12th Sunday after Pentecost - August 28th, 2022
"Its Your Turn to Change Your World" - Mark 16: 9-20
The book "Change you World" by John Maxwell gives you a road map for transformation. The book has many compelling stories and some outstanding insight into the world of transformation leadership; however, it is the Bible, the Holy Inspired Word of God, which is infallible, inerrant (meaning, "is without error or fault in all its teaching") that shows you "transformation" is even possible. So, without the Word inspired by God, leaders like John Maxwell wouldn't have a leg or even a foundation to stand on. So, Praise be to God!
Anyhow, much of the final chapter of the "Change your World" is about giving you a structure, or perhaps action steps that, if followed, would spring you into action and produce a significant change in your life. This final chapter shares that the eight preceding chapters can be grouped in four phases: Phase 1 (Chapter 1-2), Phase 2 (Chapter 3-4), Phase 3 (Chapter 5-6), and Phase 4 (Chapter 7-8) -- If you wish a quick reminder of the book by Maxwell be sure to check it out, which reminds us of Mark 16: 9-20, which in itself is somewhat "summary" of the gospel message even if some scholars often remind us that some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9-20.
Be warned... Incoming Rabbit Hole -- *** Mark 16: 9-20 is what some consider a "textual variant," which is not unique to Mark because there are more than 400,000 Greek variants all over (some are brief: the name of a place or person or the spelling of a word or its meaning. However, Mark 16:9-20 is one if not the largest one; Mark is the exception, not the rule.) within the New Testament. That is not to say that these are errors or make the Bible mistakes. These are variants of the most rigorously attested text in the history of human literature. The truth is that when we compare all the thousands of scraps and fragments of the New Testament from all over the Mediterranean, from every stage of the reproduction timeline, there are remarkably few significant textual variants. The one exception to that generally happy rule is the longer ending of Mark's Gospel. You should know about this problem, but you shouldn't be freaked out by it; after all we are to "test everything, hold fast to what is good." 1 Thessalonians 5:21
So let us pay attention to the end! After all, "it's Your Turn to Change Your World." Let us pay attention because even in the end, you still might stumble! Consider the following:
a. Some still doubted (v. 11),
b. Witnesses were disregarded (v. 13),
c. Some were rebuked for their stubbornness (v. 14)
d. To believe is still important (v. 16)
e. Signs will follow those who believe (v. 17) --
That you will be able to handle "snakes," you would be protected against the "poison" of others, and that the body that believes would still be able to touch and heal the sick.
Church, text variant or not, necessary last words or not... We are to "STILL" go everywhere and preach and fulfill our great commission.
