Here we have the Great Commission, Jesus first berates his disciples for not believing the witnesses who had seen him alive (vs.14) and then he tells them to go into the world, and preach the Good News to everyone. "Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned" This is followed by some miraculous signs that are given to those who believe ... handle snakes with safety, cast out demons, drink poison and survive, speak in new languages, place their hands on the sick and they will be healed.
Ok, I'll admit, I'm not quite sure about the snake thing, or the poison thing.... I do know though that the disciples were given the ability to do these miraculous things though. Does that mean that we should all go and handle snakes and drink poison? No, I don't think so, I do think this was protection for the disciples, instead of some carnival act for people. Considering that the disciples were called to go into all the world, they would encounter harm from others, from the natural things ..like poisonous snakes. This also goes with new languages as well right? That makes sense. But that's just me. Also, you can place your hands and heal people, and cast out demons. There's some serious power that comes to a believer, and God will use us as he will.
All these things and more, to bring the gospel to the world, and to show people who God is, and what Christ has done for us. We are part of a living faith, children of a living God, and as children given the power to do his will to bring people into the saving knowledge of him. Pretty potent stuff I tell ya.
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