Jesus Commissions the Disciples on a Hilltopby JGC
16:19Mark 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.
After He had finished speaking to His disciples, Jesus was taken up into heaven and seated at the right hand of God. Just before He was taken, He charged them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature and teach all nations. There He occupies His Father's throne as the living Saviour, continuing His work for humanity as its Representative, Advocate, and Intercessor. His departure did not end His work with them, for from heaven He worked with the disciples as they preached everywhere, confirming the word with signs following through the Holy Spirit. That final commission still binds converted believers now as Christ's witnesses to reveal the character of God to a world lying in sin.
Ascension Setting and Manner
After He had spoken to His disciples He was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. That receiving followed His giving of the gospel commission, and His going up came before His chosen servants went forth to preach everywhere, with the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following. In that setting He qualified His chosen servants to take up medical missionary work. The ascension came immediately after He finished speaking to the eleven following His resurrection, ending His earthly instruction and sending them forth to preach. It followed His blessing of the disciples.
He ascended from near Bethany after blessing the disciples, drawn heavenward by divine power in tangible human form. As humanity's representative He took His place at God's right hand and on His Father's throne, fitted by having experienced human weakness, sorrow, and temptation to continue in heaven the work of atonement begun on earth as Advocate and Intercessor, and His presence with the Father is a source of joy and comfort. A cloud of glory received Him out of their sight, a cloud of angels, with escort by the heavenly host in triumph to the city of God and angelic music accompanying His departure. His instruction given on earth remains the type and pattern for instruction to be given now to those seeking truth, because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The glory of His ascent was veiled from mortal sight, and its quiet, visible manner fitted the meekness of His life on earth. He was received into heaven after His crucifixion, at least forty-two days later, so the commission belongs to the Christian age, not the Jewish age which had ended with His death. After speaking to His disciples He rose from the dead and was received into heaven, where from His seat at God's right hand He continues working for the salvation of men and women.
Commission Spoken Before Ascension
Just before He was taken up to sit at God's right hand, Christ gave His disciples the charge to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature and to teach all nations. That speaking to the eleven after His resurrection ended His earthly instruction, and immediately after He finished speaking He was received up into heaven. Fulfilling that commission to teach all nations is the work His followers are to do now.
The commission sends followers to go and proclaim the cross and preach the gospel to every creature among all nations as witnesses in the power of the Holy Spirit. It directs them to begin at Jerusalem and reach to Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth, with repentance and remission of sins preached in His name. The instruction given before the ascension was given according to the example He had set in His own ministry as teacher and healer, which the apostles afterward testified to as they preached everywhere.
With the command He joined baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. He joined with it salvation to him that believes and is baptized and condemnation to him that believes not. He joined with it teaching obedience to all things He commanded, with the promise to be present to the end of the world.
He promised signs to follow believers: casting out devils, speaking with new tongues, taking up serpents without hurt, drinking deadly things without hurt, and recovery of the sick through laying on of hands. The verse records the close of His wonderful presentation to the disciples and completes Mark's testimony of the commission He gave before His ascension.
Heavenly Exaltation and Intercession
At God's right hand He occupies His Father's throne as the living Saviour and Advocate in heaven, escorted by the heavenly host in triumph to the city of God. Having completed His earthly ministry, answered the claims of the law, and offered Himself for humanity, He continued the work of atonement in heaven as humanity's representative, Advocate, and Intercessor. Because He had experienced human weakness, sorrow, and temptation, He was fitted to represent and plead for people before God. His presence with the Father is a source of joy and comfort.
The disciples saw Him ascend, and angels assured them that this same Jesus who had lived among them would return in like manner. That promise became a lasting hope and joy, while His earthly character remained the example to keep before them and copy. Belief in His ascension and seat at the Father's right hand, even together with belief in His miracles, death, resurrection, and return, does not by itself save, for genuine faith works through love and purifies the soul, leading to a life shaped by God's will and obedience to His commandments.
Lord Working With Disciples
After He had spoken to His disciples He was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God, and that taking up did not end His work with them. They went forth and preached everywhere, with the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following. The ascension followed the giving of the gospel charge to preach throughout the world and followed His blessing of the disciples, yet His departure did not end His support but continued in His working with them as they preached.
From that heavenly seat at God's right hand He worked with the disciples as they preached, confirming their message with signs. Their witness as preachers everywhere testifying to His work as teacher and healer was accompanied by the Holy Spirit, so that gospel work was accompanied by results. From there He continues working for the salvation of men and women.
As the closing event in that commission to preach the gospel with promised signs to believers, the ascension sets no time limit on the gifts promised in it. The commission and its gifts are presented as continuing wherever the gospel is preached. The work He gave His appointed agents in commanding them to go into all the world continues with Him working through them. He works through true and whole-hearted workers, making nothing impossible for them as they go forth everywhere to preach after His earthly instruction ended.
After His ascension He qualified His chosen servants to take up medical missionary work before and as they went out to preach. The disciples preached everywhere with the Lord working with them and confirming their message with signs, which assures that He was qualifying them for that work. He Himself works miracles for His people through them. To everyone who cooperates with Christ as the great Medical Missionary His presence is promised in accomplishing this work of going forth and preaching everywhere while the Lord works with them and confirms the word with signs following, including casting out devils, speaking with new tongues, taking up serpents without hurt, drinking deadly things without hurt, and recovery of the sick through laying on of hands.
