Although they aren’t so much instructions, as regal commands. This is Jesus functioning as King of the universe and conqueror of death.
Our task is to proclaim the good news of Jesus everywhere.
How people respond to that proclamation will determine whether they enter His eternal kingdom or not.
Jesus tells us the signs that will distinguish believers from un-believers. These signs are certainly not associated with the timid; but are associated with those who dramatically extend the kingdom of God.
Only those who have complete confidence in the kingly reign of Jesus can cast out devils in His name, and can expect the sick to get well when they invoke the healing power of God.
This is warrior stuff, and not for the faint of heart, nor for wimps.
It is quite a challenge, isn’t it? Most of us fall a long way shot.
But this is what was considered normal in Gospel times.
Jesus then ascends to His place of kingly power and authority, seated at the right hand of the Father on the throne of heaven.
When the disciples do their part and preach, the Lord Jesus provides the evidence that their preaching is true through the signs and wonders that accompany the preaching; working together to extend the kingdom of God.
There are those for whom this is still happening today, eg Sr Briege McKenna, Damian Stayne, Costandi Bastoli, and those of recent memory, eg Dr John Bonnici Mallia, Fr Emelien Tardiff, and many others.
There are still places on earth where signs and wonders are expected when believers preach, and where if there are no signs and wonders, credibility is lost quickly eg Fiji, Uganda.
This is what the Gospel and the Lord Jesus consider normal.
May God grant that we, too, will return to considering this as normal. Amen.