Mark 16:17 - Wk 2 Day 6

And these signs will follow

those who believe:

In My name they will …

Mark 16:17

My son Jay is a leader. Always has been. It’s natural, a gift. But he’s also been blessed with good teachers.

In Civil Air Patrol, for example, he’s commander – a gruff, grizzled, and very caring veteran – taught the kids repeatedly that before you can truly lead, you must first learn to follow. Thus, regardless of chronological age or natural gifts, each cadet was trained to follow and earn gradual promotions.

In the military, they start by breaking cadets down. They’re given boring tasks and impossible tasks and are yelled at the whole time. At the Academy, they’re called ‘plebes,’ which means “common folk,” “peasants.” And these peasants had to constantly memorize useless information, run literally everywhere they went, and endure no privileges. Why? Because as the CAP commander used to say, “Before you can truly lead, you must first learn to follow.”  

Two days in a row, now, we’ve talked about soldiers in uniform. We said yesterday that a solitary soldier has only as much power as he can muster on his own. But when a young man or woman puts on a uniform, they represent something much, much bigger. That’s the way it is with us and God.

Let’s take today’s verse a line at a time.

·         “Those who believe” means “those who follow Jesus,” or to put it in our military terminology, those who’ve chosen to wear the uniform honorably and follow their commander.”

·         “These signs will follow.” To me, this is almost a play on words: “those who follow Jesus will have these signs follow them.” Those who follow Jesus will have all the power of the Kingdom they represent.”

·         “In my name they will …” In Scripture, God’s name is inescapably linked with signs, wonders, and power; with hope, love, and joy.

This week, we’re learning what praying “in the name of” Father, Son, and Holy Spirit means. It means putting on the uniform and wearing it honorably – which is taking not the name of the Lord in vain. It is learning to follow – follow Jesus – before we ever expect a sign of power or blessing.

In Christ’s Love,

Buck Private, Ed Thomas