9. The Heavenly King Reigns Through His Apostles (Mark 16:19-20)
MARK 16:19-20
19 So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 They went out, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
Christ overcame gravitational force, and ascended before the eyes of his disciples, as a sign of entering into the other world. He loved his heavenly Father with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might. After he had completed the salvation of the world, and finished his teaching, he returned to his Father, knowing that his entrance into the holy place and his offering of the precious blood of his sacrifice before the throne of grace would cause the great blessing which he wanted to give his church, that is the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on all flesh.
In his bitter experiences, Jesus knew that his disciples would not be enlightened in their minds without this Spirit, and they would not find power in themselves to practice love, faith, and hope without the anointment of the Holy Spirit.
Therefore, he ascended to his Father to outpour this fellowship of love, the essence of the love of God himself, into the hearts of his followers that they might love one another as he loved them.
King David had foretold: “The Lord said to My Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” (Psalms 110:1). This prophecy found its accomplishment in the ascension of Jesus. The Father honored his Son by making him sit at his right hand, for Christ had finished what no other man or angel could.
By the sacrifice of his blood, the Son reconciled the evil world to the Holy God. When the Lamb of God arrived in heaven, and came to the throne of him who sat there, the heaven was filled with songs of praise from the mouths of all creatures with the saints, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”
Today, Christ Jesus is the King in the world. He reigns through his church, not by the power of deadly weapons, but by setting up a spiritual kingdom. He purchased us to God. We became his own, and he is our Owner. His kingdom is not an earthly one. He does not offer us perishable treasures. His kingdom is everlasting.
Are you not called by Christ to serve him in the midst of your friends, family, and neighbors? Do not be hasty! Do not work enthusiastically by your own power, but ask the Lord to work with you, that he may be the worker and you may be a blessed instrument in his kind hand. Put yourself and your gifts completely and immediately at Jesus’ disposal, and you will experience many miracles, which will neither magnify you, nor make you famous, but glorify your Lord, bringing praise to your Redeemer.
All worthy ministers of the Lord do not seek honor for themselves, but ascribe all glory to Jesus, knowing that the power working in their weakness from the beginning of their salvation until the end of their ministry, is not from themselves but from Jesus alone, the fountain of all graces. Neither magic, nor sorcery works in those who believe in Christ, but his words show his power. Learn the words of Jesus by heart, and repeat them prayerfully in your heart, that you may become rich in the Spirit, and enrich many.
PRAYER: O Lord, you are my King, my Master, and my Lord. You live and reign from everlasting to everlasting. We thank you because you justified us and made us partners with you. You purchased us by your precious blood from the slave market of sin, and made us your own, and messengers of your love that we might serve you, love you, forgive all, testify your salvation, and call many to your kingdom. Give us the guidance of your Holy Spirit, immediate obedience of faith, and perseverance in prayer during misfortunes. May your will be done on earth. We thank you because we live in the age of grace, and we see that your harvest truly is plentiful; therefore send out devoted, humble, diligent, and obedient laborers to all the cities and villages of our country and to all the countries where they do not know you, that they may be partners in the fullness of your grace. Use me unworthy, too, in your service that I may live to glorify your name and spread your word by word, by deed, and by prayer. Amen.
QUESTION:
- What does Christ do today?
QUIZ 5
Dear reader,
If you have carefully studied this final booklet on the Gospel of Christ according to the Evangelist Mark, you will be able to answer the following questions easily. If you give correct answers to 18 of these 22 questions, you will receive a certificate on your knowledge of the Gospel of Christ according to Mark as a reward for your diligent and enduring work.
- What impressed you most in the report of the arrest of Jesus?
- What is the meaning of Jesus’ answer before the council of the Jews?
- How did Peter become gradually broken?
- What is the significance of Jesus’ confession that he is a king?
- How did the Roman soldiers torture Jesus? How did he answer their mocking?
- What do we learn from Jesus’ bearing of his cross?
- How was Jesus crucified?
- What is the meaning of the title: “The King of the Jews?
- Why did the leaders and the people ask Jesus to come down from the cross?
- What is the meaning of the words of the Crucified: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me”?
- What do the events mean that happened at the death of Jesus?
- What is the significance of the appearance of many women at the cross?
- What was the wonderful thing in the burial of Jesus?
- What is the significance of the stone which was rolled away from the door of the tomb?
- What were the principles which the angel explained to the women?
- Why did Jesus Christ appear first to Mary Magdalene?
- Why did the disciples not understand Jesus’ death, and did not believe his resurrection?
- Why did Jesus reprove his disciples on his first meeting with them after his resurrection from the dead?
- What are the wonderful things in Christ’s command to his apostles to preach the world?
- How is faith connected with salvation?
- How do the works of the love of Christ appear today through believers?
- What does Jesus do today?
Please write your name and full address clearly on the answer sheet, and send it to:
Waters of Life
P.O.Box 600 513
70305 Stuttgart
Germany
Internet: www.waters-of-life.net
Internet: www.waters-of-life.org
e-mail: info@waters-of-life.net