Something to Think About

Something to Think About:The Unbelief of Belivers

Mark 16:9-14 in the Amplified Bible says, “9 [Now Jesus, having risen [from death] early on the first day of the week, appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and reported it to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it. 12 After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them as they were walking along the way to the country. 13 They returned [to Jerusalem] and told the others, but they did not believe them either. 14 Later, Jesus appeared to the eleven [disciples] themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He called them to account for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen [from death].”

In life, we are often wired to believe the worst. We believe the worst about people when we hear news and the worst about circumstances. Usually, when good things happen, we wait for “the other shoe to drop” or for “the bottom to fall out” of our circumstances. We look at negative circumstances with familiarity and blessings and miracles as something less believable, if not completely impossible. So much so that we have trouble trusting what God says, above what we see.

In the text, Jesus had just risen from the dead. His disciples were in hiding and their hopes for the future had seemly been dashed. They were in mourning because Jesus had died, despite the fact, that He had forewarned them of His death, burial, and resurrection in (Mark 10:32-34). Still, they were overwhelmed with their circumstances and had forgotten everything He had said.

When Mary Magdalene, someone who had followed Jesus closely since He delivered her from demonic possession, told the disciples that Jesus had appeared to her and was alive, they did not believe her. The disciples had not only witnessed Jesus’ death but were more acquainted with someone dying than they were with someone being resurrected from the dead, (we are too). Therefore, what Mary was saying to far-fetched to be believed.

If we would apply the “truth” of God’s word to our lives, we would find that many promises in scripture seem improbable to believe. In society, it is more believable that someone could become ill than it is for someone to be healed. Many are more apt to believe that people dislike or hate them than to believe there is a God who knows all about them and still loves them. We are so acquainted with loss that we struggle to have faith in God to “supply all our needs,” according to Philippians 4:19.

In Mark 16:12, Jesus appeared to two men who were walking on the road to Emmaus (see Luke 23:13-35). After the encounter, the men went to share this glorious message of hope with the eleven disciples. Still, they failed to believe.

How many times have you taken a message of hope to “believers” who declare Jesus as Lord and Savior, yet they were so overwhelmed by their circumstances that they cannot believe? So many have walked closely with the Lord, similar to the disciples in Jesus’ day, yet become so discouraged that a message of hope doesn’t seem to penetrate their hardened hearts.

You encouraged them by sharing the truth and reminding them about what scripture says about Christ, but they were so focused on their circumstances that they couldn’t see past them and believe better days were ahead.

In verse 14 of the text, Jesus finally appeared to the eleven and reprimanded them for their unbelief. Those of you who are discouraged, how many people have the Lord sent your way with encouragement and hope (found in scripture) and you have chosen not to believe? This article is your visitation! This is your message of hope! This is your sign! This is your wake-up call! The alarm is sounding! The banner is being raised! Victory is yours! God is here to turn things around for you!

Psalms 30:11 says, “You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have taken off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.”

Jesus showed Himself to the eleven in Matthew 28:17-18, “And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted [that it was really He]. 18 Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”

I know you may have some doubts and you’re struggling to see that the Lord is at work in your circumstances. I know things may seem impossible, But He is here with all power and authority in His hands! Death couldn’t hold Him down. In Christ, nothing can hold you down either. Romans 8:11 says, “And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.”

Unbelieving believer, can you believe the power of Christ in you can lift you out of sickness? Do you believe that the Holy Spirit within you can lift demonic oppression, defeat anxiety, eliminate stresses, destroy diseases, and break the back of poverty? It sure can, you’ve got to believe. Something to think about.

Ephesians 1:18-21 says, “18 And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people), 19 and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength 20 which He produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come.”