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If we left it here, we might have the impression that our blindness is quite understood and accepted by God. Yet God reveals Himself as being so concerned with our blindness. Why? Surely it's because He knows that knowledge and understanding are the basis of our behaviour. We can so easily slip away from our understanding of God, and back into the blindness of the flesh. If we hate our brother, we are blind; we lack true sight, we lack true understanding of the word (1 Jn. 2:9-11), we have gone back to the blindness. A healed blind man who wilfully returns to his blindness is a tragic picture indeed. . The world's sinful behaviour is because it is blind, i.e. it lacks true understanding (Eph. 4:17-19). The blind man lacks an awareness of his sins, he lacks basic spiritual attributes and an appreciation of the Kingdom, because he lacks knowledge (1 Pet. 2:9). The Lord gave sight to His people and blinded those He will later condemn (Jn. 9:39-41). Blindness is associated with condemnation (2 Pet. 1:9). The fact that in some ways we are blind in spiritual terms should therefore be an unending source of concern to us. It should motivate us to search our souls, and truly come to the light of a true appreciation of God's word. Some parts of the Christian world around us seems to emphasize spiritual behaviour being achieved as an act of the will (e.g. " we should love one another" ), rather than as the natural result of our knowledge of God from His word opening our eyes. Aspects of latter day Christianity are veering down the same road. Spiritual understanding is the basis of spiritual behaviour, not beating our weak nature with an iron will to be spiritual. The result of doing this will only be a surface spirituality, an outward appearance of righteousness.
In harmony with this, a read through the Gospels reveals the deep frustration and anger of the Lord Jesus because of the blindness of the disciples. Mark's record brings this out especially. The following comments by the Lord, almost under His breath, were all made within a matter of days of each other: " Peter said, Declare unto us this parable. And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? Do not ye yet understand?...do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand? Perceive ye not yet...having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not?...how is it that ye do not understand?...O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? (with reference to the disciples' faithlessness)...the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answereth (i.e. responded) again, and saith unto them, Children ...and they were astonished out of measure...Jesus went before them: and they were amazed...and he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen...Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask" (Mt. 15:17; 16:9; Mk. 8:18,21; 9:19; 10:1,24-32). Notice the stress on " how long" and " yet" . The Lord clearly was disappointed at the slow rate of development. Their blindness was an agony to Him.
Especially does this come out in His attitude to the disciples after His resurrection. The exalted Son of God, the Son of God, poured out His anger on those eleven men. You get the sense of them cowering before the presence of a super-human intellect, beneath a force of personality that could concuss men when turned against them. He upbraided them for their lack of perception, their lack of understanding (Mk. 16:14; Lk. 24:25). As I read the record of this, there's part of me that feels so sorry for them. Thoughts of sympathy skate through my mind: they weren't a bad crowd...only ordinary men...just poor little human beings down here on earth...only men...only human beings...limited by their own nature. But this wasn't how the Lord saw it at all. He was angry with them. The picture of the Son of God, the exalted Son of man with eyes as a flame of fire, upbraiding His friends, those he had died for... because they hadn't understood something which he knew and they knew had been within their power to. The picture is awesome.
The Lord Jesus hasn't changed. He still has the emotions of anger and frustration. He wants us to act as men who have had their eyes opened, rather than remain complacent at our blindness. He is the same Jesus who healed the blind man. Paul says the same: " Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light... walk as children of the light...walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God by the...blindness of their hearts" (Eph. 5:8; 4:17,18). To be without spiritual vision, to sleepwalk through life as the world does, is deeply angering to God. A diet of telly, pop music and trashy newspapers can only induce the blindness of a vain mind. Of course this doesn't mean that academic appreciation of God's word is what commends us to God. But it is also true that correct understanding is important, and our blindness angers God. Blindness alienates men from Him. Yet we know we are blind. There's so much we don't perceive as we should, so much we are blind to. And this blindness separates us from God. It frustrates the Lord Jesus; he is angry when those who have eyes to see (i.e. have been converted) still don't see (Mk. 8:18).
The healed blind man is a pattern for us each one. It is our lack of knowledge of God which separates us from Him. When we fully 'see' Him intellectually, we will see Him physically. So this ought to fire us with a true zeal for understanding, a desire to lift up our voice for understanding, a crying out for it, that we might find the knowledge of God (Ps. 119:169; Prov. 2:3-5). As we sing, " Our weakness help / Our darkness chase" . Surely we ought to have an urge to speed up our development, to chase our blindness; because sins of ignorance are still sins. Our blindness is no excuse. In this sense, lack of spiritual understanding is not unrelated to sinfulness. One of the blind men Jesus cured summed up the feelings of all the others when he said that the one thing he wanted was to see (Mt. 20:33). Those healed blind men are types of us. True understanding (seeing) should be the one thing we want. " Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom" Prov. 4:7). This doesn't amount to dashing through our readings in 15 mindless minutes a day. It's more than that. There should be a real fire within us for understanding, a burning desire not to be blind, to live in the real world.
