Even though Jesus warned the disciples more than once about the future suffering He would endure, they still didn't get it (Matthew 16:21).
Despite
Christ’s warnings, His followers, like the rest of Israel, waited for a Messiah
with military might. The Israelites conquered other nations and entered the
Promised Land through war. Their history involved conquering and being
conquered. Centuries later, when the Romans ruled over their country they assumed
their long-awaited Messiah would rescue them through armed conflict.
The Master
Teacher tried to prepare His companions for what lay ahead. But they couldn’t
even stay awake to pray with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Mary Magdalene
was the first one Christ appeared to after the resurrection, and He gave her
the task of proclaiming the good news that He was alive.
She went to the
hidden followers and told them she had seen the Lord’s immortal body. They
still didn’t pay attention to this eyewitness.
When they
heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. (Mark 16:11)
Here are 2 possible
reasons they doubted Mary's report.
1. They Were Too
Focused on the Natural
Their minds did
not always perceive the spiritual reason the Almighty sent His Son to earth.
Christ’s
supporters saw miracles unlike any the world had ever experienced before. But
as soon as the miraculous was over they reverted to their constrained way of
thinking.
A few hours
after the loaves and fish multiplication they struggled through a storm and
thought a ghost walked on the water until their Redeemer called out to them (Matthew
14:25). At least Peter reverted to faith momentarily and got out of the boat to
walk toward His Master on the water.
The second time
they were in the same predicament where a crowd needed food, they didn’t refer
to the previous miraculous expansion of bread and fish for they still wondered
what to do.
His disciples
answered, “Where could we get enough bread in this remote place to feed such a
crowd?” (Matthew
15:33)
Except for the
event on the mountain where Peter, James, and John watched as the Son of Man
transfigured into the glory of the Son of God, His body was as natural as
theirs. They knew He was divine, but they still had to deal with the flesh and
blood limitations of His humanity.
2, They Didn’t Understand His Mission
Jesus's band of
followers either didn’t remember what He said, or they just didn’t get the
meaning.
They knew He
came to save the lost, but they still waited for the glorious defeat of the
Roman empire.
Flogging
massacred His flesh. John is the only one who was at the cross and watched Him
die, but the others knew what crucifixion did. The darkness of a grave enclosed
His corpse.
Wasn’t the
Messiah supposed to be their great leader who would free them from bondage?
Heaven’s
miracle worker raised others from the dead, so why didn’t He stop what
happened? Now all they saw was a stone in front of the tomb’s entrance.
They didn’t
understand His mission was twofold. First, He had to destroy sin by becoming
the sacrificial lamb. In the future, He would judge the world and rule in
justice on the earth.
These apostles
were Jewish men who also knew the Scriptures and prophecies. But they didn’t
rely on them to discern the Savior’s purpose.
The risen
Christ told the couple from Emmaus, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that
the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and
then enter his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26)
Death took away
their Lord and Master. Their mental focus on the natural world and lack of
understanding the prophecies kept His companions from accepting the
resurrection at first. The King of kings Himself was the witness they needed to
dispel their doubt.
The Passover
Lamb materialized to them in a room with a closed door. Thomas wasn’t at this
meeting, and he still didn’t perceive the truth when his friends told them the
risen Christ visited them (John 20:19-20).
Thomas wanted substantial
proof and Divinity gave it to him on the next visit. But the Lord also told
this disciple that it was better to see by faith than see with their eyes (John
20:29).
But we
shouldn’t be too hard on these eleven men. We may have been among the doubters
too. Now we have the advantage of hindsight and over 2,000 years of biblical
history.
After the Holy
Spirit filled them, their boldness and witness traveled the then known world
and changed history. According to tradition, all but John were martyred for
their faith and message, and John was exiled because of His testimony.
They understood
the message of the gospel and His redemptive purpose on earth.
Jesus
performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not
recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is
the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his
name. (John 20:31)
Because of what
they did the good news came to us. Despite the emperors, dictators, atheists,
and agnostics who have attempted to disprove the Bible and wipe out
Christianity, the Word of God still thrives.
So is my word
that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will
accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)
We can take the
words Christ said to Thomas for ourselves. We can’t see Him now with our eyes,
but we can trust because we see with our hearts. The Scriptures themselves are
our testimony that He is risen just as He said.
May this
Resurrection Day be a blessed celebration for you!
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