They Shall Take Up Serpents (Mark 16:18)

2024-01-24

They shall take up serpents... (Mark 16:18)

There are churches out there that are called “snake handling churches.” They intentionally handle poisonous and dangerous snakes to demonstrate their faith. Is this what this verse means? For it does say that this is one of the signs that follows the believer: “And these signs shall follow them that believe” (Mark 16:17).

This does not mean that we should intentionally go looking for trouble and tempt the Lord. This was the case with the apostle Paul. “And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm” (Acts 28:3-5).

A friend from church a few years ago was bitten by a poisonous snake. He went to the hospital, but ultimately had little injury. He was ready to go home from the hospital, but they kept him there as a precaution for a little bit. He certainly was not looking for trouble or tempting the Lord; he rather was protected by the Lord while going about his way, like the example of Paul above.

Ultimately, the Lord has healed us from the most dangerous snake bite. “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15). “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly” (Romans 16:20).