Present Duty and Application
The charge given just before being taken to heaven to sit at God's right side, to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature and to teach all nations, still binds converted believers now. That final commission, with its baptism and salvation for him that believes and is baptized, its signs of casting out devils, speaking with new tongues, protection from harm, and healing of the sick through laying on of hands, remains a plain direction for present believers as well as the first disciples. It outlines their work as witnesses to reveal the character of God to a world lying in sin by living Christ before the world and preaching everywhere with the Lord working with them.
Instruction given on earth is the type and pattern for instruction to be given now to those seeking truth, because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Present human agents are to do just as commanded, going forth and preaching everywhere and faithfully teaching all things commanded, with the assurance that Christ has all power in heaven and earth and all authority to direct and govern, working with them and confirming the word with signs following. The commission is still to be believed and obeyed as efforts concentrate more and more on the great consummation, with God setting many plans in operation and using means entrusted to wealthy men to sustain His cause.
The instruction closed in a wonderful presentation just before the ascension is for ministers, physicians, youth, and all church members to study most earnestly. Diligent study joined with living obedience keeps from theories without foundation in the Word and leads to truth proclaimed with power that converts souls. Those who know the truth fulfill the commission by being a working power through all time, not sitting with folded hands waiting for someone to lead them to fields of labor and set them at work, but going forth in the name of the Lord, believing every word spoken and looking to Him for grace and strength.
Believers now are to be laborers together with God, not spending time preaching discourses to those who already know the truth but becoming so spiritual through sanctification of the truth that their presentations are made in a marked manner, the direct opposite of the influence of pride-bound churches and entirely different from the spirit of the world. Thousands are thirsting for the truth as it is in Jesus without knowing what makes them spiritually sickly and dwarfed, wanting the Bread of Life from heaven, and when they hear the gospel preached in the power of the Holy Spirit their longing souls recognize the banquet spread for them and hear the call that all things are now ready. The commission requires enlarging the circle of operations to warn the world, carrying the last message of warning from point to point and encircling cities and towns, establishing in each place a little community of missionaries, and sending laborers and help into unpromising fields in regions beyond where the standard of truth has never yet been lifted, rather than colonizing and building up strong centers to the neglect of other fields. That charge calls those clustered together in Battle Creek to heed it and go carry the gospel to sin-cursed cities.
After He had finished speaking to His disciples, Jesus was taken up into heaven and seated at the right hand of God. Just before He was taken, He charged them to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature and teach all nations. There He occupies His Father's throne as the living Saviour, continuing His work for humanity as its Representative, Advocate, and Intercessor. His departure did not end His work with them, for from heaven He worked with the disciples as they preached everywhere, confirming the word with signs following through the Holy Spirit. That final commission still binds converted believers now as Christ's witnesses to reveal the character of God to a world lying in sin.
Ascension Setting and Manner
After He had spoken to His disciples He was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. That receiving followed His giving of the gospel commission, and His going up came before His chosen servants went forth to preach everywhere, with the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following. In that setting He qualified His chosen servants to take up medical missionary work.
The ascension came immediately after He finished speaking to the eleven following His resurrection, ending His earthly instruction and sending them forth to preach. It followed His blessing of the disciples.
He ascended from near Bethany after blessing the disciples, drawn heavenward by divine power in tangible human form. As humanity's representative He took His place at God's right hand and on His Father's throne, fitted by having experienced human weakness, sorrow, and temptation to continue in heaven the work of atonement begun on earth as Advocate and Intercessor, and His presence with the Father is a source of joy and comfort. A cloud of glory received Him out of their sight, a cloud of angels, with escort by the heavenly host in triumph to the city of God and angelic music accompanying His departure. His instruction given on earth remains the type and pattern for instruction to be given now to those seeking truth, because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The glory of His ascent was veiled from mortal sight, and its quiet, visible manner fitted the meekness of His life on earth. He was received into heaven after His crucifixion, at least forty-two days later, so the commission belongs to the Christian age, not the Jewish age which had ended with His death. After speaking to His disciples He rose from the dead and was received into heaven, where from His seat at God's right hand He continues working for the salvation of men and women.
Commission Spoken Before Ascension
Just before He was taken up to sit at God's right hand, Christ gave His disciples the charge to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature and to teach all nations. That speaking to the eleven after His resurrection ended His earthly instruction, and immediately after He finished speaking He was received up into heaven. Fulfilling that commission to teach all nations is the work His followers are to do now.
The commission sends followers to go and proclaim the cross and preach the gospel to every creature among all nations as witnesses in the power of the Holy Spirit. It directs them to begin at Jerusalem and reach to Judea and Samaria and to the uttermost part of the earth, with repentance and remission of sins preached in His name. The instruction given before the ascension was given according to the example He had set in His own ministry as teacher and healer, which the apostles afterward testified to as they preached everywhere.
