Prior Events

Here is a refresher of the text from which we are being schooled. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. Mark 16: 16.

Also keep in mind the two categorically distinct facts, which have been stated in this text. Jesus has made it quite clear to His Eleven and now to us who are receiving this, these truths. Believers will be saved, but unbelievers will be condemned. Do we truly accept these, minus human interpretation which allows for accommodations, alterations, adjustments and such like, to suit our disobedience and pride?

May God, the Holy Spirit, save us from stubborn unbelief, even in this time, as we are held before Him in preparation for our Lord’s Ascension. May we know this time as a precious, privileged time, which will not wait on us. Holy Spirit, rebuke us, straighten us out and quicken us now, please. Amen!

Prior to this word, when Jesus appeared to His eleven disciples, His first greeting, His first word was one of rebuke. Will you hear and accept these as factual about the disciples and Jesus?

That they had experienced such a traumatic time in seeing Him taken away from them, beaten and publicly crucified, did not soften the blows from His words any.
That they were still raw with grief and fears, did not make Jesus sugar-coat His words in the least bit.
That they were still trying to make sense of all that had happened to their Messiah, all that they had hoped for, all that they were enjoying with Him, did not in any way colour Jesus’ first greeting to them, as their Risen Lord.

Jesus never hesitated for a moment, in rebuking them sternly and strongly, because He knew what they did not know about those who did not believe. He knew that they were not aware of the fact that condemnation awaited all who refused to believe that He is risen. Jesus knew that condemnation awaited all His eleven disciples, if they continued to disbelieve those who were sent to them, with the Good News of His Resurrection.

Has it ever struck you that Jesus chose to send other people, who were not a part of the original twelve disciples, to bring the Good News of Him being alive, to them? Jesus could have easily appeared to them first, but He did not. One of His imperative lessons was that He wanted them to know the faith-truth about hearing and believing. Has it ever dawned upon you also, that they would be the same disciples who would have to go out into the world as evangelists, expecting hearers to believe their testimony that Jesus is alive? These Eleven were severely rebuked I tell you, because Jesus knew the severity and utter damnation of those who refused to believe.

Never take unbelief lightly, when it comes to our Lord and the Kingdom of Heaven. Never take the Gospel for granted and believe that because we once believed, we will always believe and be counted as believers. Unbelief is a deceitfully sly and wickedly clever beast, which comes to us in our times of severe weariness, and tiredness; our overburdened periods of deep pain and stress; our complacent times of ease and pleasures; our self-sufficient times of managing and comforts.

Paul shows the Gentiles who have heard the Word about the Kingdom and have believed, that they have been grafted into the Kingdom because of belief. However, he also tells them that those who are the children of God, who once believed and obeyed have been broken off, so that they, the non-children, branches of an uncultivated vine could be grafted in. You will say then, Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in. Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either. Romans 11: 19 – 21.

It is clear here, is it not, that unbelief is a grievous sin which God cannot ever tolerate and will condemn anyone on it.