Mark 16:9-14
Three paragraphs--three cases of disbelief.
The disciples were in shock. All their hopes and dreams were crushed. Life didn't turn out like they had planned. They were mourning and weeping when Mary Magdalene burst into the room with the most wonderful news!
But, like the Shunamite woman, (2 Kings 4) they were emotionally too frail to entertain such a thought. It was too much of a risk to believe that, just maybe, he was alive. They had already been devastated--their hope for any kind of future--everything they had staked their lives on--was gone... dead. It was just too risky to believe.
May I never be too afraid to believe. Even if it means making myself vulnerable... at risk of being hurt... Lord, help me to believe.
Showing posts with label believe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label believe. Show all posts
Sunday, July 26, 2015
Friday, July 24, 2015
Just One More Sign
Mark 15:25-32
"Just one more sign," they said. "We need just one more sign, then we'll believe."
He had walked among them, doing signs and miracles for years. Even His birth was a miracle. But they still needed an sign--just one more sign before they could believe.
Some had already believed--a ragamuffin group of smelly fishermen, crooked tax collectors, prostitutes--sinners--common people... divorcees, sickly people, the demon-possessed... They had believed.
But the leaders of the church--the pious ones--the "good," upstanding, pillars of the church... they wanted one more sign. Just one more sign.
And what if Jesus had fulfilled their wish for that sign? What if He had come down off that cross? Would they have believed Him then? Would it have been enough?
What then? It wouldn't have mattered--none of the other signs would have mattered--nothing would have mattered.
Because if He had come down off that cross, we'd all be doomed to Hell--the religious leaders, the pillars of the church, the fishermen, the tax collectors, the thieves, the prostitutes and divorcees, the sickly ones and the demon-possessed--we'd all be going to Hell.
Jesus had to pay the price for us, or we'd all be doomed. If He hadn't finished His work, none of the prior signs and miracles would have mattered--it would have been all for naught.
Stop looking for a sign--it's already been done. It's all right in front of you. Only believe. It is finished.
"Just one more sign," they said. "We need just one more sign, then we'll believe."
He had walked among them, doing signs and miracles for years. Even His birth was a miracle. But they still needed an sign--just one more sign before they could believe.
Some had already believed--a ragamuffin group of smelly fishermen, crooked tax collectors, prostitutes--sinners--common people... divorcees, sickly people, the demon-possessed... They had believed.
But the leaders of the church--the pious ones--the "good," upstanding, pillars of the church... they wanted one more sign. Just one more sign.
And what if Jesus had fulfilled their wish for that sign? What if He had come down off that cross? Would they have believed Him then? Would it have been enough?
What then? It wouldn't have mattered--none of the other signs would have mattered--nothing would have mattered.
Because if He had come down off that cross, we'd all be doomed to Hell--the religious leaders, the pillars of the church, the fishermen, the tax collectors, the thieves, the prostitutes and divorcees, the sickly ones and the demon-possessed--we'd all be going to Hell.
Jesus had to pay the price for us, or we'd all be doomed. If He hadn't finished His work, none of the prior signs and miracles would have mattered--it would have been all for naught.
Stop looking for a sign--it's already been done. It's all right in front of you. Only believe. It is finished.
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