Sing to the Lord of all the Earth

Go Tell the Good News
Mark 16:14-20
Conclusion of Mark
14 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.
Is This Ending Genuine? Mark 16:9-20
Footnote in NKJV
"Verses 9-20 are bracketed in NU as not original. They are lacking in Codex Sinaiticus and Codex Vaticanus, although nearly all other manuscripts of Mark contain them."
NIV "the earliest and some other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20."


Is This Ending Genuine? Mark 16:9-20
Reasons for questions over these verses..
Omitted from two of older manuscripts (Sinaiticus and Vatican manuscripts – dated 340-350 AD)
Jerome in 4th century said it was absent in some copies in his day
Some words and phrases not found in rest of Mark


Is This Ending Genuine? Mark 16:9-20
Evidence for genuineness..
99.5% of manuscripts contain these (including Alexandrian, dated 450 AD)
Sinaiticus has 2877 omissions, Vatican 3455 omissions in gospels alone compared to majority text
From Egypt, where Gnostics were promoting their teachings

Is This Ending Genuine? Mark 16:9-20
Events and teachings are confirmed elsewhere
Appearance to Mary – John 20:1-18
Road to Emmaus appearance – Luke 24:13-35
Appearance to eleven – Luke 24:36-43
Great Commission – Mt 28:18-20; Lk 24:46-47
Promise of signs – John 14-16; Heb 2:3-4
Ascension – Luke 24:51: Acts 1:9
Is This Ending Genuine? Mark 16:9-20
Events and teachings are confirmed elsewhere
Appearance to Mary – John 20:1-18
Road to Emmaus appearance – Luke 24:13-35
Appearance to eleven – Luke 24:36-43
Great Commission – Mt 28:18-20; Lk 24:46-47
Promise of signs – John 14-16; Heb 2:3-4
Ascension – Luke 24:51: Acts 1:9
Rebuke for Unbelief vs. 14
14 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.
Great Commission vs. 15-16
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.
GO – responsibility is ours to seek the lost
Luke 19:10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.
Acts 8:4 Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.

Great Commission vs. 15-16
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.
Go into all the world
We must get to know people, build relationships
Let them see our lives and know our faith
Tell them about Jesus

Great Commission vs. 15-16
Great Commission vs. 15-16
Message of the Gospel
He who believes and is baptized will be saved
He who does not believe will be condemned

Great Commission vs. 15-16
Message of the Gospel
He who believes and is baptized will be saved
He who does not believe will be condemned
Not…
Let Jesus come into your heart and you will be saved
Call upon the Lord in prayer and you will be saved
Signs Promised vs. 17-18
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.“
Signs promised to those who believe
Given to apostles by Holy Spirit – John 14-16; Acts 2:1-4
Imparted to others by laying on of hands – Acts 8:15-19; Acts 19:1-7
Signs Promised vs. 17-18
Signs were present in early church
Acts 2:4-11 – speaking in tongues
Acts 28:1-11 – Paul protected from serpent
1 Cor 12-14 – spiritual gifts within the body of Christ
Purpose: to confirm the word
Hebrews 2:3-4 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
Signs Promised vs. 17-18
When we are obedient to do our best to share the gospel, God will provide opportunities and bless our efforts

Jesus Returns Home vs. 19-20
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 every-where, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
Acts 1:8-11
8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.