He Sent Them Anyway

Mark 16:12-20 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. 14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. 15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 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.
 
THE disciples were not ready to be apostles. Their first responses to news of Jesus’ resurrection was doubt and even ridicule of the messengers. Although Jesus had twice (Matthew 16 and 17) told them he would suffer, die and rise, they did not believe. They disobeyed God’s Word just as Israel had for centuries. In response, Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
   And then what did he do? He commissioned and commanded them to make disciples. He sent these men who were weak of faith to do the work that required extraordinary faith. He used them to do what he had done – to heal and perform life-changing signs. Jesus’ messengers were commissioned to demonstrate God’s salvation had come into the world.   
   Jesus, the Good Shepherd, sent help: John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth. Through his Spirit the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus transformed these doubting, disobedient men into the foundation of his church. Ephesians 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.  
   We can look at the 12 apostles (Matthias was added in Acts 1:26) and ask, “Can we do these things now? Are we able to wage war against demons, disease and doubt as the Spirit-empowered apostles?” The truth is, we must. The world is still needs salvation.
   We have the same power to do God’s work as the apostles. God is the same. The Spirit is still active, indwelling all who believe, helping all who obey Jesus’ commands. We must have the faith to know and trust that in the Spirit’s power, Jesus’ commands are fulfilled. God’s will is done on earth.