Believe - Matthew 28; Mark 16

by Diana Durrill

"But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it." - Mark 16:11

 When Mary Magdalene shared the good news of Jesus' resurrection from the dead, the disciples did not believe her.  To them, she was an emotional woman overcome by grief who was imagining things.

After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.  And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them." - Mark 16:12,13

Then two more testified of encounters with the resurrected Jesus.  You'd think the disciples would sit up and listen at this point.  You would think that there would be chaos and confusion as they look at the possibilities from every angle.  Were these two hallucinating?  Was it an impostor?   Who would play such a horrible joke?  Is there any way this could be true?  What if it is true -- what does this mean?  This back-and-forth might have taken place or perhaps they simply shot the messengers and shut them down.  "No, please stop talking.  We don't believe you.  You are crazy and are simply confused."  We don't know.  We only know what is recorded:  "...they did not believe them."

"Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen." - Mark 16:14 

This would have been humbling, to say the least.  How could we have missed the obvious?  How could we not believe our friends?   What does he think of us now?  What use can we be to him when our faith was so non-existent?  Jesus doesn't leave them in this state for long.  In typical Christ-like fashion, He quickly restores them to relationship with him by challenging them to pick themselves up and then do something with the gospel.

"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."  - Mark 16:15, 16

Do you believe?  These eyewitnesses of His majesty believed and yet we have the prophetic word more firmly confirmed through Scripture.  (2 Peter 1:16-21)  Jesus says you are saved when you simply, by faith, believe.  If you aren't sure, read through the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), making yourself available to the Holy Spirit of God as He reveals truth to you.  If you do believe, be a light in a dark world by participating in the proclamation of the gospel to the whole creation!