The gospel of Mark ends rather abruptly, or at least it does in the earliest versions we have. At the end of Mark 16:8, we read that the women who met the angel at Jesus' tomb were "trembling and bewildered" and "said nothing to anyone because they were afraid." While many Bibles include verses 9-20, scholars have determined that the earliest manuscripts we can find, as well as many witnesses from the 2nd century, do not include these verses in their versions or commentaries.
This then raises the question of Mark's original intent. Did he mean to leave us hanging - not meeting the risen Jesus - and just with the note that the women were afraid? Or did he have a longer ending that was somehow lost? Or did he just never finish it for one reason or another? We can't be certain. Even the ancient scholars, much closer to the original, do not know the answers. The general consensus, however, is that Mark did not intend for his gospel to end in fear.
So if verses 9-20 were not written by Mark, it brings up the question: What should we do with them? Should we consider them an accurate account, just written by someone else (much as scholars see John 7:53-8:11 - the woman caught in adultery)? Or was this some person's attempt to "correct" the problem - even though they weren't specifically led to by the Holy Spirit?
Most of the additional verses just seem to be repetition of verses and passages that appear in other gospels, except for v17-18, which list the "signs" that will accompany the gospel. v18 in particular is questionable, because it lists "picking up snakes" and "drinking deadly poison" without being harmed as 2 of the signs that will "accompany those who believe." Do I believe God can do these things? Absolutely. But should we try them - and thus put these words to the test? I, for one, never will - unless I am explicitly led to by the Holy Spirit for an evangelistic purpose.
Maybe one day we'll know the final answer to this - but one thing I can say for sure - is that textual problems like this do not shake my faith in Jesus Christ - or in the Bible.
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A couple of things came to mind as I finished reading your comments. The first, from Deuteronomy 6:16, and then repeated by Jesus in Matthew 4:7 is, “Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God...” And I suppose it can be said that even Jesus, when challenged by Satan to jump from the pinnacle of the temple, heeded His own advice when He quoted that verse from the Old Testament. Risk, just for the sake of risk, is foolish.
However, it has been well said, I believe, that Christians are immortal until they have accomplished God’s purpose. Paul, for example, while en route to Rome, was apparently bitten by a “viper” with no ill effects (Acts 28:3-6), but the encounter was accidental. In another incident, Paul was stoned and left for dead but instead soon “rose up” and continued his journey the next day (Acts 14:19-20). The fact that Paul was spared illustrates, I believe, the Lord’s power to protect and preserve those who are still doing the Lord’s work.
As written, it appears to me that verse 16:16 is a parenthetical insertion between verses 16:15 and 16:17. It appears to be so because verses 16:17-18 are very similar to what Jesus said in Luke 10:19-20 to the returning seventy disciples, to wit: “I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions...and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
In Mark 16:14 we are told that Jesus is speaking to His eleven. Thus, it seems to me that He is telling His eleven that “these signs shall follow them that believe.” And He may well have included the phrase “that believe” because in 16:14 we are told that He “upbraided them [His eleven] with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.” In other words, I believe Jesus may have been speaking only of His eleven rather than including all believers with regards to the “signs.”
However, as Christians, combining our faith with the power of the Holy Spirit, I believe we have all of the potential power of God to accomplish His purpose. However, I also believe that we are given such extraordinary power only if or when it is in accordance with His will for us to use it. Simply stepping in front of a bus to ascertain if “nothing shall by any means hurt [me]” is a great demonstration of stupidity, not faith. On the other hand, it is impossible to know how many “close calls,” or “near misses” we’ve had that we aren’t even aware of. God protects us 24/7 in ways many times completely unknown to us.
I agree Rob - Do not tempt God.
I'd also seen those examples from Paul - but neither of them are exactly what this verse 17 claims.
Two more things: I wouldn't call v16 parenthetical - because to me - that diminishes its value - and I think the message there is very important.
Also - I wouldn't say that the power of those signs was only given to the 11. That's the same kind of argument that many people use to say that none of the "extraordinary" gifts of the 1st century are still in use today - which I completely disagree with.
