Mark 13:1-13
Prediction of “The Time of Tribulation”
Mark 13:14-23
False Teachers in The End Times
Mark 13:24-32
A Description of The Second Coming
Mark 13:33-37
We Must Not be Found Sleeping
Mark 14:1-9
Jesus Anointed With Perfume
Mark 14:10-16
Judas Arranges For Jesus Betrayal
Mark 14:17-26
Lord’s Supper Replaces The Passover
Mark 14:27-31
Peter’s Heart Was in The Right Place
Mark 14:32-42
Jesus in The Garden of Gethsemane
Mark 14:43-52
Judas’ Arrival to Betray Jesus
Mark 14:53-65
Jesus is Brought Before The Sanhedrin
Mark 14:66-72
Peter Denies His Lord Three Times
Mark 15:1-5
Jesus is Brought Before Pontius Pilate
Mark 15:6-15
Barabbas is Released
Mark 15:16-23
Simon Commanded to Carry The Cross
Mark 15:24-32
Jesus is Nailed to The Cross
Mark 15:33-41
Jesus “Gave Up The Ghost”
Mark 15:42-47
Joseph Places Jesus in The Tomb
Mark 16:1-8
Angel Says Jesus is Risen
Mark 16:9-14
A Reluctance to Believe
A Reluctance to Believe
Mark 16:9–14
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"Unbelief puts our circumstance between us and God, but faith puts God between us and our circumstances.” (F.B. Meyer).
It has become hard for some to put faith in anything or anyone. Institutions have promised so much, and they have let us down. We have had faith in government and government has let us down. We have trusted people and people have let us down. It is easy to loose confidence in people and programs. You may have said “I will believe it when I see it.” “Seeing is believing,” goes the old adage. But it may be too late when you discover that in some things believing must come before seeing. In fact, “Believing is seeing,” for those who enter the spiritual dimension of faith in Christ.
The emphasis in this passage is on the unbelief of the disciples who were mourning and weeping instead of rejoicing in the good news. The writer underscores the fact that these disciples, when they heard of Mary’s experience with Jesus at the tomb, did not believe it (vv. 9-11). Then after Jesus walked with two of the disciples 11 miles on the road to Emmaus and broke bread with them, they recognized him. But when they returned to Jerusalem and immediately told the other nine what they had seen, they did not believe them (vv. 12-13).
I suppose all of us have a reluctance to believe. We say we want evidence, but even when we get evidence, we are skeptical. It is evident that Mark wants us to understand that a climate of persistent and stubborn unbelief prevailed among these disciples after the resurrection. They found it difficult to accept this amazing fact, that the one they had seen crucified was now risen and living among them again. The significant thing here is that Jesus Himself expected the disciples to believe the reports of the eyewitnesses who had seen Him. They were trustworthy persons and were reporting what they themselves had actually experienced. Jesus is so concerned about this that He takes them to task because they refused to believe those who had seen Him (v. 14).
Application
One thing is very clear from this account in Mark. When I have adequate, trustworthy witnesses who reports to me what they have seen I am expected to respond with belief. These men saw the risen Lord. They were granted a privilege that I am not granted, but nevertheless, my faith can rest upon this solid foundation; that even though I have not seen Him, I am to believe because of the eyewitness accounts here.
Mark 16:9-14 (English Standard Version)
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