Mark 16:17, “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues…”
When God choose Moses to be His representative He gave him miraculous signs to verify the message, Exodus 4:1-9. The same is true when Jesus in the above passage spoke to his disciples to go and preach the Gospel to all people. He promised to provide them with signs to display God’s power.
A sign is an “indication or proof of God’s power.” God told the prophet Joel that in the last days He would pour out His pour and would, “show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below,” Acts 2:19. Also, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, “4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on Gods power.”
What are the signs that Jesus said in Mark 16:17-18 that should follow the preaching of the gospel? They are: (1) Casting out demons, (2) Speaking in new tongues, (3) Invincibility, & (4) Healing of the sick. The passage then ends with these encouraging words in Mark 16:20,“Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it.”
It is clear that when Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to baptize the disciples in power it was for the purpose of spreading the gospel with signs following. Ofcourse, people with wicked hearts demand signs to believe (Matt. 16:4), however, these signs are not for them, they are for the genuine seeker to see God is both powerful and personal.
Therefore, every disciple should seek the spiritual gifts and ask that God would grant them signs as they preach the gospel!
Reflection
Action
- Describe a time you saw someone healed, speak in new tongues, be invincible, or cast out demons.
- Are you willing to let God perform His signs of the gospel through you?
- Next time you preach the gospel ask God to display His power for all to see!
