Mark 16:19 Commentary and Bible Study

The connection between the ascension of the Lord and his working to confirm the word of the disciples through the promised signs is obvious. He was received up into heaven as one who had completed the commission given him by the Father. He has done so perfectly and returns to heaven as the triumphant God man who has successfully redeemed his elect and will presently bring them to be with him where he is. He will come again, but until then he will build his church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. The apostles are left in the world to build the foundation of the church through their preaching and doctrine. To mark them out as those who are going to be recipients of divine revelation and penmen of Scripture, they are to be given signs and wonders, and Mark confirms that they worked those signs. Nothing is said about anyone other than the apostles, and those working closely with them, working miracles. From the right hand of God Christ does these things. All power has in heaven and earth has been given to him as Matthew records, and there is no limit to what he can do other than his own sovereign will. From the right hand of God Christ will send his Spirit and the Spirit will empower the apostles. The apostles obeyed. Christ admonition of them has born fruit, and they are now exercising faith as they should have been. Through these men Christ will cause the gospel to go out into all the earth and the harvest will be prepared for the great day of his return.The disciples were dashed; they did not believe in the resurrection when it happened. Christ had repeatedly told them that their future task would be to proclaim him, to preach him to all, not only to Jews, but to Gentiles also. He had warned them that when they did this and call people to repentance and faith, they would be rejected quite often. They would even be imprisoned and taken to court. He had told them this with great clarity. This is the task for which they had been trained. But with Christ dead and buried, it seemed too hard; it seemed impossible. They said to themselves, well if they rejected our Lord what will they do with us? How can we possibly do this? Their hopes had been dashed. But now they are convinced he is risen, how transformed they are. Because he lives, they live also. They can face persecution; they can even face death for his sake. And though they cannot now see him, they know he is with them just as wonderfully as he was before, because he is keeping his word to empower them so that his word is confirmed by these signs.