DIGGING DEEPER STUDY GUIDE FOR OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 2 FOLLOWING THE MESSAGE ON MARK 16:14-16

Though these verses are not found in every translation they are not less scriptural than others. They have been added to help us understand the closing of the Gospel of Mark verses 9-20.

Monday - Verses 9-11 - The Rabboni Story - John 20:11-18 

In our Mark 16:14 passage we see that Jesus rebuked the disciples for not believe He had risen from the time they were told by the women. Mary had seen Jesus with her own eyes...alive...thinking He was the gardener, yet when told she made her way to the disciples to relay the happenings. But they believed her to be overly distraught and were not convinced of the empty tomb and the resurrection of Jesus. It was man's facts over Divine truth.

Tuesday - Verses 12-13 - The Emmaus Walk - Luke 24:13-35

 In the passage in Mark it lets us know that Jesus appeared to two in the country and we connect that to the story of the Emmaus walk. It is a short journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus and while two of the disciples were walking along at a loss for understanding the whys of Jesus' death; He come to them and makes the journey revealing the truth of why things had happened to fulfill the prophecies of the Old Testament. As they arrive to the house in Emmaus, Jesus reveals Himself through the prayer and the breaking of bread. The two return to tell the others but there again is a lack of belief.

Wednesday - Verses 14-15 - Revealed by Touch - Luke 24:36-49
Here we see how the story of the disciple's first visitation of the Lord brought about a fear of seeing a ghost and how Jesus offered them to touch Him and see that he was flesh and blood. He went so far as to join them in their meal eating as they would eat and 'showing Himself to be alive.

Thursday - Verses 14-16 - Authority and Commission - Matthew 28:16-20 

Here we see how Jesus gives them the instructions and the power to accomplish exactly what He had trained them for in the past three or so years. They were to carry on the work that He, Himself had started and they were to use the power that He was giving them to make the message clear and receivable to everyone. We are still carrying out that mission today as His Church.

Friday - Verses 17-18 - Signs and Wonders - Acts 

In the scripture from the Gospel of Mark, we see a fascinating list of signs that would be a part of the evidence that the disciples continued work was from God. From the day of Pentecost to the voyages of Paul when the viper came out of the fire biting his hand and Paul just shakes it off, these signs were to give testimony to the truth of what they were preaching and teaching from town to town, country to country. They were able to do the things that Jesus did and more through His power given them.

Saturday - Verses 189-20 - The Ascension - Acts 1:9-11 Here the Gospel of Mark shares with us the closing out of the earthly ministry of Jesus (directly) and the opening of the days when the disciples would be following His orders, His commission. The power of the Lord was heard in the message the disciples shared and the wonder of Jesus' works was seen in the ministry of the disciples as His Spirit led them. And "to God be the glory great things He has done."