Mark 16:14 NKJV
Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
The two on the Emmaus road were "slow of heart", but the 11 disciples were hard of heart in their unbelief.
First they didn't believe the women, then they failed to believe the two guys who had walked with Jesus and had had the best Bible study ever, plus they had broken bread with Him.
So Jesus Himself shows up... and He rebikes them because of their hardness of heart and refusal to believe.
Let this sink in - those who were the closest to Jesus refused to believe.
They had shared in His ministry, seen Him walk on water, calm the storm, raise people from the dead.
They had heard Him tell how He would be betrayed, killed but would rise again:
Mark 9:31 NKJV
For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day."
How much more evidence did they need in order to believe?
Now, what about me? How much information do I need in order to believe?
Is my heart too hard and cynical to simply believe in Jesus?
When others tell of their experiences of the Risen Lord Jesus, do I too refuse to believe?
Remember what Jesus said to Thomas:
John 20:29 NKJV
Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Lord Jesus may I ever be thankful that for the blessedness of believing without physically seeing You. I look forward to the great Day when I will see You face to face.
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