The Lord Worked With Them
And so ends the gospel of Mark
As we finish the gospel of Mark today, we have now read two of the four gospels so far this year (the shorter two - Luke & Mark). We’ll pick up with John on Monday after a brief excursion tomorrow for a day and then Pentecost Sunday.
There’s really not much to say about today’s passage. Mark wrote in two verses what Luke writes in 28 chapters of the book of Acts.
Jesus ascended.
The Church proclaimed his message and performed signs.
Mark 16:19-20
[…After the Lord Jesus spoke to them, he was lifted up into heaven and sat down on the right side of God. But they went out and proclaimed the message everywhere. The Lord worked with them, confirming the word by the signs associated with them.]]
Prayer1
O Lord God, our Father,
You are the light that can never be put out; and now you give us a light that shall drive away all darkness. You are love without coldness, and you have given us such warmth in our hearts that we can love all when we meet. You are the life that defies death, and you have opened for us the way that leads to eternal life.
None of us is a great Christian; we are all humble and ordinary. But your grace is enough for us. Arouse in us that small degree of joy and thankfulness of which we are capable, to the timid faith which we can muster, to the cautious obedience which we cannot refuse, and thus to the wholeness of life which you have prepared for all of us through the death and resurrection of your son. Do not allow any of us to remain apathetic or indifferent to the wondrous glory of Easter, but let the light of our risen Lord reach every corner of our dull hearts.
Amen.
An Easter prayer from Karl Barth. Accessed here: https://thevalueofsparrows.wordpress.com/2016/04/18/prayer-easter-by-karl-barth/#:~:text=O%20Lord%20God%2C%20our%20Father,love%20all%20when%20we%20meet.