Word@Work 212 - Mark 16:9-11
Published: Thu, 09/18/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 16:9-11 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.* (NIV)
This last section of Mark's Gospel (16:9-20), comments on the disciple's astonishing refusal to believe that Jesus was alive. It may not be from Mark's pen, but it underscores a major theme of the book - that even those who were closest to Jesus were blind to who He was, and to the evidence of the resurrection. Mary had much reason to be grateful to Jesus, and although she fled in fear from the empty tomb, she later encountered the Lord (cf John 20:10-18) and had a story to tell.
Their disbelief was not just a matter of conflicting evidence or a reaction to deep sorrow; it was an active refusal to trust the word of an eyewitness. Somehow, their absence of evidence was stronger than Mary's personal meeting with Jesus. Her clear story was a fairy tale, and her bright eyed certainly meant nothing to them. They were right and she was silly, misguided, hallucinating, wishful or just simply wrong. It went deeper still. Their hearts were not willing to receive truth.
This may help us to understand the blindness of our friends and colleagues who have not yet met the risen Christ. By themselves, our testimony of faith cannot make people believe: and even the authoritative words of Scripture can be refused. Still, we need to keep on explaining the truth (cf Is 6:9-10) to prepare the way for the Lord to meet them personally, as he did with us.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Help me to keep explaining who You are and how much You mean to me - even to those who refuse to believe. Please open their eyes, and help them to see, and to put their trust in You. For Your sake. Amen.
*The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20 (more info at www.gotquestions.org/Mark-16-9-20.html)
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
This last section of Mark's Gospel (16:9-20), comments on the disciple's astonishing refusal to believe that Jesus was alive. It may not be from Mark's pen, but it underscores a major theme of the book - that even those who were closest to Jesus were blind to who He was, and to the evidence of the resurrection. Mary had much reason to be grateful to Jesus, and although she fled in fear from the empty tomb, she later encountered the Lord (cf John 20:10-18) and had a story to tell.
Their disbelief was not just a matter of conflicting evidence or a reaction to deep sorrow; it was an active refusal to trust the word of an eyewitness. Somehow, their absence of evidence was stronger than Mary's personal meeting with Jesus. Her clear story was a fairy tale, and her bright eyed certainly meant nothing to them. They were right and she was silly, misguided, hallucinating, wishful or just simply wrong. It went deeper still. Their hearts were not willing to receive truth.
This may help us to understand the blindness of our friends and colleagues who have not yet met the risen Christ. By themselves, our testimony of faith cannot make people believe: and even the authoritative words of Scripture can be refused. Still, we need to keep on explaining the truth (cf Is 6:9-10) to prepare the way for the Lord to meet them personally, as he did with us.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Help me to keep explaining who You are and how much You mean to me - even to those who refuse to believe. Please open their eyes, and help them to see, and to put their trust in You. For Your sake. Amen.
*The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20 (more info at www.gotquestions.org/Mark-16-9-20.html)
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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