Day 296: Mark 13-16

(The previous post covered the opposition from the religious leaders to the point they planned on killing Jesus.)

Mark 13
¹ And as he went forth out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Teacher, behold, what manner of stones and what manner of buildings!
² And Jesus said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left here one stone upon another, which shall not be thrown down.

(Jesus foretold the destruction of the temple that would occur in 70 AD at the hands of the Romans. They took apart all the stones to get to the gold.)

³ And as he sat on the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,

(Peter, James, John, and Andrew spoke to Jesus privately.)

⁴ Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when these things are all about to be accomplished?

(They wanted to know when these things would be fulfilled. In this Gospel Account, the only answer that was presented was to the question, "What will be the sign of Thy coming?")

⁵ And Jesus began to say unto them, Take heed that no man lead you astray.
⁶ Many shall come in my name, saying, I am he; and shall lead many astray.

(There will be many false Christs that state "I am the Messiah." Remember, Jesus never "plainly" stated these exact words "I am the Son of God" or "I am the Messiah" because that would not have been humble.)

⁷ And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be not troubled: these things must needs come to pass; but the end is not yet.
⁸ For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be earthquakes in divers places; there shall be famines: these things are the beginning of travail.

(All the signs listed would be the beginning of sorrows. In this verse, travail was like the birth pangs a woman experiences when she is about to give birth, meaning these things will increase in intensity and frequency the closer we get to "the end.")

⁹ But take ye heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in synagogues shall ye be beaten; and before governors and kings shall ye stand for my sake, for a testimony unto them.

(Persecution of Christians was foretold.)

¹⁰ And the gospel must first be preached unto all the nations.
¹¹ And when they lead you to judgment, and deliver you up, be not anxious beforehand what ye shall speak: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye; for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit.

(As for Christians prior to the Tribulation: The Holy Spirit will speak through us (grace) when we are being judged.)

¹² And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.
¹³ And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.

(Believers will be hated by men for Christ's Name sake.)

¹⁴ But when ye see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not (let him that readeth understand), then let them that are in Judaea flee unto the mountains:

(Jesus referenced Daniel 9:27. This event will occur halfway through (3 1/2 years into) the Tribulation. So, it appeared Jesus explained the signs leading up to His physical return to earth at the end of the Tribulation at the battle of Armageddon.)

¹⁵ and let him that is on the housetop not go down, nor enter in, to take anything out his house:
¹⁶ and let him that is in the field not return back to take his cloak.
¹⁷ But woe unto them that are with child and to them that give suck in those days!
¹⁸ And pray ye that it be not in the winter.
¹⁹ For those days shall be tribulation, such as there hath not been the like from the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never shall be.
²⁰ And except the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would have been saved; but for the elect's sake, whom he chose, he shortened the days.
²¹ And then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is the Christ; or, Lo, there; believe it not:
²² for there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall show signs and wonders, that they may lead astray, if possible, the elect.

(The Antichrist will torment believers during the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation. Jesus said if it lasted beyond 3 1/2 years, no one would make it to the end. Jesus said that if possible the "elect" would be led astray by these signs and wonders as a cause. Remember, the "elect" are believers who God "selects" in response to their faith in God (see additional note below). Also, if possible meant it was not possible for the elect to be deceived by these signs, not that it was possible but the elect would choose not to be deceived. The only way it would not be possible for the elect to be deceived by these signs is if they weren't present, which meant the elect would already have been raptured by this point.)

(Additional Note: Similar to the term "choice" or "chosen," the term "select" or "elect" referred to the quality of these people. They weren't excellent people because they were elect, they were elect because they were excellent people. It is easy to abuse the Principle of Causality here and it damages the correct interpretation of scripture:
-Cause: "excellent" people.
-Effect: were "elected.")

²³ But take ye heed: behold, I have told you all things beforehand.
²⁴ But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
²⁵ and the stars shall be falling from heaven, and the powers that are in the heavens shall be shaken.
²⁶ And then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
²⁷ And then shall he send forth the angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.

(Angels will gather together the elect from all of earth and heaven. This was a blatant reference to the end of the Tribulation as well as a rapture. See the Parable of the Tares: Matthew 13:24-30, 37-43.)

(Verses 28-31: the Parable of the Fig Tree.)

²⁸ Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh;
²⁹ even so ye also, when ye see these things coming to pass, know ye that he is nigh, even at the doors.
³⁰ Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, until all these things be accomplished.
³¹ Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
³² But of that day or that hour knoweth no one, not even the angels in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
³³ Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.

(Only God the Father knows when Jesus' second coming will take place so we ought to be ready at all times.)

³⁴ It is as when a man, sojourning in another country, having left his house, and given authority to his servants, to each one his work, commanded also the porter to watch.
³⁵ Watch therefore: for ye know not when the lord of the house cometh, whether at even, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning;
³⁶ lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.
³⁷ And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

(Since only the Father knows the time when Jesus will come back, we ought to be ready at all times.)




