Mark 16:14-20 Afterward he appeared to the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart… It cannot be a matter of indifference to the pious to know in what manner the blessed Saviour took final leave of His earthly Church. If we really love Him it cannot but interest us to understand how He conducted Himself, how He looked, and what were the last things He said and did. Upon these points the Scriptures are not silent; and the whole account is quite in keeping with what we would naturally expect. I. OUR DEPARTING SAVIOUR'S CHIDINGS. Love itself gave birth to these upbraidings. There is nothing so subtle or so damaging to the peace of souls as the workings of unbelief. Faith is the great saving grace; where it is wanting there is misery, darkness, death. Therefore, because He loved them, and wished to have them take in and possess the true joys of faith, Christ upbraided His disciples with their unbelief. They deserved and required chiding, for their unbelief was due to their own hardness of heart, not to the want of evidence. The Lord's valedictory admonition is repeated to us again today. We may not have doubted that He rose from the dead, but have we so believed as to take all the momentous implications of Christ's resurrection home to our souls, and to have them living in our lives? (Romans 6:4-6; Colossians 3:1, 2.) II. OUR DEPARTING SAVIOUR'S COMMANDS. Another manifestation of His love. He would that all should be saved. 1. The gospel must be preached. This is a Divine work, and a binding obligation. No Christian is exempt from the duty, and none excluded from the privilege and honour of taking part in it, according to his sphere and measure. 2. The gospel must be heard. 3. The sacrament of baptism must be administered. Faith without obedience is nothing, and salvation is promised only to him "who believeth and is baptized." It may seem to be a very small thing — a mere insignificant ceremony; but in whatever way men look upon it Jesus appointed it, and has connected with it all the sublime benefits of His mediation. III. OUR DEPARTING SAVIOUR'S PROMISES (Hebrews 2:4; Acts 16:16-24; Acts 19:11, 12). Many demons, also, of pride, covetousness, uncleanness, drunkenness, gluttony, ambition, lust, hatred, moroseness, and spirits of wickedness innumerable, did the apostles expel by their preaching, turning men from their idols to serve the living and true God (Acts 2:5-11; Acts 10:46; Acts 28:1-6; Acts 3:1-9; Acts 9:33-35; Acts 14:8-11). Time would fail to tell the works of healing wonder which the disciples wrought in the name of Jesus by prayer and the laying on of hands, in which the Master fulfilled His promise. Nor was the promise or the fulfilment of it confined to them alone. It is still outstanding, firm, and good; and always must hold good, as long as the gospel is preached, and men are found to believe it. IV. THE DEPARTURE ITSELF. No thunder, as at Sinai; no darkness, as at the crucifixion; no overpowering radiance, as at the transfiguration. Only the gentle lifting up of the hands to bless. (J. A. Seiss, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: 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. |
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