As always - thanks for your comments.
In it’s infancy Christianity struggled with not only witchcraft and sorcery but with a well established religion worshiping the one, true God. Not only did witches and sorcerers use signs and wonders but Judaism witnessed many miraculous events performed either directly by the hand of God or through His chosen such as Moses, the prophets, and the judges. It is into this environment that Jesus sent His disciples. In order to be on at least equal footing, He gave to them what we consider today to be extraordinary powers. One might even say that, up until the beginning of His ministry, seeing was believing.
But Christianity today, for most of the known world, is a much more faith based religion. In John 6:45 we are told that all believers are taught by the word of God. And while I do not dispute the fact that all born-again believes do have, through the Holy Spirit, the potential ability to display the unlimited power of Almighty God, the need for such displays, in the act of evangelism has, I believe, all but disappeared. But, that is not to say that miraculous events no longer occur, or that such events are no longer brought about by disciples. However, I do believe that the extraordinary powers given to believers has, by and large, shifted from those of wondrous signs to that of prayer. Said differently, our power today lies not in the handling of snakes, but rather in the power of the knowledge of the Truth; something the earliest of disciples were not all that well schooled in.
The dilemma for both non-believers, including “professing Christians,” and even many believers is that wondrous signs can be performed by the forces of both good and evil. And, according to the Bible, as we approach the end times, deception is going to become a major factor. When asked by His disciples what the signs would be for His return and the end of the world (Matt. 24:4), the first thing Jesus said to them was, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name...and shall deceive many.” And Jesus somewhat explains this deception in Mark 13:22 when He says, “for false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall [show] signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” Paul also warns of deception in 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 when he wrote, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
How then, is it possible that God’s elect will not be deceived? The answer is simple. Jesus said in Mark 13:23, “But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.” As believers we have been given not only the knowledge of the power of the Truth but, the future has been revealed to us. Thus, we have both the inspired word of God in the Holy Bible, as well as the awesome power of prayer to lead us. So, even if they come with wondrous signs and performing miraculous events, those who, in any way, deviate from the Truth of the gospel must be treated for what they are: false prophets. Let us not, therefore, be deceived by “signs and wonders.”
Rob - as I read your latest comments - I kept thinking: "you're right about America and Europe - but not about Africa and Asia and other places." When you go to other parts of the world - especially where worship of other gods is actively taking place - there are many more supernatural signs coming from Christians. I also have a feeling that if our nation continues to drift from Christianity - the supernatural signs will return to our churches in abundance.
Just some thoughts...
Pam wrote me an email saying she could not login to make her comments on this, so I offered to post them for her. Please note that these are Pam's thoughts, and not necessarily mine:
"For me, the 'handling of snakes' makes me think of 'snake' as being a metaphor for 'evil'. The snake as we know represents the devil and in fact Matthew 7:9-11( 9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!) uses the commonly understood metaphor for Christianity, 'the fish' against the 'snake' in his passage. I believe that the handling of snakes indicates that when we are indwelled with the Holy Spirit that we can 'handle evil' through the power of Him, Who lives in us. Matthew 19:26 "Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." If God calls us to cast out demons, handle snakes, or drink poison, then we can and should do so. The drinking poison I believe is probably related to the evil that we 'injest' by just looking at TV today or listening to the speech of those who blaspheme God. We can hear this 'poison' or evil and not die from it because we are covered by the sacrificial blood of the Lamb. And yes, I agree that we are immortal until we have accomplished God's good and perfect will for us, but to walk in front of a truck or defy the natural laws that God has placed on our earth such as gravity, is really really testing God. And we know how He feels about being tested ! The challenge for me as a Christian is that God has called me to live in this imperfect world with my fellow sinners and I get 'distracted' by the world too often. It is a matter of life and death for me to stop and listen for that 'still small voice' or get confirmation through the Holy Spirit in God's Word before I walk up to that snake or drink the poison of evil that the world is throwing at me constantly. Those who are not covered by the blood of the Lamb will and do die."
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