Mark 14
¹ Now after two days was the feast of the passover and the unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him with subtlety, and kill him:

(The timing of this chapter began two days before the feast of Passover. The scribes and Pharisees sought how they might take Jesus and kill Him.)

² for they said, Not during the feast, lest haply there shall be a tumult of the people.
³ And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster cruse of ointment of pure nard very costly; and she brake the cruse, and poured it over his head.
⁴ But there were some that had indignation among themselves, saying, To what purpose hath this waste of the ointment been made?
⁵ For this ointment might have been sold for above three hundred shillings, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
⁶ But Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
⁷ For ye have the poor always with you, and whensoever ye will ye can do them good: but me ye have not always.
⁸ She hath done what she could; she hath anointed my body beforehand for the burying.
⁹ And verily I say unto you, Wheresoever the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

(Jesus was anointed by a woman's precious ointment. She was anointing Him for His burial.)

¹⁰ And Judas Iscariot, he that was one of the twelve, went away unto the chief priests, that he might deliver him unto them.

(Judas Iscariot went to the chief priests to betray Jesus.)

¹¹ And they, when they heard it, were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently deliver him unto them.
¹² And on the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the passover, his disciples say unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and make ready that thou mayest eat the passover?
¹³ And he sendeth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him;
¹⁴ and wheresoever he shall enter in, say to the master of the house, The Teacher saith, Where is my guest-chamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
¹⁵ And he will himself show you a large upper room furnished and ready: and there make ready for us.
¹⁶ And the disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.

(The passover lamb was killed and presented in the temple the day before it was eaten. Jesus directed the Disciples to the "upper room" where the Last Supper was held a day before Passover.)

¹⁷ And when it was evening he cometh with the twelve.
¹⁸ And as they sat and were eating, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you shall betray me, even he that eateth with me.

(Jesus stated that one of His Disciples would betray Him, in front of His Disciples.)

¹⁹ They began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I?
²⁰ And he said unto them, It is one of the twelve, he that dippeth with me in the dish.
²¹ For the Son of man goeth, even as it is written of him: but woe unto that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had not been born.

(Jesus stated that it would have been better for His betrayer to have never been born. This was proof that Judas will never be in heaven.)

(Verses 22-25: the Lord's Supper.)

²² And as they were eating, he took bread, and when he had blessed, he brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take ye: this is my body.
²³ And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave to them: and they all drank of it.
²⁴ And he said unto them, This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.

(During the Passover meal, there were four cups of wine. Two were drunk before the meal and two after. The third was drunk with the desert bread (Afikomen) and became our communion. The third cup represented Redemption, which was provided for us by Jesus' Blood.)

²⁵ Verily I say unto you, I shall no more drink of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

(The fourth cup represented Praise for the Completion of Everything. Jesus would not drink of this fourth cup until everything was completed in His Father's Kingdom after Final Judgment.)

²⁶ And when they had sung a hymn, they went out unto the mount of Olives.

(After the Lord's Supper they sang a hymn.)

²⁷ And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered abroad.

(Jesus referenced Zechariah 13:7.)

²⁸ Howbeit, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.
²⁹ But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.

(Peter said he would not be offended. Peter just told the Son of God that He was wrong.)

³⁰ And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, that thou to-day, even this night, before the cock crow twice, shalt deny me thrice.

(Jesus foretold Peter's three denials. Jesus knew the causes within Peter that would lead to Peter's denial (the effect) of Christ.)

³¹ But he spake exceedingly vehemently, If I must die with thee, I will not deny thee. And in like manner also said they all.

(Peter continued to speak "vehemently" of not denying Jesus. He continued to say that Jesus was wrong. He said he would die with Jesus, and so did the rest of the Disciples.)

³² And they come unto a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith unto his disciples, Sit ye here, while I pray.
³³ And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly amazed, and sore troubled.
³⁴ And he saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful even unto death: abide ye here, and watch.

(Jesus was "exceeding sorrowful.")

³⁵ And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him.
³⁶ And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; remove this cup from me: howbeit not what I will, but what thou wilt.

(Jesus prayed for other options but said: nevertheless, God's Will be done.)

³⁷ And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest thou not watch one hour?
³⁸ Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
³⁹ And again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words.
⁴⁰ And again he came, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they knew not what to answer him.
⁴¹ And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough; the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

(Jesus prayed three different times for other ways to be crucified without having to go through the separation with God and/or the physical torture.)

⁴² Arise, let us be going: behold, he that betrayeth me is at hand.
⁴³ And straightway, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.

(Judas, with a great multitude, came to take Jesus.)

