The Preservation Of God’s Servant

“He Is Alive and Now In Heaven”

Book of Mark Chapter 15:40–16:20

When we left Christ Our Lord last, He had just given His life in payment for “all sin” since the time of Adam till the end of time as we know it.

Mat 20:28  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

1Jn 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also “for the sins of the whole world”.

The Lord Jesus was terribly abused by men but mankind had not taken His life, He had willingly given His life!

Since that was true, He could take back up His life!

This a power that only God has!

Joh 10:18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and “I have power to take it again”. This commandment have I received of my Father.

We will meet many eye witnesses to this fact today!

Let’s begin

*****Mar 15:40  There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; Mar 15:41  (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

During all the time in our study of the Book of Mark, there has been some one behind the scenes that were doing what they do best. They take care of so many of our needs! The precious ladies of our world who do so many things including fixing our meals and repairing our clothes and keeping them clean.

They stood afar off because, it was not wise for women to be to close to such things as were taking place on Golgotha. One more thing is certain, besides John and possibly Peter from a great distance, the remaining disciples had scattered. It seems these women were more brave than the men!

Who were these women?

Mark wrote of these:

1) Mary Magdalene:

Mary was a common name used in the middle east. In the Old Testament, the name Mary would be Miriam in Hebrew.  Moses had a sister named Miriam. This Mary was from Magdala. It is a mistake to believe that this Mary was a woman of bad character. This is the Mary whom 7 demons were removed but showing gratitude to her Deliverer she became a follower and she was probably not a poor woman.

Luk 8:2  And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

Luk 8:3  And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. (Substance meant goods and property, things she owned)

2) Mary, possible wife of Alphaeus, who could also be Cleophas, (the mother of James the less).

James the less, was a different man from James the Apostle. And I do not believe this to be James the brother of Jesus as some say. Remember the brothers and sisters of Jesus did not care to be a part of the ministry of Jesus until after He had resurrected from that grave!

3) Salome, the wife of Zebedee, the mother of the Apostles James and John.

We also know that Mary, the mother of Jesus, stood by her son but closer and not afar off, at least until the time when it seems the the Apostle John took her to his own home.

Joh 19:26  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!

Joh 19:27  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home.

Mary, the mother of Jesus also had sons and daughters, who it seems were not present with her this day of her first son’s death.

Mat 13:55  Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?

Mat 13:56  And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

Mat 13:57  And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.

Jesus was not Joseph the carpenter’s son. Jesus was Son to God the “Master Carpenter” Our Creator!

Mar 6:3  “Is not this the carpenter”, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

It Is Our Carpenter who built His Church, this day at the cross and would place His seal on the Church with His resurrection for ever!

It was 3 more hours until preparation day began at 6 PM.

It had been only 21 hours since Jesus had partaken of the Lord’s Supper, with His disciples.

*****Mar 15:42  And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,

The Passover day would end at 6 PM and the “Feast of the Unleavened Bread” would begin at 6 PM.

Friday would begin at 6 PM.

By the laws of Moses, no criminal should be left hanging on a tree till the setting of the sun. It was important to get the body of Jesus off of that cross by 4 PM in time to prepare it for His burial.

Deu 21:22  And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:

Deu 21:23  His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.

There was an honorable man that understood this very well!

*****Mar 15:43  Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin Court but he was also a silent believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joseph had had a tomb prepared for himself because he wanted to be buried as near to Jerusalem as he could and not in his home town. It is probable that Joseph had been hiding in this tomb during the time Jesus was crucified and had witnessed everything that had happened.

This may be when he also realized, just like that centurion, that truly this was the Son of God.

This gave him the boldness to approach Pilate and openly reveal his love for Christ Jesus.

We accept that we may have to give our life for Christ once we believe on Him and forgiven!

The Body of Jesus would have just been discarded into a criminal’s grave if not for this man, who placed the body of Jesus in a grave he had prepared for himself.

At that time the body of criminals who were crucified were just thrown in the trash dump!

Joseph was a rich man by Jewish standards.

But Joseph was now also rich by God’s standards.

And the scriptures cannot not be broken:

Isa 53:9  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

Isa 53:10  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, “he shall prolong his days”, and “the pleasure of the LORD” shall prosper in his hand.

So Isa 53:10 must also be fulfilled.

*****Mar 15:44  And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.

Mar 15:45  And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

The Jews had already requested that the legs of all those crucified be broken to hasten their death before 6 PM and Pilate marveled that Jesus had died before this had not yet taken place.

Again prophecy:

Psa 34:20  He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

Joh 19:32  Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.’

Joh 19:33  But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

Joh 19:34  But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.

Joh 19:35  And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.

