Go and Proclaim
Scripture: Mark 16:15-18
Jesus said to them, “Go
into the whole world and proclaim the good news to every creature. Whoever
believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever doesn’t believe will be
condemned. These signs will be associated with those who believe: they will
throw out demons in my name. They will speak in new languages. They will pick
up snakes with their bare hands. If they drink anything poisonous, it will not
hurt them. They will place their hands on the sick and they will get well.”
(Common English Bible, vv 15-18)
This time Jesus really does
it! First he amazes us by rising from the grave and with joy we fall in behind
our Risen Lord, raising high his banner, proclaiming the good news to every
creature that crosses our path. We feel good – we know we can do this.
But then Jesus tells us what
his followers, those who believe that he is the Son of God, will look like.
They will be the ones casting out those devilish demons, speaking in new
languages, picking up those big slimy snakes with ungloved hands, drinking
stuff their mothers always told them not, and placing hands on those bodies
racked with disease and watching them heal before their very eyes.
Jesus wants to give us
untamed resurrection power. These are the signs that the world is looking for
from those who shout “Alleluia” this morning. On this side of the resurrection,
snatching a colt or following that man with the jar of water looks pretty
pedestrian. Those were mere training lessons. Jesus thinks we are ready to
pick up the cross and follow. So ready or not – it’s time to go and proclaim
the good news to all. Even on this Easter Morning.
Prayer: Risen Lord and Savior don’t let us hide behind the
Easter hymns and lilies, rather use this day, and use your people, to show the
world the power of the resurrection available to all who believe. Alleluia.
Amen.
The Reverend Gloria McCanna
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