POSTSCRIPT: The Blindness Of The Disciples To The Resurrection Of Jesus
| Comment | Matthew | Mark | Luke | John |
| John's record presents the resurrection through the eyes of Mary Magdalene. She went alone to the tomb while it was yet dark. This doesn't contradict the other accounts, which pick up the story at sunrise, when all the women were together there. | Jn. 20:1 Now on the first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, while it was yet dark, unto the tomb, | |||
| Mt. 28:1 Now late on the sabbath day, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. | Mk. 16:1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him. Mk. 16:2 And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun was risen. |
Lk. 24:1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came unto the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. | ||
| Here's an example of our prayers and needs being answered whilst we are yet speaking. They worried about what had already been sorted! | Mk. 16:3 And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb? | |||
| The women went to the tomb in the immediate aftermath of a great earthquake; or perhaps it happened whilst they were on their way there. Their love of their Lord, purely as love for Him as a person, as they had little firm expectation of a resurrection, is amazing. The earthquake didn't phase them. Likewise we note that the disciples are described as "weeping" for the loss of Jesus, the Greek word meaning specifically to weep aloud (Mk. 16:10). And yet the Lord appears to them in that state and upbraids them for not believing His words and for having hard hearts (Mk. 16:14). Faith is so crucial- and for all their love of Him, they didn't have much faith in Jesus. Are there similarities with ourselves? Do we on one hand love Him, and yet remain hard hearted to His words? | Mt. 28:2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the
Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled away the stone, and sat
upon it. Mt. 28:3 His appearance was as lightning, and his raiment white as snow: Mt. 28:4 and for fear of him the watchers did quake, and became as dead men. |
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| The first appearance of the Angel to the women- outside the tomb | Mt. 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye;
for I know that ye seek Jesus, who hath been crucified. Mt. 28:6 He is not here; for he is risen, even as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Mt. 28:7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples, He is risen from the dead; and lo, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. |
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| Mk. 16:4 and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great. | Lk. 24:2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. | and seeth the stone taken away from the tomb. | ||
| Second Angelic appearance | Mk. 16:5 And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the
right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed. Mk. 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him! Mk. 16:7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. |
Lk. 24:3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. | ||
| Meetings with two separate Angels didn't make the women understand ; now two Angels appear together and tell them the same words as the other Angels had said. | Lk. 24:4 And it came to pass, while they were perplexed thereabout, behold,
two men stood by them in dazzling apparel: Lk. 24:5 and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? Lk. 24:6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Lk. 24:7 saying that the Son of man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. Lk. 24:8 And they remembered his words, |
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| Mt. 28:8 And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, | Mk. 16:8 And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: | Lk. 24:9 and returned from the tomb, | ||
| After initially saying nothing, they did eventually tell the disciples. Matthew and Luke omit this disobedience to the Lord's command to witness. The record in a beautiful way both covers their weakness, and yet also brings it out. In fact resistance to the command to tell others, or being slow to fulfil it, is another theme of the resurrection accounts. | and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid. | |||
| Peter and John went to the tomb after having first of all disbelieved Mary Magdalene. | and ran to bring his disciples word. | and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.
