The Gospel of Mark is concluding, Jesus is alive, and no one will believe it! It’s a good thing this isn’t baseball because three strikes and the church would be out. This is Mark’s final irony. Believing something doesn’t make it true, and praise God, not believing something doesn’t make it untrue. Jesus rose from death, and his mercy and patience rose with him. Jesus is patient and longsuffering with individuals, the church and the entire world, and the disciples’ initial unbelief does not ruin the mission.  The Great Commission is what church is supposed to do and why, and Jesus assures us it won’t be a failure.