“9. Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 10. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12. After that he appeared in another form unto them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 14. Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Is the Word of God enough for you? We see in this passage of scripture that Jesus Christ has arrived at the scene and all He can see in His very own disciples, is a hardened heart and unbelief. Lets back up a few verses; as the women depart from the tomb, an angel gives them direction in verse 7 of the same chapter: “But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.” The women are to give word that Jesus is coming to Galilee to see you, and He is alive! One thing believers are good about doing is forgetting the promises of God. God is faithful, not one word could ever fail. The disciples wouldn’t have had such a hard time believing the women if they would have just simply trusted God’s Word from the beginning. Lets back up before the crucifixion. Mark 14:27-28 “And Jesus saith unto them… But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.” Wow! God’s Word had already spoken to them, but yet they refused to believe. This was actually the third account in the book of Mark that He was telling them what would happen: Mark 10:32-34 “…And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him…and the third day shall rise again.” Mark 8:31 “And he began to teach them…and after three days rise again.” One thing you must realize is when things do turn out the way you think they should, or the way you thought it would, doesn’t change who God is. Jesus Christ showed up in Galilee just as He said. How sad it was to see His disciples living in unbelief and hardness of heart. One day God will show up in your life; are you trusting in His Word? What position will your heart be in? Unbelief or faith? One amazing thing about God is that even after He corrects us, He is right there to guide us back to the most important focus of life; Soulwinning! If God has spoken to you about something, just stick with it! Keep moving forward, keep spreading the gospel! Don’t let unbelief and hardness of heart be a part of your life. If you don’t correct it, God will, and it wont be very pleasant!
Memory Verse Week 1/27/20
Mark 16:15
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel of every creature.”
