DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’!

July 2, 2010

DON’T STOP BELIEVIN’!

Mark 16:9-20

Katie Kauppila

Central Truth

Believe that Christ lives, and go share the Good News.

Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. (Mark 16:14)

[Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9–20.]^{1

16:9
Some manuscripts end the book with 16:8; others include verses 920 immediately after verse 8. At least one manuscript inserts additional material after verse 14; some manuscripts include after verse 8 the following: But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this, Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. These manuscripts then continue with verses 920}

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

9 [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

Jesus Appears to Two Disciples

12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

The Great Commission

14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]

Footnotes

[1] 16:9 Some manuscripts end the book with 16:8; others include verses 9–20 immediately after verse 8. At least one manuscript inserts additional material after verse 14; some manuscripts include after verse 8 the following: But they reported briefly to Peter and those with him all that they had been told. And after this, Jesus himself sent out by means of them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. These manuscripts then continue with verses 9–20

I have a bad habit of falling asleep when I watch movies at home. You can ask any roommate I have lived with. It is kind of a problem because I never know if the guy gets the girl, if the hero saves the day, or if the planet gets saved from an enormous meteorite. I’m sure you get the picture. I usually end up asking my friends to fill me in on the rest of the story. It is a horrible feeling to think that a meteorite is hurling itself at the planet, and life as we know will be soon be over. It is always nice when someone fills in the rest of the story.

For many years, I lived out my faith like I had fallen asleep in the middle of the gospel, right after the burial of Christ and before the glorious resurrection. I lived like I was dead in my sin. I was plagued with guilt and a pattern of sin that seemed impossible and overwhelming to overcome. However, the Lord taught me to believe in the power of the resurrection through studying Scripture and walking with precious friends who shared testimonies of life, forgiveness, and freedom. I had to wake up to the truth and believe that Christ not only died for my sin, but He lives in me. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, NIV) I am no longer living like I am dead in my sin, because “just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4, NIV)

I praise God that He seeks us in our unbelief just as He sought the disciples while they were mourning and weeping. The story does not end with death! Believe in the power of the resurrection, and share the Good News that Jesus lives!

1. In what area of your faith do you struggle with unbelief?

2. The disciples had been told by Christ about His death, burial, and resurrection before it happened (Matthew 16:21). However, they did not believe when they were told that He was alive. How well are you armed with the Word so that when you are tempted not to believe, you will know how to discern what is truth?

3. Jesus rebuked the disciples for their unbelief and then commissioned them to preach the good news to all creation. How do you respond to rebuke? Does it hinder or enhance your ministry?

FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. What would you do if you were in Jesus’ time and saw Him crucified, and then someone came and told you He had risen from the dead?

2. What did the disciples do when they were told that Jesus had risen from the dead (verse 14)?

3. What does it take to believe something you can’t see? (It takes faith.)

4. Is there anything in your life you are struggling to believe about God? Ask God to grow your faith and show you more of who He is so you can trust Him and believe.