Lectionary for 3/15/08

Today's readings are Exodus 7.1-25 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Ex.+7.1-25 ) and Mark 16.1-20 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Mark+16.1-20 ).

 

In Exodus we see Moses performing miracles before Pharaoh.  Although Pharaoh's magicians do similar miracles, theirs are clearly less powerful.  The serpents they make are eaten by Moses' serpent, for instance.  God is showing the Egyptians that he is the mighty God who can accomplish whatever he desires.

 

In Mark 16, we see a similar thing, but extended beyond specifically called prophets to all believers.  Beginning with the eleven and spreading to all who believe, he makes this promise.

 

15 And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole 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 cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover" (ESV).

 

While we won't advocate purposely engaging with demons, poisonous snakes, and poisonous drinks, as that could be viewed as testing God, we can look at the confidence we have in the trustworthy command of Christ.  I'll make a bit of a list of what we can and should learn from this passage.

1)  We have confidence that the proclamation of the Gospel and the means of grace established by our Lord is effective.

2)  We can expect that believers will be endued by the Holy Spirit to have different observable characteristics than unbelievers.

3)  Believers can act in the name, i.e., in the authority of Jesus to assert his dominion over evil spirits.

4)  Believers somehow speak differently than unbelievers, perhaps with the authority of Christ, perhaps with supernatural courage, etc.

5)  Believers can expect to receive supernatural protection against physical dangers which are found in this sin-cursed world.

6)  Believers exercise God's healing power as they act in the name and authority of Christ.

 

Surely our Lord and Savior has appointed his people to serve their neighbors in love and act for the redemption of creation!