In Time For Easter

For Bible in Context April 2006 Part one

With Easter on it’s way I decided to pull up my notes from a sermon dated:

Easter Sunday 03/31/02

I have separated this into four sections and will post them separately, hopefully ending with the last part on Easter if the Lord is willing.

Please remember that even though I have gone over these to check for continuity, they are still none-the-less just “notes”.

Mark 16:14-20:

“ ¹⁴Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. ¹⁵And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶“He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. ¹⁷“These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

¹⁹So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ^20£And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.”

You might find it interesting to know that there are actually quite a few churches whose whole service is based on these verses. Many will actually bring in a box of poisonous snakes for the “faithful” to handle.

I have even heard of churches that have built in “snake pits”! Doesn’t that sound like fun?

No?

I still find it hard to believe that there are so many churches and so many people that do this sort of thing.

As for myself there are only two kinds of snakes I don’t like:

Live ones, and Dead ones…

The rest don’t bother me….

Now do you want to hear something really scary? I don’t think these churches are all that wrong!

(Please hear me out before you label me a nutcase and a heretic)

I actually believe that all churches should be based on these verses.

I believe that you and I can and should handle vipers and drink poisons all without being harmed.

I think these things should be signs of our salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord!

I just don’t believe we should “put the Lord our God to the test”

(Mathew 4:7: ⁷Jesus said to him, “On the other hand, it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”)

That is where these churches go wrong. It is a very dangerous thing when you don’t take the time to get to know God.

It’s all right there! From the very beginning, God has made a point to make sure that the “Word of God” was available to us.

If you want to get to know God all you have to do is

– the same thing you do with anyone else –

Spend Time With Him.

Read His Word and “pray without ceasing”.

These “Snake handler” churches have latched onto a few verses and taken them out of context.

It actually is an understandable mistake; it’s not out of context for the verses around it, or even the chapter, it’s out of context for the whole book!

It would be hilarious if it wasn’t so terribly sad.

This is the “Great Commission”(Mark 16) Jesus Christ our Redeemer, Our Savior, has risen from the dead!

It was His Death that gave us Salvation.

It was His resurrection that gave us power!

And with “Power” we’re to go to all of the world and preach the Gospel of Jesus.

When God sends you on a mission He gives you all you need to complete that mission!

That includes His Authority and His Power!

All of His creation knows that! - except Mankind- we’re the only part of creation that has a hard time accepting that He is The Supreme Ruler and what He wants He gets!

You’ll have to forgive us (mankind) we’re a little slow….

(More to come soon )