Lk. 24:10 Now they were Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James: and the other women with them told these things unto the apostles. Lk. 24:11 And these words appeared in their sight as idle talk; and they disbelieved them. Lk. 24:12 But Peter arose, and ran unto the tomb; and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths by themselves; and he departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pass. |
Jn. 20:2 She runneth therefore, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the
other disciple whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away
the Lord out of the tomb, and we know not where they have laid him. Jn. 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb. Jn. 20:4 And they ran both together: and the other disciple outran Peter, and came first to the tomb; Jn. 20:5 and stooping and looking in, he seeth the linen cloths lying; yet entered he not in. Jn. 20:6 Simon Peter therefore also cometh, following him, and entered into the tomb; and he beholdeth the linen cloths lying, Jn. 20:7 and the napkin, that was upon his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Jn. 20:8 Then entered in therefore the other disciple also, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed. Jn. 20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Jn. 20:10 So the disciples went away again unto their own home. |
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| Mk. 16:9 Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week, he
appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
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Jn. 20:11 But Mary was standing without at the tomb weeping: so, as she
wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; Jn. 20:12 and she beholdeth two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Jn. 20:13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. Jn. 20:14 When she had thus said, she turned herself back, and beholdeth Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jn. 20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jn. 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turneth herself, and saith unto him in Hebrew, Rabboni; which is to say, Teacher. Jn. 20:17 Jesus saith to her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended unto the Father: but go unto my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and my God and your God. |
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On the way to tell the disciples , Jesus appears a second time to Mary Magdalene. She still fears. Mt. 28:10 sounds as if Jesus intended not to reveal Himself to the disciples until they met in Galilee. However, Jn. 21:1 stresses that He revealed Himself to them in Galilee again; and Jn. 21:14 notes this was the third time that the disciples as a group saw the risen Lord. Perhaps the degree of their unbelief was unexpected even to the risen Lord. |
Mt. 28:9 And behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and
took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Mt. 28:10 Then saith Jesus unto them, Fear not: go tell my brethren that they depart into Galilee, and there shall they see me. |
Mk. 16:10 She went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. | Jn. 20:18 Mary Magdalene cometh and telleth the disciples, I have seen the Lord; and that he had said these things unto her. | |
| Mk. 16:11 And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved. | ||||
| Mt. 28:11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into
the city, and told unto the chief priests all the things that were come
to pass. Mt. 28:12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave much money unto the soldiers, Mt. 28:13 saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. Mt. 28:14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and rid you of care. Mt. 28:15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continueth until this day. |
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The Jewish public looked for Jesus to release them from Roman bondage; but He patiently and repeatedly explained that His Kingdom was not of this world, rather would it come in a political sense at His second coming; and the essence of the Kingdom and liberation He preached was spiritual and internal, rather than physical and external. Yet the disciples didn't get it- they thought Jesus would've redeemed Israel there and then (Lk. 24:21). Their total lack of attention to the Lord's words is brought out by their lament that now was "the third day" after His death- when this ought to have been the very day they were looking for His resurrection! The disciples were "astonished" (Lk. 24:22) and "marveled" (Lk. 24:12,41). The same two Greek words recur together in Acts 2:7,12, describing how the crowd to whom the disciples preached soon afterwards were likewise "amazed and marveled". Perhaps this was how and why the disciples (and Peter especially) could achieve such a rapport with that crowd- because they had experienced those very same feelings when their faith and understanding was so weak. The women said they had seen "a vision of Angels" rather than actual Angels (Lk. 24:23). They like the disciples later (Lk. 24:37) wished to spiritualize everything rather than face the fact that the real Christ had risen in concrete and actual reality. |
Mk. 16:12 And after these things he was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country. |
Lk. 24:13 And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village
named Emmaus, which was threescore furlongs from Jerusalem. |
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| Mk. 16:13 And they went away and told it unto the rest: | Lk. 24:35 And they rehearsed the things that happened in the way, and how he was known of them in the breaking of the bread. | |||
| Although the disciples accepted that Jesus had appeared to Simon, they didn't believe the account of Cleopas and his friend. The record emphasizes their refusal to believe. | neither believed they them. | |||
| Mk. 16:14 And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; | Lk. 24:36 And as they spake these things, he himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. | Jn. 20:19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. | ||
| and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen. | Lk. 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they
beheld a spirit. Lk. 24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart? |
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| Joy isn't really a cause for disbelief. It's the grace in the inspired record which makes that excuse for them. They preferred to spiritualize everything, as many do today, rather than face the actual implications of a Lord who is for real. They accepted it was Jesus, and yet they still disbelieved. Note in this context how the women said they had seen "a vision of Angels" rather than actual Angels (Lk. 24:23) | Lk. 24:39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and
see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having. Lk. 24:40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. Lk. 24:41 And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered |
Jn. 20:20 And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord. | ||
| The resurrection narratives emphasize how Angels said the same words; how in the face of repeated disbelief, Jesus tried repeatedly to reassure them. This theme of repetition continues with Jesus saying twice "Peace be unto you!". | Jn. 20:21 Jesus therefore said to them again, Peace be unto you: as the
Father hath sent me, even so send I you. Jn. 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Spirit: Jn. 20:23 whose soever sins ye forgive, they are forgiven unto them; whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. |