⁴⁴ Now he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that is he; take him, and lead him away safely.
⁴⁵ And when he was come, straightway he came to him, and saith, Rabbi; and kissed him.
⁴⁶ And they laid hands on him, and took him.
⁴⁷ But a certain one of them that stood by drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

(According to John 18:10, Peter was the "certain one" that cut off the servant's ear.)

⁴⁸ And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and staves to seize me?
⁴⁹ I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but this is done that the scriptures might be fulfilled.
⁵⁰ And they all left him, and fled.

(All of Jesus' Disciples forsook Him and fled.)

⁵¹ And a certain young man followed with him, having a linen cloth cast about him, over his naked body: and they lay hold on him;
⁵² but he left the linen cloth, and fled naked.
⁵³ And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and there come together with him all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
⁵⁴ And Peter had followed him afar off, even within, into the court of the high priest; and he was sitting with the officers, and warming himself in the light of the fire.

(Jesus was led away to the high priest and Peter followed from far away.)

(Verses 55-60: the testimonies of people bearing false witness.)

⁵⁵ Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found it not.
⁵⁶ For many bare false witness against him, and their witness agreed not together.
⁵⁷ And there stood up certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,
⁵⁸ We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.
⁵⁹ And not even so did their witness agree together.
⁶⁰ And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
⁶¹ But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and saith unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?

(Jesus held His peace and answered nothing.)

⁶² And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.
⁶³ And the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What further need have we of witnesses?
⁶⁴ Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be worthy of death.

(The high priest and all the people condemned Jesus to be guilty of death for blasphemy.)

⁶⁵ And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the officers received him with blows of their hands.

(Jesus was spit on and mocked.)

⁶⁶ And as Peter was beneath in the court, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest;
⁶⁷ and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and saith, Thou also wast with the Nazarene, even Jesus.
⁶⁸ But he denied, saying, I neither know, nor understand what thou sayest: and he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
⁶⁹ And the maid saw him, and began again to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
⁷⁰ But he again denied it. And after a little while again they that stood by said to Peter, of a truth thou art one of them; for thou art a Galilaean.
⁷¹ But he began to curse, and to swear, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
⁷² And straightway the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word, how that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.

(Peter denied Jesus three times, remembered Jesus' words, and wept.)




Mark 15
¹ And straightway in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.

(Jesus was bound and delivered to Pilate.)

² And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering saith unto him, Thou sayest.

(Pilate asked Jesus if He was the King of Jews and Jesus said, "Thou sayest.")

³ And the chief priests accused him of many things.
⁴ And Pilate again asked him, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they accuse thee of.

(Jesus did not defend Himself.)

⁵ But Jesus no more answered anything; insomuch that Pilate marvelled.

(Pilate marveled at Jesus not defending Himself.)

⁶ Now at the feast he used to release unto them one prisoner, whom they asked of him.
⁷ And there was one called Barabbas, lying bound with them that had made insurrection, men who in the insurrection had committed murder.
⁸ And the multitude went up and began to ask him to do as he was wont to do unto them.
⁹ And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
¹⁰ For he perceived that for envy the chief priests had delivered him up.

(Pilate was trying to not have Jesus killed. Even Pilate knew that the chief priest delivered Jesus to Pilate because of envy.)

¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the multitude, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.

(The people had Barabbas, a murderer, released.)

¹² And Pilate again answered and said unto them, What then shall I do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
¹³ And they cried out again, Crucify him.

(Again, Pilate attempted to avoid having Jesus killed. The people cried out for Jesus to be crucified.)

¹⁴ And Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out exceedingly, Crucify him.

(Pilate asked why in order to avoid having Jesus killed, but the people didn't answer. They just continued crying out for Jesus to be crucified.)

¹⁵ And Pilate, wishing to content the multitude, released unto them Barabbas, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.

(Pilate wanted to please the crowd so he delivered Jesus to be crucified.)

¹⁶ And the soldiers led him away within the court, which is the Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
¹⁷ And they clothe him with purple, and platting a crown of thorns, they put it on him;
¹⁸ and they began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
¹⁹ And they smote his head with a reed, and spat upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.

(Jesus wore a purple robe (the color of royalty), a crown of thorns, and the men mocked Him and struck Him.)

²⁰ And when they had mocked him, they took off from him the purple, and put on him his garments. And they lead him out to crucify him.
²¹ And they compel one passing by, Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross.
²² And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
²³ And they offered him wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
²⁴ And they crucify him, and part his garments among them, casting lots upon them, what each should take.
²⁵ And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.

(Jesus was crucified in the 3rd hour of daylight. Remember, the day of Passover began at sundown. Jesus' goal was to stay alive until sundown so His death would point the Jews to Himself as the Passover Lamb.)

²⁶ And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

(The inscription of Jesus' accusation was that He was THE KING OF THE JEWS.)

