Have you ever had an experience of not being able to believe some good news that came to you—some good news that surpassed the furthest reaches of your imagination? This seems to be precisely the case for the disciples when they received the news that Jesus was alive, and the tomb was no longer home to His body.
First came Mary Magdalene, and then two others to whom Jesus appeared. But “no one believed them.” We know, of course, that Jesus appeared to the eleven, cleared up the entire matter, and then sent them out to preach the Good News.
And now here we are, two millennia later, still made alive through our risen Lord Jesus.
Wow. Can you believe it?
© Brenda Henry
Mark 16:9-20 (NLT)
After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.
Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them.
Still later he appeared to the eleven disciples as they were eating together. He rebuked them for their stubborn unbelief because they refused to believe those who had seen him after he had been raised from the dead.
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”
When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.
For Prayer and Reflection:
As you listened, was there a word, a phrase, or an image that stood out to you? Consider writing or drawing more about that with Jesus.
Have you experienced Jesus in different ways (forms)? What has this led you to believe or to hold close to your heart?
Have you had any experience(s) of seeing Jesus and not being believed? Where are some places you can bring your belief?
Good News
You Will See Him
Finally. Gloriously! We witness Jesus rising from the dead. He is alive! New life has come out of death. This is Good News! Christ is victorious over death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (1 Tim. 1:10).
What a revelation to those faithful, humble women who were the first witnesses to Christ's resurrection. And they are told something mysterious, "you will see him". These words are truth and sustenance for us today. Where has Jesus gone ahead of us? Where is he bringing new life out of death?
Jesus, open our eyes to see you.
Mark 16:1-8 (NLT)
Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside.
5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. 7 Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”
8 The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened.
For Reflection and Prayer:
What phrase or word spoke to you as you listened/read?
Be with the women who discovered the tomb was empty. What do you notice?
Where do you see the risen Jesus having gone ahead of you? Where would you like to see him? Bring this into prayer with Jesus.
Is there something you want to say to Jesus about this passage?