Thursday 4 January, 2018

14 Later Jesus appeared to the 11 disciples as they were eating. He spoke firmly to them because they had no faith. They would not believe those who had seen him after he rose from the dead. 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world. Preach the good news to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who does not believe will be punished. 17 Here are the miraculous signs that those who believe will do. In my name they will drive out demons. They will speak in languages they had not known before. 18 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 the people will get well.” 19 When the Lord Jesus finished speaking to them, he was taken up into heaven. He sat down at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere. The Lord worked with them. And he backed up his word by the signs that went with it.

These final verses in Mark confirm for us the missionary component of following Jesus. If I follow Jesus he is asking me to tell others about him and his Kingdom. And his promise is for the presence and power of God to accompany me and to reveal the living realities of God’s Kingdom.

I see also that much is on the line, whoever believes in Jesus, getting baptised in his Name, will be saved from the power of sin and the wrath of God. Those who refuse will be condemned because of their sin.

Lord, accompany me and reveal your Kingdom as I talk about you to friends, family and strangers.

Written by Andrew Mellor