²⁷ And with him they crucify two robbers; one on his right hand, and one on his left.
²⁸ And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was reckoned with transgressors.

(This was a reference to Isaiah 53:12.)

²⁹ And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ha! Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days,
³⁰ save thyself, and come down from the cross.
³¹ In like manner also the chief priests mocking him among themselves with the scribes said, He saved others; himself he cannot save.
³² Let the Christ, the King of Israel, now come down from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reproached him.

(The chief priests and scribes stood at Jesus' crucifixion and continued to mock Him, in hopes He would sin.)

³³ And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

(The ninth hour was sundown, the beginning of Passover.)

³⁴ And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
³⁵ And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elijah.
³⁶ And one ran, and filling a sponge full of vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let be; let us see whether Elijah cometh to take him down.
³⁷ And Jesus uttered a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

(Verse 34 showed that Jesus experienced separation from God the Father. Jesus "gave up the ghost." This was the ninth hour. Jesus had been on the cross for six hours in order to choose to die during the day of Passover.)

³⁸ And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.

(The veil in the temple that separated God and man was torn in two. Jesus' sacrifice bridged the gap between man and God.)

³⁹ And when the centurion, who stood by over against him, saw that he so gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

(The centurion knew that Jesus was the Son of God after seeing Him give up the ghost.)

⁴⁰ And there were also women beholding from afar: among whom were both Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
⁴¹ who, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him; and many other women that came up with him unto Jerusalem.
⁴² And when even was now come, because it was the Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
⁴³ there came Joseph of Arimathaea, a councillor of honorable estate, who also himself was looking for the kingdom of God; and he boldly went in unto Pilate, and asked for the body of Jesus.

(Verse 42 referenced a high sabbath, not the weekly sabbath.)

⁴⁴ And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

(Pilate marveled that Christ was already dead.)

⁴⁵ And when he learned it of the centurion, he granted the corpse to Joseph.
⁴⁶ And he bought a linen cloth, and taking him down, wound him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb which had been hewn out of a rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
⁴⁷ And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

(The women found out where Jesus was buried. They were going to prepare Jesus' body for burial, but they could not do it after sundown, especially because it was Passover. The next day was not a regular weekly sabbath, but a high sabbath related to Passover. The day after the high sabbath was a regular weekly sabbath. This meant that Jesus was crucified on our Thursday evening, which would be the beginning of their Friday. Our Thursday evening would be the beginning of their Friday, which was a high sabbath. Our Friday evening would be the beginning of the weekly sabbath. This meant, the women would not be able to prepare Jesus' body for burial until Sunday during the day, our Sunday morning, which would have been three nights (our Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights). Jesus was in the belly of the earth for three days and three nights, just like Jonah was in the belly of the great fish.)




Mark 16
¹ And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.
² And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun was risen.

(The first day of the week was our Sunday, the first opportunity for women to prepare Jesus' body for burial.)

³ And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb?
⁴ and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great.
⁵ And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed.

(The "young man" was an angel.)

⁶ And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him!
⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
⁸ And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid.

(Three women went to anoint Jesus' body only to find that He had risen.)

⁹ Now when he was risen 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 them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
¹¹ And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved.
¹² And after these things he was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country.
¹³ And they went away and told it unto the rest: neither believed they them.

(People who heard of Jesus' resurrection had doubt.)

¹⁴ And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen.

(Jesus showed Himself to the eleven Disciples (Judas Iscariot hanged himself). Jesus reproved their unbelief because they did not believe those who had seen Jesus alive. Remember, the Disciples themselves would be spending the rest of their lives telling others about Jesus' resurrection. Why would the Disciples expect others to believe them if they would not believe others?)

¹⁵ And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.

(Jesus commissioned the Disciples to preach the gospel to the world.)

¹⁶ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.
¹⁷ And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;
¹⁸ they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

(These signs "follow" them that believe. The cause is belief. The effects are the signs.)

¹⁹ So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.

(Jesus is in heaven at the right hand of God.)

²⁰ And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.

(The New Testament began with four accounts of Jesus' time on earth. The second of these Gospel Accounts was written by St. Mark. Mark was also called John Mark. It was believed this account was written about thirty years after Christ's death. Mark was not a Disciple. Many believed the author wrote his account based on the perspective of Simon Peter, whom John Mark traveled with after Jesus' ascension into heaven. This Gospel was more focused on the deeds and actions of Christ and less on His words. This Gospel Account moved very fast. It was also one of the more chronologically accurate Gospel Accounts. Matthew's Gospel Account recorded some events in a different order because Matthew's Gospel Account tend toward grouping events topically. I believe this is the best book of the Bible for a person new to the Bible to read first. Consequently, our comments in this Gospel tended to reference the other Gospels for details.)

Day 297