Joh 19:36  For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.

Joh 19:37  And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced.

Not one passage about the death of Our Lord would go unfulfilled!

Psa 22:15  My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.

Psa 22:16  For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.

And the blood of Jesus did flow:

Psa 22:14  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

This was the centurion that knew that Jesus was truly the Son of God!

A soldier who has been in wars knows what death looks like.

Jesus Christ was physically dead!

*****Mar 15:46  And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre.

No doubt Joseph had help from others as he could have done this alone. We do know of one other who help him.

Joh 19:39  And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.

Joh 19:40  Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

Nicodemus was also a member of the Sanhedrin Court and a member of the Council just as Joseph.

He may also have been hiding with Joseph in that tomb that the Lord Jesus would only borrow for three days.

Nicodemus was a Master of Israel and no doubt he would never be treated again as one after this day he had helped the true Master, in his death.

Even these two old men could not have done this alone.

But there were also others watching.

*****Mar 15:47  And Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses beheld where he was laid.

It is probable that this Mary is the same Mary who was mother to James the less from verse 40.

This was day 1 and it was almost the beginning of day 2 the way the Jews count days.

*****Mar 16:1  And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. Mar 16:2  And very early in the morning “the first day of the week”, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

What is this so important to the Christian?

The pure fact is that a dead Savior, cannot save anyone!

IT IS A FACT, that the Lord Jesus Christ was not in that borrowed tomb after the 3rd day!

Jesus Christ had said these words.

Mat 12:39  But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Mat 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; “so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”.

This thing took place about 6 AM on Sunday Morning and will now be referred as “The Lord’s Day” and also called ,”the first day of the week”.

Today in our so-called modern world, Monday is called the 1st day of the week but to the Jew Sunday is the 1st day of the week.

The Apostle John said.

Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit “on the Lord’s day”, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

This is the reason that the New Testament Church gathers together on Sunday and not the Sabbath which is on Saturday!

Every Sunday we are celebrating the day our Savior came out of that grave “ALIVE”!

But we are to worship Our God 7 days a week!

These precious ladies had come to complete the work that Joseph and Nicodemus had only started because they had only a very little time.

They had come to anoint the body of the Lord Jesus Christ BUT another Mary had completed this task before the Lord had died.

Joh 11:2  (It was that Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.)

This is also where the phrase “Sunrise Service” comes from. The Lord rose at sunrise.

*****Mar 16:3  And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?

Mar 16:4  And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.

This Jewish tomb had been carved out of the mountain or hill side and a stone was constructed to cover the entrance when that person was buried within. Depending on the entrance size, the size of the stone would be from 1000 to 2000 lbs. on average.

Generally speaking, this rolling stone was set inside a groove in front of the entrance, and secured from falling over by a stone wall that stood in front of tomb opening. Often, the groove was not level, but slightly sloped to make very difficult for anyone to roll the stone away.

To close the tomb, the stone would be rolled down the groove at a decline and come to rest in front of the entrance.  To open the tomb, the stone would have to be rolled up the groove at an incline.   Given the structure of such tombs, it would not have been possible for Jesus to simply push the stone over from the inside of the tomb. 

Jesus would have to roll the 2000+ pound stone back up the groove without having anything to grip. 

Such a feat would not be possible for one healthy man, yet alone a man who had just been beaten to a bloody pulp by the Romans.

These ladies, who were traveling from Bethany and not Jerusalem were discussing how they might remove that stone. They knew they even though there were at least 3 of them that they would still not be able to do so.

But as always God had all these things worked out!

The High Priest and the elders had had real concern that the Lord Jesus would do as He said and come out of that grave sometime within those three days and they had gone to Pilate.

Mat 27:62  Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

Mat 27:63  Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

Mat 27:64  Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Mat 27:65  Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.

Mat 27:66  “So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch”.

There had been an earthquake at the death of Jesus and there would be another earthquake at His rising from that death.

Mat 28:2  And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

Mat 28:3  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

Mat 28:4  “And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men”.

These brave soldiers had passed out in fear of their own lives as this angel of the Lord rolled back this great stone right in front of them.

As these ladies were approaching from Bethany these soldiers were retreating to Jerusalem.

Mat 28:11  Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

Mat 28:12  And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,

Mat 28:13  Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.

These men were paid a bribe to keep quiet. Without the help of the Jewish leaders and the High Priest, these men would have been killed for their failure!

Mat 28:14  And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.

Mat 28:15  So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Not knowing all these things, these ladies observed that the stone had been removed but they also saw something else.

We should also be very clear. That stone was not removed so Jesus could exit this grave!

In that glorified body Jesus could pass through the walls of that cave just as He, in His glorified body, had passed through those grave clothes.

