9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.
10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping.
11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it.
12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.
13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.
Why were there so many who would not believe? Jesus’ disciples and even His own apostles would not believe. The Gospel of Mark here even mentions His appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus but when they returned and reported it to the apostles, neither did they believe them. Again, why did the apostles disbelieve all the reports?
The answer is because Jesus did not open their minds to the Truths found throughout Scripture until the time He had determined beforehand. That time is identified very clearly in Luke 24:45 which was shortly after the two returned from Emmaus. It is no different today. A man will not understand until God opens his mind which happens simultaneously when God quickens his dead spirit. That is why Jesus said in John 6:29 that it is God’s work in a man to make him believe. Unless God does this work, a lost man is incapable of seeing, hearing, or believing the Truth.
Bottom Line: Even Jesus’ own apostles would not believe when they heard eyewitness testimony of His resurrection, and this after they heard Jesus Himself say what must happen. Is it any wonder the lost today will not believe? No one will believe until God works in them and gives them belief (John 6:29, Philippians 1:29).
We don’t become children of God by human decision (John 1:13).
We don’t become children of God by human decision (John 1:13).
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