“After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either” Mark 16:12-13 NKJV
Sooner or later the time comes where we do or say something that tends to date ourselves, and today will be my day. Back when I was very little I can remember watching television with my parents as they enjoyed their favorite shows. One of these was a program called “Perry Mason”. It was centered around a criminal lawyer and the cases he took on to defend, and all the twists and turns you would expect from a criminal trial. I never recall seeing him lose a case, yet what I remember the most is how hard he worked to build his case by seeking out and presenting the evidence which always led to the inescapable conclusion of his clients’ innocence.
I would find it hard to believe that there are many believers today who have read the account of what transpired after Jesus death and resurrection and not wondered about the disciples’ response and their lack of understanding as well as their stubborn refusal to believe. I use the term stubborn simply because the disciples chose to ignore an established principle in play since Old Testament times concerning the weight of evidence to be given to two or three witnesses.
“Whoever is deserving of death shall be put to death on the testimony of two or three witnesses; he shall not be put to death on the testimony of one witness.” Deuteronomy 17:6 NKJV
“One witness shall not rise against a man concerning any iniquity or any sin that he commits; by the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter shall be established.” Deuteronomy 19:15 NKJV
Jesus also taught this very principle during His ministry when He discussed the subject of discipline within the Church.
“But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established” Matthew 18:16 NKJV
In the above passage from Mark we find that the disciples were presented with the testimony of at least three witnesses to the fact that Jesus had risen from the dead in Mary, and then two of their own. Yet for some reason they still chose not to believe what was being told to them. Now maybe, just maybe I could understand how difficult the fact of the resurrection might be to believe if it were not for the fact that Jesus Himself had told them that this was exactly what was going to occur before it ever happened!
"He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.” And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.” Luke 9:20-22 NKJV
“Persistent unbelief in light of contrary evidence is willful ignorance!”
So what would your reaction be to someone who refused to believe even though the evidence presented to support a position met all the criteria necessary by established legal principles? I daresay your thoughts would be less than kind, and truthfully mine would refer back to all of the passages in Proverbs which describe fools. Does that seem harsh? Maybe it would help to look at Jesus’ reaction to the disciples and their stubborn refusal to believe the evidence.
“Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.” Mark 16:14 NKJV
So let us start with the word translated rebuke. In the Greek it is the word oneidizō which means to reproach, upbraid, revile. Now I don’t think you have to be an English scholar to understand exactly what is being described here. I believe what we see here are the disciples being taken to the proverbial woodshed for some serious correctional instruction. Jesus is less than pleased at their actions and He lets them know it. The phrase “hardness of heart” is the one I tend to focus on because to me, that describes perfectly someone who chooses not to believe even though the evidence proves them wrong.
Have you ever wondered about those alive today who choose to willfully ignore the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection? Have you ever tried to share your faith with someone only to find they totally reject the entire idea of Jesus dying for their sins and rising from the dead? This is “hardness of heart” and it has never been more prevalent than it is in the world today. Although we who believe find it difficult to understand why someone would choose to ignore the evidence the Bible presents for us, it is a fact of life that many will simply choose not to believe.
“Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” John 20:29-31 NKJV
The disciples had to see Jesus’ face in order to accept the reality of the resurrection, and they received the rebuke they deserved from Jesus Himself. Yet look at the words of Jesus to Thomas which are a promise to those of us who choose to believe. We are blessed, and will continue to be blessed, because we choose to believe the evidence of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things [are] possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" Mark 9:23-24 NKJV
Something I have always appreciated about this passage and the story it tells is the honesty of this man looking Jesus in the eye and admitting he had a problem with unbelief. Now obviously, he had faith enough to seek Jesus out believing He had the power to heal his son, yet he almost seems to be admitting that he also had doubts. How often do we too, as believers, understand and believe that God has the power to do something, yet also have doubts as to if He will.
Speaking about this story, Ray Stedman had this to say about this man’s admission;
“He said these words which have been the encouragement of many since: "I do believe; help my unbelief!" Out of the honesty of his weakness, he cast himself on the Lord. "Yes, Lord, I do believe; but I feel my unbelief and I don't know how to handle it. You make me believe." That kind of faith is small, but it is like a grain of mustard seed -- it is able to move mountains. The moment he said those words, the moment he cast himself in his weakness back on the Lord, that was all God wanted.”
Now many might say that having doubts at times is perfectly normal, but I want to suggest that rather than normal, it is a result of forgetting the past, and focusing only on the present. It seems to me that many of us suffer from what we could call the “Doubting Thomas Disease”, a condition where we feel our belief must be based solely on what we can see.
"The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." John 20:25 NKJV
What I find really unfortunate here is that Thomas seems to have forgotten all that he had already seen Jesus do in the past few years. Never mind that he had seen miracle after miracle performed by Jesus which should have proven without a doubt that He had the power to resurrect Himself. After all, Thomas had seen Jesus bring Lazarus back to life only a few weeks before, yet he still had doubts, and wanted to see for himself. Yet after Jesus appears to him and settles the matter of doubt, He says something to Thomas we should all make a point to remember.
“Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed [are] those who have not seen and [yet] have believed." John 20:29 NKJV
Those who choose to believe without having seen are not only blessed, they are also said to have “faith”.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 NKJV
What do we as believers “hope for”? I think most of us would answer that question with the word “salvation”! Because we have heard the testimony of scripture, admitted our need for salvation, and have chosen to believe that Jesus is the Son of God sent to pay the price for our sins we then look forward to the day we will join Him in heaven. Paul put it this way in his letter to the Corinthians.
“For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,” 2 Corinthians 5:2 NKJV
Why do we groan? Personally, I groan because I understand that this life has nothing for me in comparison with what my eternal future life with Christ in heaven has to offer. I don’t know about you, but I am increasingly impatient waiting for the day He will return for His church. It is the knowledge of His promises to us, and the testimony of His Word, that helps us to walk in faith until He comes again.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV
I would have loved to see Jesus face to face as the disciples did, and to watch Him perform miracles and minister to those who followed Him. But I do, however, have the testimony of His Word which tells me of all that He did and that is more than enough for me. Yet that is not to say that He is not at work among us today, for there are many examples of His presence among us in answers to prayer and provision for His people all around us. Has He answered any of your prayers lately? To me, that is just the icing on the cake. To not only believe in what He has done, but to also see Him at work in our lives today.
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, [being] much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see [Him], yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of [your] souls.” 1 Peter 1: 6-9 NKJV
Faith is acting on what you believe. Do you really believe? Find a way to act on it this week. The father with the sick child had doubts, but he still had enough faith to come to Jesus and confess his doubts. Jesus came through for him, and He will come through for us. True believers understand fully what is happening right now in this world, and exactly where and when it is all going to end. If you have never accepted the free gift of eternal life provided for us all by the death and resurrection of God's Son, Jesus Christ, I encourage you to do so today. Simply ask God to forgive you of your sin based on your belief that Jesus died to pay the price for your sin, and turn over control of your life to Him. You can do that right now by praying a prayer just like this one;
"Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe You died for my sins. Right now, I turn from my sins and open the door of my heart and life. I confess You as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank You for saving me. Amen."
"So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31. NKJV
Keep watching.