That stone was removed so the inside could be observed by those who were to come and see that Jesus was not inside and the view of His grave clothes could be seen.

*****Mar 16:5  And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.

Mar 16:6  And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.

Mar 16:7  But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

Matthew 28:2 says that the women encountered an angel.

Luke 24:4 says that there were two men.

John 12:12 says that Mary Magdalene saw two angels.

Since angels often appear as men, there is no contradiction in these words.

The word “angel” is the same as messenger, and God had sent these two messengers to roll the stone from the tomb so these women could observe that the body of Jesus was no longer where He had been laid and to tell these women what had happened. What was their message? “Jesus was risen”.

These women were told to go tell the disciples and “especially Peter” that Jesus would meet them in Galilee, “just as he had said”.

Mar 14:28  But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.

But did they believe God’s messengers?

*****Mar 16:8  And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

These women had seen the empty tomb.

These women had heard the message from the angels.

However they were too confused and terrified to do much of anything, so the Lord came to their rescue.

Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene.

*****Mar 16:9  Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Mar 16:10  And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

Mar 16:11  And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

There are those that try to make something out of this first appearance of the Lord.

As we see the men were still mourning and weeping the passing of the Lord, this woman, Mary Magdalene had organized a group of women to adorn the Body of Christ.

The other women had fled back to where they had come from and Jesus would appear to them also but Mary Magdalene had lingered for a moment in tears and confusion.

Joh 20:11  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, Joh 20:12  And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Joh 20:13  And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

The Lord will always respond to His children:

Joh 20:14  And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Joh 20:15  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Mary with her eyes full of tears only caught a glimpse of some one coming up from behind her and as she turned herself.

Joh 20:16  Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

But Jesus said:

Joh 20:17  Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Many are confused with this verse but if we just see what happened it makes the explanation easier.

When Thomas finally had the opportunity to touch the Lord, he fell down and worshipped Him.

Mary was about to do the same thing!

We should realize and we should never doubt that Jesus stood before Mary in a body that was touchable and not in some ghostly spirit!

Jesus said that there were other things that needed to be done at this time and He needed Mary to deliver the message that had been given to her by those angels.

After all, Jesus was not about to ascend into Heaven at that moment and there was still much time for worship.

It was more important for Mary to obey the Lord than to fall down in worship of Him.

Obedience to the Word of God is the greatest sign of our worship!

So Mary then obeyed.

*****Mar 16:9  Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.

Mar 16:10  And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

Mar 16:11  And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.

These that loved the Lord so much simply could not believe the truth that the Lord Jesus was risen from the dead.

The world still refuses to believe this truth!

But the “truth” does not require a believer to still be true!

While Mary Magdalene was doing this thing Jesus had caught up with the other women.

Mat 28:9  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.

Mat 28:10  Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

But Jesus also had others to meet.

*****Mar 16:12  After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

Mar 16:13  And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.

Luke describes this for us:

Luk 24:13  And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

Luk 24:14  And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

Luk 24:15  And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

Luk 24:16  But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

If you were ever out on a day that was so bright that you could not look up but held your head down for the brightness and could not see all things clearly then you can understand this word “holden”. It was the glare of the sun that hindered their sight.

So the Lord listened to them for awhile and then joined in their conversation.

Luk 24:17  And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

Luk 24:18  And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

Luk 24:19  And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

Luk 24:20  And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

Luk 24:21  But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

Luk 24:22  Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

Luk 24:23  And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

In their unbelief John and Peter had actually ran to the tomb.

Joh 20:3  Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

Joh 20:4  So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

Joh 20:5  And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

Joh 20:6  Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

Joh 20:7  And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

Joh 20:8  Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

Joh 20:9  For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

Joh 20:10  Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

And Jesus continued.

Luk 24:24  And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

Luk 24:25  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

Luk 24:26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

Luk 24:27  And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luk 24:28  And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.

Luk 24:29  But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

Luk 24:30  And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.

Luk 24:31  And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Luk 24:32  And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

The Lord had indeed showed to us all the concern He had for Peter and He has that same concern for all of us when we fail Him.

Luk 24:33  And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

Luk 24:34  Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

And Jesus went to the others of His chosen disciples.

*****Mar 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

But the Lord was not through for Thomas was absent at this time.

Joh 20:25  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

We should be very careful of the words we say because the Lord is always listening to the words of His children. The Lord repeated to Thomas the exact words that he had said.

Joh 20:26  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

Joh 20:27  Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

Joh 20:28  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Joh 20:29  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Joh 20:30  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

Joh 20:31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

And Jesus still showed Himself again after this.

Joh 21:1  After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this wise shewed he himself.

Joh 21:2  There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.

