The Gifts in Mark 16

The Gifts in Mark 16

Mark 16:17-19 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; (v.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. (v.19) So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.

First it was these gifts which would be used by the early Church to help establish it. (Eph. 2:20 “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”) The Apostles and the early converts would need protection as they sought to spread the Gospel to the World. They ‘needed’ the gifts, today’s Church ‘wants’ the gifts. It is this “wanting” of the gifts that places today’s Church in a precarious position. Jesus said in Matt. 16:4, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign….” The problem was not the signs themselves but the heart of one who sought after them. The first problem we see is that people want gifts for the wrong reasons. Then there is the matter of purpose. The gifts were intended to give witness to the fact that Messiah had come and to establish the Church. Messiah’s coming is not debated within the established Church today and the Church is well established, at least in our part of the World. All of these signs in Mark 16 were needed in the establishing of the Church. Today they are not a requirement since the Church is established.

If you believe they are still in use in our churches here in the states then let me ask a question or two. Will these gifts change men’s minds about the Gospel? Abraham said that even raising someone from the dead would be of little avail. Luke recorded in his Gospel in chapter 16:29-31, “Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (v.30) And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. (v.31) And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.”  Think about Lazarus for a moment. Jesus brought him back to life after 4 days of rotting in the grave yet, we do not hear of any great revival resulting from his resurrection. In fact, it is all but forgotten in mere moments. Jesus worked many miracles in addition to this, did it help? Did it change hearts? John 12:37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him….”

Miracles were not given for worship but for evangelism. The believers in Mark 16 are a part of the establishment of the Church and will need help and these gifts are intended to be that help. The gifts were never intended for the continuance of the Church. In Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible he states, “Miracles were necessary for the establishment of religion in the world; they are not necessary for its continuance now.” If the signs in Mark 16 are intended for our worship services today or even for evangelism today then let’s use all of them. Why are we stopping at tongues? (For the end of its use see I Cor. 13:8-10). Why do we not use all of the gifts listed?

“They shall take up serpents” and will not be harmed (v. 18a). Most snake handling churches use rattle snakes. However, if you know anything about snakes it really is not unusual to be bitten by a rattle snake and live and if you can be treated then about 96% of victims will live. So, why then do we not use really dangerous snakes like, the Inland Taipan. It has the most toxic venom of any land snake in the world. If you want to prove God is protecting you this would be the snake of choice. The maximum amount of venom recorded for one bite is 110mg, enough to kill about 100 humans. The reason this snake is never used is simple, those involved in snake handling would all die because this Gift of God in not in use today. And if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not harm them (v. 18b). Here is the same situation we have with the snakes. They would be protected from poison in their evangelistic efforts to build the Church. It was easy to drink from poisoned sources in that day. But today, just like with the serpents, churches use poisons that are easily overcome. May I line up a few glasses of water tainted with botulinum and ask those claiming that these verses are for today to drink one? Death occurs within moments. One spoon of this poison can kill millions. Who would accept the challenge? This gift was intended to protect from disasters occurring while establishing the Church. It was never intended to prove one’s faith to one’s neighbor.

Finally, (also covered in ICor. 13:8-10) “…they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Today healing is hit and miss and has become very theatrical. Those helping with the early days of the Church used their gifts to prove the reality of the faith they preached. Every time they laid hands on one who was ill or possessed of demons that person was healed. They never missed. There is not one example of an “attempted” healing. Why are so many not healed today, or supposed to be healed but then ‘relapse’ when the cameras are turned off?

The gifts are easy to understand. When traveling to foreign lands with the Gospel message during the first century (and somewhat later) one needed help, help to communicate (tongues), help with safety (snakes and poisons) and of course help to verify the message and the messenger (healings). These particular gifts were essential in building the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Today that foundation is laid and our needs have changed radically. These gifts do not follow us today. They ended with the establishment of the Church and the completion of His Holy Word.