 Passages from the Gospel of Mark ( 16 : 14 – 20 ) and the Gospel of John ( 1 : 1 – 14 ) were read . Mark 16 contains themes that confirm monarchs ' immunity to infectious diseases : " They shall take up serpents ; and if they drink any deadly thing , it shall not hurt them ; they shall lay hands on the sick , and they shall recover . " Mark 16 : 18 
