ESOCS Devotional 9 May 2024 – Power in the Great Commission
MEMORY VERSE: “Believers will be given the power to perform miracles: they will drive out demons in my name; they will speak in strange tongues; if they pick up snakes or drink any poison, they will not be harmed, they will place their hands on sick people, and these will get will.”Mark 16: 17-18 GNB.
TEXT: MARK 16: 14-20
Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 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.”
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
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The Great Commission was the terminal assignment or commandment Jesus gave to His followers before He finally ascended (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15). In this obligation, the Master made it clear that the gospel is for the whole world, and not just for the Jews (John 10:16). It must be preached in every village, town and city of the world. In other words, no community or tribe must be left out in the proclamation of the gospel. What is the gospel? It is the good news of Jesus’ death for our sins, and His resurrection for our hope (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). This is what must be preached to everyone, everywhere, because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:9; 5:12).
Those who believe will respond to God’s grace through the Cross of Christ, by immersion in water for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-6). On the other hand, those who do not believe will not respond by obedience to the gospel. One’s belief will therefore move him to obedience (Hebrews 11:6). Such will therefore be saved unto salvation and eternal life. Moreover, the scripture makes it very clear that salvation comes as a result of faith in Christ, and one’s response to God’s grace that was revealed on the cross. On the contrary, if one does not respond to the gospel by immersion into the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, then there is no hope of salvation (John 3:3-5; Acts 2:38).
In verses 17 and 18, we see the emergence or promise of power to perform miraculous signs. These would be for the confirmation of the message preached and the messengers (John 3:2; Acts 15:12). These messengers would speak foreign languages they have not learned. They would take up serpents without being hurt. They would drink poisons at no risk to their health. If and when they lay hands on the sick, the sick will get well. What a rare privilege for those who believe in the redemptive mission of Christ Jesus on earth! May His Name be praised forever.
- The death and resurrection of Jesus is the greatest pride and boasting of Christianity. Do you agree?
- Lord Jesus, give me the grace to function effectively in the ministry of the Great Commission.
Further Reading: Exodus 6:1-13; 2 Kings 11:2-15; Mark 2:23-28
ESOCS Devotional 9 May 2024
