The Bible Says
Mark 16:14-18 Meaning

In Mark 16:14-18 we see that Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen (v. 14). Here we witness Jesus confronting His closest followers. These were the eleven disciples who remained after Judas Iscariot’s betrayal and death. Their disbelief, even after hearing eyewitness accounts of His resurrection, reveals both the depth of their sorrow and the startling reality of Christ’s victory over death. Jesus’ reproach underscores His desire that His disciples trust the faithful testimonies of those who have encountered Him and recognize that resurrection life transforms despair into hope.

Immediately after challenging their unbelief, Jesus emphasizes an outward mission for His followers: And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation (v. 15). This instruction calls believers of every generation to carry the good news beyond the borders of Judea and Galilee, extending the message to all nations and peoples. The command to declare the gospel to every living being unites Christ’s followers with a global purpose. His words still drive the missionary efforts of Christians today, as they seek to share the grace and truth of the risen Savior in every context (Acts 1:8).

Jesus continues by clarifying the spiritual ramifications of receiving or rejecting the gospel: He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned (v. 16). This promise points to faith as the essential element in salvation, with baptism acting as a public expression of that trust. Then, in These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues (v. 17), Jesus assures His followers that God’s power will be evident through them. Even extraordinary occurrences such as they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover (v. 18) underscore God’s protection and ability to work miracles, though these signs are ultimately subject to His sovereignty and purpose. This passage concludes with an unmistakable reminder that the risen Christ commissions His disciples to proclaim the gospel and demonstrate God’s mighty works as a testimony to the world.