MARK 16:14–18
THE COMMISSIONING OF THE ELEVEN
Text – Mark 16:14–18
14 Later, as the eleven were at table, he appeared to them and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they had not believed those who saw him after he had been raised.
15 He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.
16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages,
18 they will pick up serpents [with their hands], and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
Historical and Jewish Context
The eleven apostles gathered together symbolize the still incomplete community awaiting restoration after Judas’ betrayal. Jesus appeared to them while they reclined at table, the traditional posture for eating in the Near East, signifying fellowship and communion. His rebuke for their unbelief reflects the slow growth of faith even among those closest to Him. In Jewish thought, the number eleven suggested imperfection or incompleteness, highlighting that faith and mission were yet to be fully restored through divine grace. The command to “go into the whole world” marks a profound turning point—the Gospel is no longer confined to Israel but is to reach all nations and “every creature,” meaning all of creation redeemed in Christ. The promised signs—driving out demons, speaking new tongues, healing—were concrete expressions of divine authority accompanying the early Church’s mission and demonstrating the victory of the risen Lord over evil, division, and death.
Catholic Theological Perspective
This passage is the Great Commission, the foundation of the Church’s missionary vocation. Jesus entrusts to His apostles the continuation of His saving work through preaching, baptism, and healing. Faith and baptism together open the way to salvation, signifying entry into the new covenant through the Holy Spirit. The Church interprets the promised signs as manifestations of the Spirit’s power confirming the truth of the Gospel (CCC 1257, 1287). Theologically, the command unites Christology and Ecclesiology: Christ the risen Lord sends His Body, the Church, to bring redemption to all creation. The miraculous signs illustrate the spiritual realities accomplished through grace—deliverance from sin (casting out demons), renewal of speech in evangelization (new tongues), protection from evil, and restoration through prayer and the sacraments (healing the sick). The passage affirms that the Church’s mission is universal, sacramental, and Spirit-empowered.
Parallels in Scripture
Matthew 28:16–20 – “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations… and I am with you always.”
Luke 24:47–49 – Proclamation of repentance and forgiveness to all nations.
John 20:21–23 – Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on the apostles and commissions them.
Acts 1:8 – “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses.”
Acts 2:1–11 – Pentecost fulfills the promise of power and new languages.
Key Terms
Great Commission – Christ’s universal command to evangelize and baptize all nations.
Baptism – The sacrament of new birth through water and the Holy Spirit.
Signs of Faith – Miracles and spiritual powers confirming the Gospel’s truth and God’s living presence.
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This passage is central to the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord and is often read in missionary celebrations and the Easter season. It forms the theological basis of the Church’s evangelizing mission and the sacrament of Baptism. The signs described continue spiritually in the Church’s ministries of healing, exorcism, missionary outreach, and the renewal of life through the Holy Spirit. The missionary spirit of this passage is especially celebrated on World Mission Sunday and during the Easter Vigil, when new believers are baptized and sent forth to live the Gospel.
Conclusion
The Risen Christ commissions His apostles to bring the light of the Gospel to every corner of creation. From a table of unbelief, He transforms their fear into faith and their hesitation into mission. The power He imparts ensures that the Church’s work will bear fruit—not by human strength, but by divine grace. Through preaching, baptism, and the works of mercy, Christ continues His mission in and through His Church.
Reflection
The Great Commission challenges each believer to become a witness of the risen Lord. Faith is not meant to remain private but to be shared boldly and joyfully. Though the world may resist, the Spirit accompanies every act of faith. The same Lord who empowered the apostles empowers us today to proclaim and live the Gospel wherever we are sent.
Prayer
Risen Lord, You send us into the world to proclaim Your Gospel of love and salvation. Fill us with Your Spirit and strengthen our faith to bring Your light to every soul. Let the signs of Your presence—healing, peace, and joy—shine through our lives, that all creation may know You as Savior and King. Amen.