Jesus Upbraids His Disciples - Mark 16:14

After Jesus died upon the cross and was buried in the sepulcher, Mark wrote, “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. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them”, and in chapter sixteen and verse fourteen of his book, Mark shared how Jesus, “appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat”, where we read:

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

The verse reads, “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, ...” Mark began with the word, “Afterward” or “later, coming after or after this” “he appeared unto the eleven” which means “Jesus showed Himself to the eleven disciples” “as they sat at meat” or “while the eleven disciples were eating and dining together”, “and upbraided them” which means “and reproached and reviled the eleven disciples” “with their unbelief” or “because of their unfaithfulness or weakness in faith” “and hardness of heart” which means “their destitution of spiritual perception”. Mark shared how Jesus revealed Himself to His “eleven” disciples while they were “eating together” and “reviled” them for their lack of faith in Him.

The verse goes on to say, “... because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.” Mark continued with the words, “because they believed not them” which means “since and on account that the eleven disciples did not trust or have confidence in the people” “which had seen him” or “who saw Jesus” “after he was risen” which means “after Jesus was resurrected from the dead”. Mark shared how Jesus “reviled” His “eleven disciples” because they did not trust in the words of the people who told them that they saw Jesus after He rose from the dead.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see another manifestation of Jesus after He was risen from the dead. Jesus rose from the grave, revealed Himself to Mary Magdalene and “two” of His disciples and was aware of them telling the other disciples what they saw. Jesus' disciples did not “believe” them, nor did they “believe” Jesus' words that He would rise again. This caused Jesus to “upbraid” them for the “hardness” of their “hearts”. Those who are “hard-hearted” have great difficulty believing in God's Son Jesus Christ. They do not believe that He is the Christ and Son of God, and they don't believe He rose again. This is not unusual, however, it is in error. God sent His Son Jesus to the world to pay for the sins of mankind so they could have eternal life with Him. Those who are willing may believe in Him, and those who are not willing will be left to defend themselves before God.

Next time Mark shared how Jesus said, “Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".