Will You Believe?

26 Apr

As the Eleven were at table, [Jesus] appeared to them
and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart
because they had not believed those
who saw him after he had been raised.
He said to them, “Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”  (Mk 16:14-15)

Belief is something that comes hard for most people.

As so often reflected upon, we, generally, cannot believe unless we can see and touch, smell and taste.  If we can engage our senses, we have a better chance of believing.  If we cannot, we tend to doubt.

Can you imagine how the faith of the disciples was tested?

Jesus had been taken from them.  They saw Him led to Pilate, tried, condemned, and crucified.  They saw Him die on the cross.  They saw Him placed in the tomb.  They saw the stone rolled across the entrance of the tomb.

To them, it was all over.

Jesus was gone.  He was never coming back.  No one comes back from the dead.

They heard that Jesus did.

However, that news defied all reason.  It defied their common experience.

Even though the people proclaiming Jesus’ resurrection were known to them and credible witnesses, they did not want to believe.

They could not believe.

One of the first things that Jesus did was to take them to task for their doubt.

How strong is your faith?  How great is your doubt?

FAITH ACTION:  Remind yourself of all the times that Jesus aided you and give Him thanks for what He has done.