peaceful heart is delivered from sins, namely wickedness, uncleanness, envy, revenge, et cetera. Our heart will never be peaceful as long as we keep our sin. - [Luke 10:4] Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals. It means we only hope in the Lord,not in anything in the world.
We are priests and Jesus is High Priest. We only fully hope in our Chief, doing our ministry in the world. He will be responsible of our life, and it has been proved by His death on the Golgotha. - [Luke 10:8-9] Being ready always to help other peopleto lighten their burden.
God's minister is a helper. Being burden for other people means such person is not the minister of God.
It starts in the marriage that we should not become burden but helper for others.
There are two kinds of tools in our being sent as follows:
- Two swords, referring to the Word sharper than any two-edged sword.
Luke 22:35-36, 38
22:35 And He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?" So they said, "Nothing."
22:36 Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.
22:38 So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords." And He said to them, "It is enough."
Hebrews 4:12
4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
The sword of God's Word sanctifies us, beginning with our wicked and unclean heart and mind, which are the source of sins.
Mark 7:21-23
7:21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, (1) adulteries, (2) fornications, (3) murders,
7:22 "(4) thefts, (5) covetousness, (6) wickedness, (7) deceit, (8) lewdness, (9) an evil eye, (10) blasphemy, (11) pride, (12) foolishness.
7:23 "All these evil things come from within and defile a man."
Out of the heart and mind come the twelve sins up to the peak, namely foolishness, meaning one cannot be advised by the Word and other people such as parents and pastor. The foolish will go to Babel to be destroyed forever.
On the contrary, our heart and mind will be filled with twelve loaves of God's Word if they are sanctified by the sword of God's Word. Our whole life, namely saying, deeds, and vision, can become holy.
Luke 22:31
22:31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.
If our whole life is holy, we can be endurable in facing all crises in the world, meaning as follows:- If we can live in holiness, the Lord is able to preserve our life in the midst of all crises in the world up to the time of antichrist's reigning over the world for three years and half.
- If we can live in holiness, the Lord is able to protect us from all sins up to the peak.
- If we can live in holiness, the Lord is able to preserve our life in the midst of all crises in the world up to the time of antichrist's reigning over the world for three years and half.
- Staff = the cross.
Mark 6:7-8
6:7. And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
6:8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff--no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts--
Meaning the suffering in the flesh together with Jesus, without any sin.
1 Peter 4:12-14
4:12.Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
4:13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.
4:14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.
There is the Spirit of Glory or Holy Spirit, who has no limitation, behind the cross.
For example, Moses was sent by God to go to Canaan, referring to the revival of Holy Spirit at the last rain or the revival of building Christ's body. He faced Red Sea and Pharaoh pursuing him and Israelites from behind to destroy them, referring to these things:- Something that makes us fear and doubt.
- Something that makes us hopeless and disappointed.
- Something that creates tears, suffering, and sorrow.
- Something that makes us fall into sins, up to the peak of sin.
- Impossible matter, dead-end.
How should we behave in facing all of them?
Exodus 14:15-16
14:15. And the LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward.
14:16 "But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.
The negative attitude is crying or murmuring, grumbling, being in panic, and hoping in other people, not in God. Consequently, there is no help but perdition.
The right attitude is lifting up our hand which holds the staff, meaning we believe and entrust our life to Jesus, who has died on the cross.
Exodus 14:21-22
14:21. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.
14:22 So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
As a result, the hand of God is stretched to perform miracles in the midst of us as follows:- Physical miracle, that is impossible matters can be made possible.
- Spiritual miracle, that we can become strong and of good courage. We will be changed continually until we become as glorious as Jesus is, we become the Bride of God who is ready to welcome Jesus' second coming.
- Something that makes us fear and doubt.