January 16 - New Tongues

January 16 – New Tongues

Mark 16:9-20 is not found in two of the more reliable manuscripts, but it certainly is interesting.  Mark’s description of the Resurrection is relatively short and simple.  This longer ending adds a few more details to what we know of His time with the disciples.

In Mark 16:17-18, Jesus kind of sends out the twelve disciples with some interesting information:

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons, they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

What is absolutely fascinating about this passage is that it really does give credence to the things that we begin to see happening in the book of Acts after the Holy Spirit is poured out onto the people.

In Acts 2:4 and Acts 10:46, we do find people speaking in tongues.  In Acts 28:3-5, Paul is bitten by a poisonous snake, but he shakes it off and it doesn’t harm him.  In Acts 9:17 and Acts 28:8, we see that the laying on of hands does heal people.

New tongues, though are something we haven’t seen happening before the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  In Acts 2 various tongues are used to bring together people from many nations … a chance to restore what had been destroyed at the Tower of Babel.

Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 14:2 that speaking in a tongue or another language is not about speaking to other people, but is about speaking to God.  “Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.” (1 Cor. 14:2b)

This is a gift of the Holy Spirit, along with wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, distinguishing between spirits, and interpretation of tongues (1 Cor. 12:8-11).  It isn’t necessarily a requirement, Paul makes it very clear that these are manifestations that will be made to different people within a body of the church in order that the entire body works together to bring about the kingdom of heaven.