Deep Faith
Mark 16:15-20
Just before Jesus leaves them for a second time, after having been resurrected and spent time with them, He tells them they can perform all these signs in His name.
Photo by Lina Volkmann on Unsplash
Jesus said to the apostles, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. - Mark 16:15-20
I have seen no one perform any of these signs, so I assume this ability was just given to the apostles and not all believers.
It's a valid assumption, don't you think?
Why would Jesus do that?
According to our teaching and the Bibe history, God has granted this ability to perform miracles before, so we could assume He could do it again.
It is a way to help spread the message of salvation and God's love for us, but is it fair for some to receive the benefit of these miracles and others not?
This has been the question people have raised about God all along. Why do some prayers get answered and others don't?
The very thing that was intended to help spread the message and grow belief in Jesus could be what is keeping people from believing.
And apparently, this power is not transferable to others. Peter had it. He raised a dead girl with his powers but he didn't pass them along to the long line of Popes who followed him.
So, my question is this. Do miracles help increase the fellowship of believers or not?
Would we be better off if none of these miracles had ever occurred?
If I was not a believer, and I was approached by one, I would ask, why? Why do you believe in Jesus?
It is kind of like Thomas's situation. Do we need to see miracles in order to believe, or is our faith deeper than that?
I believe it is deeper, and that is what we need to show those who doubt or fail to believe.
Show your deep faith.
More to come...