With the command He joined baptism in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. He joined with it salvation to him that believes and is baptized and condemnation to him that believes not. He joined with it teaching obedience to all things He commanded, with the promise to be present to the end of the world.
He promised signs to follow believers: casting out devils, speaking with new tongues, taking up serpents without hurt, drinking deadly things without hurt, and recovery of the sick through laying on of hands. The verse records the close of His wonderful presentation to the disciples and completes Mark's testimony of the commission He gave before His ascension.
Heavenly Exaltation and Intercession
At God's right hand He occupies His Father's throne as the living Saviour and Advocate in heaven, escorted by the heavenly host in triumph to the city of God.
Having completed His earthly ministry, answered the claims of the law, and offered Himself for humanity, He continued the work of atonement in heaven as humanity's representative, Advocate, and Intercessor.
Because He had experienced human weakness, sorrow, and temptation, He was fitted to represent and plead for people before God.
His presence with the Father is a source of joy and comfort.
The disciples saw Him ascend, and angels assured them that this same Jesus who had lived among them would return in like manner.
That promise became a lasting hope and joy, while His earthly character remained the example to keep before them and copy.
Belief in His ascension and seat at the Father's right hand, even together with belief in His miracles, death, resurrection, and return, does not by itself save, for genuine faith works through love and purifies the soul, leading to a life shaped by God's will and obedience to His commandments.
Lord Working With Disciples
After He had spoken to His disciples He was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God, and that taking up did not end His work with them. They went forth and preached everywhere, with the Lord working with them and confirming the word with signs following. The ascension followed the giving of the gospel charge to preach throughout the world and followed His blessing of the disciples, yet His departure did not end His support but continued in His working with them as they preached.
From that heavenly seat at God's right hand He worked with the disciples as they preached, confirming their message with signs. Their witness as preachers everywhere testifying to His work as teacher and healer was accompanied by the Holy Spirit, so that gospel work was accompanied by results. From there He continues working for the salvation of men and women.
As the closing event in that commission to preach the gospel with promised signs to believers, the ascension sets no time limit on the gifts promised in it. The commission and its gifts are presented as continuing wherever the gospel is preached. The work He gave His appointed agents in commanding them to go into all the world continues with Him working through them. He works through true and whole-hearted workers, making nothing impossible for them as they go forth everywhere to preach after His earthly instruction ended.
After His ascension He qualified His chosen servants to take up medical missionary work before and as they went out to preach. The disciples preached everywhere with the Lord working with them and confirming their message with signs, which assures that He was qualifying them for that work. He Himself works miracles for His people through them. To everyone who cooperates with Christ as the great Medical Missionary His presence is promised in accomplishing this work of going forth and preaching everywhere while the Lord works with them and confirms the word with signs following, including casting out devils, speaking with new tongues, taking up serpents without hurt, drinking deadly things without hurt, and recovery of the sick through laying on of hands.
Present Duty and Application
The charge given just before being taken to heaven to sit at God's right side, to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature and to teach all nations, still binds converted believers now. That final commission, with its baptism and salvation for him that believes and is baptized, its signs of casting out devils, speaking with new tongues, protection from harm, and healing of the sick through laying on of hands, remains a plain direction for present believers as well as the first disciples. It outlines their work as witnesses to reveal the character of God to a world lying in sin by living Christ before the world and preaching everywhere with the Lord working with them.
Instruction given on earth is the type and pattern for instruction to be given now to those seeking truth, because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Present human agents are to do just as commanded, going forth and preaching everywhere and faithfully teaching all things commanded, with the assurance that Christ has all power in heaven and earth and all authority to direct and govern, working with them and confirming the word with signs following. The commission is still to be believed and obeyed as efforts concentrate more and more on the great consummation, with God setting many plans in operation and using means entrusted to wealthy men to sustain His cause.
The instruction closed in a wonderful presentation just before the ascension is for ministers, physicians, youth, and all church members to study most earnestly. Diligent study joined with living obedience keeps from theories without foundation in the Word and leads to truth proclaimed with power that converts souls. Those who know the truth fulfill the commission by being a working power through all time, not sitting with folded hands waiting for someone to lead them to fields of labor and set them at work, but going forth in the name of the Lord, believing every word spoken and looking to Him for grace and strength.
Believers now are to be laborers together with God, not spending time preaching discourses to those who already know the truth but becoming so spiritual through sanctification of the truth that their presentations are made in a marked manner, the direct opposite of the influence of pride-bound churches and entirely different from the spirit of the world. Thousands are thirsting for the truth as it is in Jesus without knowing what makes them spiritually sickly and dwarfed, wanting the Bread of Life from heaven, and when they hear the gospel preached in the power of the Holy Spirit their longing souls recognize the banquet spread for them and hear the call that all things are now ready. The commission requires enlarging the circle of operations to warn the world, carrying the last message of warning from point to point and encircling cities and towns, establishing in each place a little community of missionaries, and sending laborers and help into unpromising fields in regions beyond where the standard of truth has never yet been lifted, rather than colonizing and building up strong centers to the neglect of other fields. That charge calls those clustered together in Battle Creek to heed it and go carry the gospel to sin-cursed cities.