Unbelievable!

Mark 16 gives the account of Jesus' resurrection. Perhaps the most disturbing verse of this chapter is verse 14, "Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen." Before Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, he had tried to prepare the disciples for this time. He frankly spoke of the events surrounding the his death and resurrection. He even took three of them up to a mountain where they witnessed his transfiguration and saw Moses and Elijah, all proof of the truth of resurrection. Yet they did not understand. These truths Jesus revealed were uncommon. They definitely did not fit in their "boxes" of understanding. Nor would it have fit in ours.

The last verses of Mark 16, verses 15-20, give account of Jesus' charge to the disciples to go and tell, preach the good news of Jesus to everyone. Jesus told them that those who believe and are baptized will be saved but those who are not will be damned. Another difficult truth.

He also says that "these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them: they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." Then a couple of verses later, "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following."

In our current day, it is not difficult for us to believe the crucifixion and resurrection. We have the perspective of history and scripture to help us understand and believe these things. I find it interesting that right after Jesus gets on the disciples for not believing he had risen from the dead, he begins to tell them about the signs and wonders that will follow "them who believe." The disciples had no problem believing that. They had already seen these signs and wonders. And now they were actually speaking to the risen Jesus. They believed what he said, obeyed by preaching the word and God confirmed His word with signs.

I have heard this passage explained away many times. I have heard pastors and teachers say that we should not expect signs and wonders in our day because those were just for this specific time in history. However, when I read this passage, I really don't see that. As a matter of fact, I don't see that teaching anywhere in the Bible. God is powerful. God's word is powerful. We have this treasure in our "earthen vessels" so that others can see His power through us and glorify Him (2 Corinthians 4). So why do we try to explain these verses away? What are we afraid of? Yes, there are those who misuse "signs and wonders" just as there are those who misuse all manner of scripture for their own benefit or to suit their own comfort level. But misuse does not negate truth.

I believe if Jesus were to walk into our midst today, he would upbraid us with our unbelief and hardness of heart. We need to pause before we criticize the disciples for their unbelief at something that seems so obviously believable to us. Contemplate this: do I walk in unbelief at the obvious teachings of God's word? Do I read it for the truth it contains or do I try to make it fit within my comfort zone? God confirms His word with power. Do I allow Him to do that in my experience? God, help thou my unbelief!