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This incident of eating was to yet again reassure them that He was for real. Note how later on, by the sea of Tiberias, Jesus again ate before them- He had to keep repeating Himself to get it home to them, that He was for real. If those men, who had heard the many predictions of resurrection from the lips of the Lord Himself, found it hard to believe He was for real when He stood before them- how understandable it is for us to grasp that He is for real. Acts 1:3 says that the Lord showed Himself to be alive to the disciples "by many infallible proofs". The suggestion is that they simply didn't accept Him as He stood there before Him; they failed to grasp that He was for real. They gave Him food to eat to check Him out; and He again ate before them in Galilee on His initiative. |
, he said unto them, Have ye here anything to eat? Lk. 24:42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish. Lk. 24:43 And he took it, and ate before them. Lk. 24:44 And he said unto them, These are my words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must needs be fulfilled, which are written in the law of Moses, and the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me. |
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There's meaning in the fact that Thomas' other name, Didymus, is given (Jn. 20:24). 'Didymus' means literally 'the double', presumably implying he was a twin. But 'Didymus' is a form of the same Greek word we find in Mt. 28:17, describing the 'doubt', literally the doubleness, i.e. the double mindedness, which there was in the disciples. Again, the element of doubt and lack of faith is being emphasized. They still weren't obedient to their risen Lord- they didn't go immediately into Galilee. They remained at least eight days in Jerusalem, until Jesus appeared to Thomas there. |
Jn. 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with
them when Jesus came. Jn. 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. Jn. 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them. Jesus cometh, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Jn. 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and see my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and put it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. Jn. 20:28 Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jn. 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Jn. 20:30 Many other signs therefore did Jesus in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: Jn. 20:31 but these are written, that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye may have life in his name. |
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| Despite having seen Him before, they still doubted | Mt. 28:16 But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain
where Jesus had appointed them. Mt. 28:17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. |
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This incident occurred after the disciples had already met Jesus in a mountain in Galilee (Mt. 28:16). Their going fishing might imply that they just returned to their old business. Meeting the risen Christ still didn't have a permanent effect upon them. The reference in Jn. 21:14 to "the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples" must mean that this was the third time recorded in John that Jesus revealed Himself to them all together as a group at one and the same time. |
Jn. 21:1 After these things Jesus manifested himself again to the disciples
at the sea of Tiberias; and he manifested himself on this wise. Jn. 21:2 There was together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples. Jn. 21:3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also come with thee. They went forth, and entered into the boat; and that night they took nothing. Jn. 21:4 But when day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach: yet the disciples knew not that it was Jesus. Jn. 21:5 Jesus therefore saith unto them, Children, have ye aught to eat? They answered him, No. Jn. 21:6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes. Jn. 21:7 That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his coat about him (for he was naked), and cast himself into the sea. Jn. 21:8 But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits off), dragging the net full of fishes. Jn. 21:9 So when they got out upon the land, they see a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. Jn. 21:10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now taken. Jn. 21:11 Simon Peter therefore went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fishes, a hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, the net was not rent. Jn. 21:12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and break your fast. And none of the disciples durst inquire of him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord. Jn. 21:13 Jesus cometh, and taketh the bread, and giveth them, and the fish likewise. Jn. 21:14 This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. Jn. 21:15 So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. Jn. 21:16 He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Tend my sheep. Jn. 21:17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Jn. 21:18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. Jn. 21:19 Now this he spake, signifying by what manner of death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Jn. 21:20 Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; who also leaned back on his breast at the supper, and said, Lord, who is he that betrayeth thee? Jn. 21:21 Peter therefore seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jn. 21:22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. Jn. 21:23 This saying therefore went forth among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, that he should not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Jn. 21:24 This is the disciple that beareth witness of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his witness is true. Jn. 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that should be written. |
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| The disciples returned from Galilee to Jerusalem [unrecorded] | Lk. 24:45 Then opened he their mind, that they might understand the scriptures;
Lk. 24:46 and he said unto them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; Lk. 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Lk. 24:48 Ye are witnesses of these things. Lk. 24:49 And behold, I send forth the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city, until ye be clothed with power from on high. |
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| Mt. 28:18 And Jesus came to them and spake unto them, saying, All authority
hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth. Mt. 28:19 Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit: Mt. 28:20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. |
Mk. 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach
the gospel to the whole creation. Mk. 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned. Mk. 16:17 And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues; Mk. 16:18 they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mk. 16:19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. Mk. 16:20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen. |
Lk. 24:50 And he led them out until they were over against Bethany: and
he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. Lk. 24:51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. Lk. 24:52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: Lk. 24:53 and were continually in the temple, blessing God. |
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