Believers

Jesus appeared to the Eleven and said to them: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned. These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 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.” (Mark 16:15-18)

This appearance occurs at the end of Mark only to be followed by the ascension: “So then the Lord Jesus, after he spoke to them, was taken up into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of God. But they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through accompanying signs.” 

Perhaps Mark takes it a bit too far when he has Jesus say: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.” Condemnation is a bit harsh for someone who doesn’t believe and is baptized.  Jews are neither.  

Mark was written soon after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem caused by the Jewish Revolt against the Romans.  The fall of Jerusalem, Temple destruction, and thousands of crucifixions by the victors likely was considered by many followers of Jesus to be the fault of the Jews who resisted Roman domination. Consequently, the Jewish author of Mark who was part of Christ communities perhaps might have used his Gospel as a way to condemn those non-believers and unbaptized who caused Jewish War deaths and destruction. 

Those followers of Jesus and survivors would have been “rewarded” by Mark through his conclusion: “they [believers] will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. 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.”  That’s a far better fate than condemnation.  

Deacon David Pierce