Commentary - Mark 16:19-20

Bird's-eye view

Mark brings his gospel to a swift and powerful conclusion, not with an ending, but with a glorious commencement. These last two verses, though textually debated by some, are functionally the capstone of the entire narrative. They are the pivot upon which the whole story of Christ's earthly ministry turns toward the ongoing story of His heavenly reign. Here we have the Great Commission in its ultimate context: the Ascension and Session of the Lord Jesus. Christ is enthroned, and because He is enthroned, the disciples are sent. His authority is the basis of their activity. The gospel doesn't end with the disciples staring into an empty tomb in fear, but rather with them going into all the world with the full backing of the King of Heaven. This is the launch of the Christian empire, an empire that advances not by swords and chariots, but by the preached Word, confirmed and made potent by the Lord who works with His servants.

What we are witnessing here is the formal investiture of Christ to His cosmic office. His work of humiliation is finished, and His work of exaltation now formally begins. He sits down at the right hand of God, which is the control room of the universe. From that position of ultimate authority, He directs the affairs of His kingdom, which He builds through the instrumentality of His church. The disciples' subsequent preaching is not a desperate attempt to keep the movement alive; it is the confident exercise of delegated authority from the reigning monarch. The signs that follow are not parlor tricks, but royal seals, authenticating the word of the King's ambassadors.

Outline

Context In Mark

The conclusion of Mark's gospel has been a matter of much scholarly palaver, with some of the oldest manuscripts ending at verse 8. But whatever the textual critics may say, the church has long received these verses as Scripture, and for good reason. They provide a necessary and fitting conclusion to the narrative. Without them, we are left with the disciples in a state of fear and silence. With them, we see the resolution of that fear and the fulfillment of Christ's purpose. The Great Commission, given just before this, finds its power source in the events of verse 19. The Ascension is not an afterthought; it is the very event that makes the commission possible. Jesus has all authority in Heaven and on earth, and the proof of this is that He has ascended to the throne. This section, therefore, serves as the bridge between the life of Christ on earth and the life of the church in the world, powered by the ascended Christ.

Key Issues

Verse by Verse Commentary

Mark 16:19

So then, the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

So then, the Lord Jesus, after He had spoken to them... Mark uses this transitional phrase to tie what is about to happen directly to what Jesus just finished saying. His final words to the disciples, the marching orders for the next two millennia, are the immediate precursor to His coronation. He gives the command, and then ascends to the throne from which He will oversee its accomplishment. He is not leaving them as orphans to figure it out. He is ascending to the command post. The title used here, "the Lord Jesus," is significant. He is Lord, Kurios, the sovereign ruler. He is Jesus, the savior who accomplished redemption. The one who saved them is the one who now rules all things for their sake.

...was taken up into heaven... This is the Ascension. This is not simply Jesus rocketing into the sky. This is a formal, regal procession. As the disciples watched, He was received into the cloud of glory, just as the Son of Man in Daniel's vision approached the Ancient of Days on the clouds to receive a kingdom (Dan. 7:13-14). This is His triumphal entry into the heavenly Jerusalem. He is returning as a conquering king, having defeated sin, death, and the devil. His being "taken up" signifies that this is an act of God the Father, vindicating and glorifying the Son for His completed work. This event is the foundation of our hope and the engine of our mission. Because He went up, the Spirit came down, and the gospel goes out.

...and sat down at the right hand of God. This is the Session. The work of redemption is finished, so He sits. A priest in the old covenant never sat down, for his work was never done. But Christ, having offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down (Heb. 10:12). But where He sits is just as important. The "right hand of God" is not a physical location but a position of ultimate authority, power, and honor. It is the cockpit of the cosmos. From this position, Christ is ruling and reigning right now. He is putting all His enemies under His feet, and He is doing it through the faithful preaching of the gospel (Ps. 110:1). Every bit of resistance to the gospel, every tyrant, every corrupt ideology, is being dismantled from this throne. Our political and cultural chaos is not a sign of His absence, but rather the thrashing of a defeated foe. Christ is on the throne, and He must reign until all enemies are made His footstool.

Mark 16:20

And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.

And they went out and preached everywhere... The response to the King's coronation is the church's mobilization. They did not form a committee to memorialize the good old days with Jesus. They did not stand gazing into the sky. They went out. And they went everywhere. This is the glorious, optimistic, postmillennial engine of the church kicking into gear. The commission was to "all the world," and they took it seriously. Their obedience was immediate and extensive. This is the pattern for the church in all ages. Because Christ reigns, we go. We are not hunkering down, waiting for the end. We are on the offensive, taking the gospel to every creature, to every town square, to every corner of the internet. The kingdom of God is an advancing, conquering kingdom.

...while the Lord worked with them... Here is the great secret to Christian effectiveness. The disciples went out, but they did not go alone. The same Lord who sat down at God's right hand was simultaneously working with them on the ground. This is the beautiful mystery of Christ's concurrent transcendence and immanence. He is ruling from on high, and He is working with us down below. This is not deism, where God winds up the clock and walks away. This is robust, biblical theism. Our efforts are not our own. Our preaching, our discipling, our parenting, our work, when done in faith, is the Lord working with us. This should fill us with an immense confidence. We are not building the kingdom in our own strength. We are coworkers with God (1 Cor. 3:9).

...and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. The message was not left to stand on its own human persuasiveness. The King authenticated the proclamations of His ambassadors. These signs, casting out demons, speaking in new tongues, healing the sick, were the royal seal of the kingdom. They were not for the personal aggrandizement of the apostles, but were to "confirm the word." They pointed away from the miracle worker and to the truth of the gospel message. These were foundational signs for the apostolic era, authenticating the new revelation that was being delivered. While God can and does still perform miracles, the primary way He confirms His word today is through the powerful, life-transforming work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of men, turning rebels into sons and bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Application

The Ascension and Session of Christ are not doctrines to be filed away in a systematic theology textbook. They are the central, organizing reality of our lives. Because Christ is at the right hand of God, we are to live as subjects of a victorious king, not as citizens of a failing republic. This means our lives, our families, and our churches should be characterized by a confident optimism. We are on the winning side of history.

This passage calls us to active, obedient faith. Like the first disciples, we are to "go out and preach." This is not just for the professional clergy. Every Christian has a part to play in the great task of discipling the nations. Whether you are a mother teaching the catechism to your children, a businessman conducting his affairs with integrity, or a student defending the faith in the classroom, you are part of this great work. And you do not do it alone. The Lord is working with you. This is why we can be bold. This is why we can attempt great things for God and expect great things from God. The King is on His throne, His kingdom is advancing, and we have the high privilege of being His instruments in the world.