Believe

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Mark 16 (click the link)


KEY VERSE:
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 16:14, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
The key to this passage is the word “believe.” 

That emphasis is in line with the thrust of Mark's gospel, because this gospel does not present Christianity as just a nice story, a fascinating account of events that took place in the first century. It stresses the fact that the death and resurrection of Christ is something to be believed, and it is intended to change lives.

As we act on our belief, it changes us.

Mark wants us to understand what 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.

I sympathize with the disciples. I'm sure I would've been right there with Thomas, needing to place my hand in Jesus' side and to touch the nail prints in his hands and feet. I'm just sort of wired to want to personally experience things before I really believe in them.

But the significant thing I notice in this passage is that Jesus expected the Eleven to believe in his resurrection before they saw him. He wanted and expected them to believe the reports of the eyewitnesses who had seen him. They were trustworthy persons and were reporting what they had actually experienced, and that should have been enough to convince these disciples that Jesus was indeed risen from the dead.

So concerned about this is the risen, living Lord, that he rebukes them for their unbelief, just as he had done many times throughout the years they walked with them. He takes them to task because they refused to believe those who had seen him.

You can see the importance he attributes to this matter of believing the eyewitnesses. John's gospel tells us that a week later Jesus appeared to them when Thomas, who had not been with them when he appeared the first time, was present. Jesus invited Thomas to examine him, to put his hand on his side and touch the nail prints in his hands and feet. Thomas did so and fell down at his feet, crying, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28b). Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).

Years later when Peter is writing his letters to the Christians he says to them, “Though you have not seen him you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8).

One thing is clear from this account in Mark: When we have adequate, trustworthy witnesses who report to us what they have seen, we are expected to respond with belief. We are expected to move forward with a confidence in and a reliance upon the truth of their testimony.

These men saw the risen Lord. They were granted a privilege that we are not granted; but, nevertheless, our faith can rest upon a solid foundation. Even though we have not seen him, we can and must believe because of the eyewitness accounts. And when we believe—when we place our confident assurance upon the testimony of those who've gone before us—we are empowered to live lives of significance. We are empowered to carry the good news of Jesus' resurrection wherever we go.


PRAYER
Lord, I believe! Thank you for the good news that Jesus Christ is not dead but alive and that he lives within my heart and has the power to break the chains of sin and the bondage of evil in my life. When unbelief springs up in my heart, strengthen me to trust in the testimony of those who walked with you. Strengthen me to move forward with confidence—with utter assurance—so that I might live for you wholeheartedly.


WHO AM I?
Hey! I'm Tres Sansom and I have a problem: I'm addicted to chips and salsa. This is a problem because I'd really like to lose some weight. But I just can't seem to say “No!” to the tasty deliciousness of my Clint's salsa. My wife, Kate, is determined to break me of my habit; in fact, she's threatened an intervention on a number of occasions. But I've determined, by God's grace, to overcome my cravings and to fast from salsa during the first week of Lent. It'll be a struggle, but I keep reminding myself that "I can do all things through him who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).