Subject: Divine Healing? |
Bible Note: BradK, As far as "taking up serpents" and "drinking anything deadly" there is only one example to follow and that is of Paul in Acts 28:3-6. In these verses, Paul is bitten by a snake accidentally. Since this is the only example of "taking up serpents" or "drinking anything deadly" then we must use this as the basis for our interpretation of those parts of Mark 16:15-18. We see two major things here: 1) This was an accident, therefore, it is not scriptural to just pick up whatever snake you want and play with it and say that you won't be harmed by its venom when it bites you. That's just stupid. Now if you are out in the woods or the water or somewhere and you happen to be bit by the snake, then you will not be harmed. 2) If it only applied to the disciples that Jesus was physically talking to at that moment, then this example goes against what scritpure would teach if that were true. Read Acts 7:58. Still under the name of Saul, Paul watched the clothes of the men who were stoning Stephen. He wasn't a disciple yet. This means that if Jesus was only talking to those who were physically present then Paul would be exempt. So it is safe to say that God will protect you if you are bit by accident. It is also safe to say that since Jesus wasn't physically talking to Paul when He said this, that He was talking to all that would come to be His disciples. Therefore, it applies today to you and me just as much as it did Peter, James, John, and the rest. Jesified |