Mark 16:14-18
Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.
“Notice what you notice.” He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen. (v. 14b) “…hardness of heart”, stubbornness. So often so many of us quote the following verse: Lord, I believe; help my unbelief! (Mark 9:24) So we can probably relate to the unbelief. As to the “hardness of heart”, where would we have been if we were 1st-century disciples and had women reporting images and visions and encounters with Jesus? Would we have been stubborn? Or would we accept our unbelief and go see for ourselves, as did Peter and John? But we are not 1st-century creatures, we are 21st-century humans. And while unbelief may be less an issue for most of us, most of the time, what about this “hardness of heart”, stubbornness? Do we have stubbornness about anything that needs to be set aside? Stubbornness that is blocking our full and complete relationship with Jesus…? Or is there stubbornness in us to which we are blind or unwilling to admit? I think I’ll ponder this stubbornness thing in my life throughout the day. Maybe even check with Carol about it…? Ouch!
Slava Bohu!