“Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. 14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.” Mark 16.12-14
Isn’t it interesting what we choose to believe or not to believe? We are in this world, dependent upon oxygen, the very air we breathe, and no one thinks about their next breath. In addition, we are on a world spinning at over 1000 MPH, and we are held on by gravity. But do we worry about being tossed aside?
When two different sources (the women and the guys from Emmaus) tell the disciples about the resurrected Jesus, they do not believe. Twice Jesus appears in different forms to messengers to tell the disciples that he has risen. And twice, they refuse to accept this reality. (Why are they so hard-headed?)
Now, to be fair, it was a far-fetched concept—someone rising from the dead. And yet, Jesus spoke about it often. Finally, Jesus appears to the eleven, and then they believe! When he did, he rebuked them for “their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.”
Now I wonder why Jesus didn’t first appear to the disciples? That would have saved a little heartache. But I can’t help but think it was done for a purpose, perhaps for our benefit, that we too, who have not seen but only heard, might believe. We don’t have the benefit of seeing Jesus face to face, but we hear the stories. And just like the disciples, without seeing him, we should not doubt but believe.
What a great gift from God to humanity! The resurrected Christ is among us. His kingdom has come, and we walk in the light of his love. Today, one request—believe. Turn your hearts to the risen Lord—call upon the name of Jesus, remember his suffering, death, and passion, but believe in the resurrection and await his return.
“O Lord God, you are good. In my brokenness, I look to you. I thank you for loving us and for rising to save us. Come now, Holy Spirit, pour yourself out upon your church. Help us to be your hands and feet in a world deep in need. For you are our hope and our salvation. Amen.”