Joh 21:3  Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

Joh 21:4  But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

Joh 21:5  Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

Joh 21:6  And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

They knew Jesus by His actions, after all they had spent nearly 3 years with Him almost daily.

Joh 21:7  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.

Joh 21:8  And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.

Joh 21:9  As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.

Joh 21:10  Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.

Joh 21:11  Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.

Joh 21:12  Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.

Joh 21:13  Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.

Joh 21:14  This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.

Joh 21:15  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

Joh 21:16  He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Joh 21:17  He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

Joh 21:18  Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.

Joh 21:19  This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.

Joh 21:20  Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?

Joh 21:21  Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?

Joh 21:22  Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

Joh 21:23  Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?

Joh 21:24  This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

Joh 21:25  And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

But the Lord was still not through.

Jesus stood before many others before He ascended back to Heaven.

1Co 15:5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:

1Co 15:6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

500 witnesses with the same exact story cannot be denied!

And again the Lord appeared to the disciples to give them their final orders, what we call the great commission to the Church.

*****Mar 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mar 16:16  He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

There was a family member that needed to see the Lord!

1Co 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.

And even later after His ascension the Lord Jesus came back to visit the Apostle Paul on more than one occasion.

1Co 15:8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

We should never doubt that Our Lord rose from that borrowed tomb and is “ALIVE” EVEN TODAY!

Then Mark mentions some signs of gifts given to the Apostles.

*****Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mar 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Just as the office of the Apostle was limited to the those 12 who were called by the Lord Jesus Christ, there were special gifts given to them and a few others.

1) There was the gift of  prophecy. These men received instructions by direct revelation from God.

Since the foundation of the Church and because we have the complete Word of God there is now no need for this gift.

Does God still reveal His message to His preachers? Sure, but only through His completed Word!

2) There was the gift of miracles. These 12 and for a time a few others seemed to have performed miracles.

The fact is, that The Lord gave them the “authority” through His name only , to perform miracles and not the actual power to perform miracles.

Mar 13:34  For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and “gave authority” to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.

What these Apostles asked of the Lord was done. Since the foundation of the Church this power has ceased and is not now given to any men.

Do miracles still happen? Sure but directly through the power of God and by answered prayer and most miracles go unnoticed today.

3) There was the gift of healing. These 12 and a few others were given the authority to heal for a period of time.

Since the foundation of the Church this authority has also ceased and “healing” is only in the power of God and it can be said that every healing is a result of God’s intervention and a response to prayer!

4)  There was the gift of tongues or the speaking of many languages.

God expects those that serve Him to be educated in the languages of the people where He decides for them to serve today and the gift of tongues has ceased since the foundation of the Church and the completion of the scriptures. The same goes for the gift of interpretation of tongues.

Everyone that serves must study to show themselves worthy!

1Co 13:8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; “whether there be tongues, they shall cease”; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

5) The gift of preaching and teaching the Word of God is still given to those that are called of God to do so.

God expects His message to be delivered and that by a preacher.

Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Every preacher must also be a teacher but not every teacher is called to preach but in that sense we are all called to be evangelist.

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Eph 4:13  Till “we all” come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, “do the work of an evangelist”, make full proof of thy ministry.

Evangelist are all those who proclaim the good news of the “Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ”!

6) In the Church Age, all devils and demons are cast out by the simple prayer of faith, which then brings the filling and the sealing by the Holy Spirit.

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

No believer can be then occupied by any demon or devil!

7) The only snake handler in the Bible was the Apostle Paul:

Act 28:3  And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

Act 28:4  And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

Act 28:5  And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

Paul shook that snake off into the fire and it caused him no harm. This was not a gift but only the fact that God will not allow death to come to those that serve Him until that work is complete and in most cases then they are taken on to Heaven to live with Him.

The same would go for any poison.

We are fools to handle poisonous snakes or drink poisons. Even alcohol is toxic!

It was only after all these things that the Lord Jesus ascended back into Heaven.

*****Mar 16:19  So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

We know that the Lord spent 40 more days on this Earth after He arose from that grave and He did so many things that proved He was still alive.

Act 1:2  Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:

Act 1:3  To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion “by many infallible proofs”, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

An infallible proof cannot be denied!

And none of these powers and gifts that we have talk about came permanently!

At the death of these Apostles and a few other these powers ceased!

But the followers of Christ Jesus had to obey the Lord and remain in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit came to begin the New Testament Church.

This would have been 7 more days and on a Sunday.

Act 1:4  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

Act 1:5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

Act 1:6  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

Act 1:7  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Act 1:9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

The Church Age officially began the day of Pentecost and it was then that the “Gospel of the Lord Jesus” began to spread around this world we live in.

*****Mar 16:20  And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!