Mark 16. Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. … But go tell his disciples and Peter (16:6-7).

Perhaps the resurrection scene is familiar to you. The women went to tend to the body of Jesus that was laid in the garden-tomb, but when they got there, they encountered an angel who explained to them that Christ had risen and would be meeting with them shortly. The women fled from the tomb for trembling and astonishment had seized them.

The instructions from the angel were clear – go tell the disciples what has happened. We read that Mary Magdalene encountered the risen Jesus and went and told those who had been with him… but they would not believe it (16:11). The risen Jesus also visited with two of the disciples, but according to Mark’s gospel, they went back and told the rest, and they did not believe them (16:13). Rising from the dead was a pretty unusual thing, so I can see why the disciples would have been slow to believe it had happened!

Finally, the risen Jesus appeared to all the disciples. They could no longer deny that he had risen from the dead. But Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen (16:14). We know from other gospel accounts that Jesus spent some time with all the disciples after the resurrection, reassuring them, correcting them, and giving them instructions about what they were to do next (Marching Orders, our current sermon series).

Mark records only one instruction from the risen Christ to the disciples. “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” (16:15) That’s it. That is the entire charge given to them – go out, tell everyone what you have witnessed, and preach the gospel everywhere. Jesus promises that signs will accompany them, signs that demonstrate that God is with them. We read of these signs in the book of Acts, regarding the arrival of the Holy Spirit and many miraculous events that follow.

The disciples were faithful to bear witness to what they had seen and experienced. They went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs (16:20). In Acts we read of the fruitfulness of their witness as thousands were added to the movement daily, and the church as we know it was born.

Jesus’ instructions still stand. We are to go into all the world and proclaim the gospel. We are to go tell others what we have seen, what we have heard, what we have witnessed and know to be true. The church exists today because the first followers of Christ were faithful to bear witness. The church of tomorrow will exist because we are faithful to witness to the work of God and share the gospel with our own generation and the next.

What have you witnessed regarding the work of God in your life and the lives of others? Who do you need to talk to about God and his work? Who do you know that needs to hear the gospel truth?