The Problem of Unbelief: Mark 16:9-14
“9) [Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. 10) She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11) When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it. 12) After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. 13) They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either. 14) Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.” Mark 16:9-14
The most often repeated phrase in these verses relates to “unbelief.” Even though they were confronted with eye witness reports by those who personally saw the resurrected Christ, “they refused to believe.”
Two times they were confronted by eye witness reports and they still did not believe. Keep in mind, Jesus had repeatedly told them He was going to rise from the dead.
Finally, in verse 14, Jesus Himself appeared to the eleven as they were reclining at the table. He reproached them because of their unbelief and hardness of heart.
Why was this such a serious problem?
Because the Christian life is based on faith. Look at John 20:19-29. Jesus dealt with Thomas related to his problem of unbelief. He refuse to allow the cancer of unbelief to remain in any of His disciples. They could not embrace what was about to happen at Pentecost apart from faith.
Unbelief will undermine every aspect of the Christian life. Apart from faith, there will be no salvation, unwavering commitment to follow Jesus or the ability to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Much of His time with the disciples between His resurrection and ascension was focused on building their faith. He poured into their faith walk. Apart from the walk of faith there can be no walk in the Spirit. (Read Galatians 3:1-5; 14)
Hebrews 11 is a profound chapter about faith. Verse 6 says; “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Do you want to please God? Then build your faith!
Romans 10:17 says; “So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Every Christian should have a testimony of ever increasing faith. Faith is the basis of salvation. Faith is the key that unlocks the power of God. Faith moves mountains.
You will never understand or experience Mark 16:15-18 apart from faith. Jesus wants His followers to walk in divine power. (Ephesians 3:20) He wants them to become partakers of the divine nature. (2 Peter 1:4) He wants your faith to be anchored in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5) He wants us to seek Him and pray like the early church leaders did in Acts 4:28-31.
It is at this point that the naturalism and unbelief of the western church is exposed. If God is not working in extraordinary ways, the problem is within us! God has not changed!
The western church has stuffed God in little theological boxes of unbelief and then falsely label them “Bible Doctrine.” The testimony of Mark 16:9-18 is that if your doctrine is not producing supernatural fruit, it is tragically flawed. It amounts to unbelief!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global Sent from my iPhone
“9) [Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. 10) She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11) When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it. 12) After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. 13) They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either. 14) Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.” Mark 16:9-14
The most often repeated phrase in these verses relates to “unbelief.” Even though they were confronted with eye witness reports by those who personally saw the resurrected Christ, “they refused to believe.”
Two times they were confronted by eye witness reports and they still did not believe. Keep in mind, Jesus had repeatedly told them He was going to rise from the dead.
Finally, in verse 14, Jesus Himself appeared to the eleven as they were reclining at the table. He reproached them because of their unbelief and hardness of heart.
Why was this such a serious problem?
Because the Christian life is based on faith. Look at John 20:19-29. Jesus dealt with Thomas related to his problem of unbelief. He refuse to allow the cancer of unbelief to remain in any of His disciples. They could not embrace what was about to happen at Pentecost apart from faith.
Unbelief will undermine every aspect of the Christian life. Apart from faith, there will be no salvation, unwavering commitment to follow Jesus or the ability to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Much of His time with the disciples between His resurrection and ascension was focused on building their faith. He poured into their faith walk. Apart from the walk of faith there can be no walk in the Spirit. (Read Galatians 3:1-5; 14)
Hebrews 11 is a profound chapter about faith. Verse 6 says; “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Do you want to please God? Then build your faith!
Romans 10:17 says; “So faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Every Christian should have a testimony of ever increasing faith. Faith is the basis of salvation. Faith is the key that unlocks the power of God. Faith moves mountains.
You will never understand or experience Mark 16:15-18 apart from faith. Jesus wants His followers to walk in divine power. (Ephesians 3:20) He wants them to become partakers of the divine nature. (2 Peter 1:4) He wants your faith to be anchored in the power of God. (1 Corinthians 2:4-5) He wants us to seek Him and pray like the early church leaders did in Acts 4:28-31.
It is at this point that the naturalism and unbelief of the western church is exposed. If God is not working in extraordinary ways, the problem is within us! God has not changed!
The western church has stuffed God in little theological boxes of unbelief and then falsely label them “Bible Doctrine.” The testimony of Mark 16:9-18 is that if your doctrine is not producing supernatural fruit, it is tragically flawed. It amounts to unbelief!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global Sent from my iPhone
