How does Mark 16:20 connect with the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20? Setting the Scene Mark closes his Gospel with a concise summary; Matthew ends with Jesus’ marching orders. Reading them side by side reveals a seamless hand-off from command to fulfillment. Mark 16:20 “And they went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming His word by the signs that accompanied it.” Matthew 28:19-20 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” The Immediate Connection • Matthew records the Great Commission; Mark shows the apostles actually doing it. • Matthew promises Jesus’ continual presence (“I am with you always”); Mark testifies that “the Lord worked through them.” • Matthew commands worldwide discipling; Mark notes they “preached everywhere.” • Matthew emphasizes teaching obedience; Mark highlights divine confirmation—both ensure the message is lived and validated. Parallel Threads in Detail Going • Matthew: “go and make disciples of all nations.” • Mark: “they went out and preached everywhere.” Acts 1:8 echoes the same momentum: “you will be My witnesses… to the ends of the earth”. Presence • Matthew: Jesus’ promise to be with them “to the very end of the age.” • Mark: “the Lord worked through them.” Hebrews 13:5-6 affirms this ongoing partnership. Proclamation & Teaching • Matthew: “teaching them to obey all that I have commanded.” • Mark: “preached everywhere.” The two verbs—teach and preach—are complementary: proclaim the gospel, then ground converts in obedience (cf. Acts 2:42). Power & Confirmation • Matthew doesn’t list signs, yet Jesus grounds His commission in “all authority in heaven and on earth” (v.18). • Mark shows that authority manifested: signs “confirmed” the word. Hebrews 2:3-4 reinforces this pattern: “God also testified… by signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit.” Scope • Matthew: “all nations.” • Mark: “everywhere.” Revelation 7:9 pictures the eventual harvest—“a great multitude… from every nation”. The Lord’s Partnership With His People • The Commission is not a human project; it’s Jesus continuing His work through His body (Colossians 1:24-29). • Signs are not mere spectacle; they serve the Scripture, confirming its truth and drawing attention to Christ, not the messenger. Practical Takeaways for Today • Obedience: the pattern has not changed—hear the command, then “go.” • Expectation: trust Christ’s promised presence; look for His confirming work (whether through miracles, providence, or transformed lives). • Balance: hold proclamation and instruction together—evangelize and disciple. • Global Vision: “everywhere” and “all nations” still define the Church’s horizon. • Confidence: the same Lord who authored the Commission in Matthew sustains it in Mark—and in every faithful generation until He returns. |
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