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Neither did they believe them – Mark 16
Neither did they believe them – Mark 16
On the first day of the week following His crucifixion, Jesus appeared unto Mary Magdalene. She went and told the apostles that she had seen Jesus ALIVE – but when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they WOULD not believe it (Mark 16:11). When the two disciples saw and talked with Jesus on the road to Emmaus, they went back and told the apostles, but neither did they believe them (Mark 16:13). Jesus then appeared to the eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart (Mark 16:14).
The Lord expected them to believe. This was not just any off hand statement of an event; this was testimony of reliable people. It was testimony of people they knew and trusted. This was not fabrication from a delusional person or a made-up story from an unknown and unreliable source. This was eyewitness testimony.
Jesus chose to reveal himself unto SOME and then have them give their testimony. These, like in a courtroom, are witnesses telling what they have seen, heard, and experienced. John would write: "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ" (1 John 1:1–3).
When Thomas doubted the testimony of his apostolic comrades, Jesus appeared unto him. Jesus then said to him: "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). Faith in historical events is based upon evidence and part of such evidence is testimony of those who were there. Jesus said that the apostles would in fact be witnesses (Acts 1:8). Then, some 11 more times in the book of Acts it speaks of them being witnesses (1.22; 2:32, 40; 3:15; 5:32; 10:39, 41; 13:31; 14:3; 22:15; 26:16).
Peter would state: "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty" (2Peter 1:16).
This testimony was written down and passed from generation unto generation that all might believe. John said concerning the miracles he had witnessed Jesus do: "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name" (John 20:30-31). Then it is written: "This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true" (John 21:24).
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). The word of God is a record of the testimony of those who were witnesses to these events concerning Jesus and the beginning of Christianity. Blessed indeed are we who have not seen these things yet believe!
Hugh DeLong
