Christ’s disciples loved Him, they lived with Him, they learned from Him, they did miracles in His name, “Jesus called His twelve disciples together and gave them AUTHORITY to CAST OUT DEVILS and to HEAL every kind of disease and illness.” (Matt. 10:1) When the disciples returned from being out ministering they said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” (Luke 10:17-18) But there must have been times when they just DID NOT listen to Him!
Jesus and His disciples were on the way to Jerusalem, “The disciples were filled with awe (because of all the miracles), taking the twelve disciples aside, Jesus ONCE MORE (this was the third time) began to describe everything that was about to happen to Him. “Listen,” He said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will BE BETRAYED to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will SENTENCE HIM (me) TO DIE and hand Him over to the Romans. They will MOCK Him, SPIT on Him, FLOG Him with a whip, and KILL Him, but after three days HE WILL RISE AGAIN.” (Mark 10:32-34)
They were certainly taught about the betraying, sentencing, the mocking the flogging and the killing, this was the third time,. So, why were they not there on the third day??? Why when, “Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, returned from the tomb and TOLD ALL THESE THINGS (the stone rolled away, the empty tomb, the angels there) to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THEM.” (Luke 24:9-11)
How could they not believe? “…the god of this world has BLINDED THE MINDS of the UNBELIEVING ONES, so that the light of the glorious GOSPEL OF CHRIST should not dawn on them.” (2 Corin. 4:4) Jesus explains the gospel in Mark 10 beginning in verse 32 and they DID NOT BELIEVE IT!!! But, speaking of John, “the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and HE SAW AND BELIEVED.” (John 20:8) So, at least one believed…
What about us today? De we believe? “For behold, in those days and AT THAT TIME, When I BRING BACK the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also GATHER ALL NATIONS (the next thing to happen about the time of the Rapture) And bring them down to the VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also DIVIDED UP MY LAND (just like they have done today, wanting Israel to give up more land).” (Joel 3:1-2) On May 14, 1948 President Harry S. Truman recognized Israel as a Nation. They went down in 70AD by Roman General Titus, who killed millions of Jews and scattered the rest all over the world. Now the Jews are back home, Hebrew, a forgotten language, is their national tongue, millions of Jews have come from all over the world. Jesus said, “…when you see all these things, you can know His return is VERY NEAR, RIGHT AT THE DOOR. I tell you the truth, THIS GENERATION (that sees Israel become a nation again, the second time) WILL NOT PASS from the scene until ALL THESE THINGS TAKE PLACE.” (Matt. 24:33-34)
It will be 74 years this May 14th Moses said that “The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years…” (Psa. 90:10) Moses lived to be 120 so he was not talking about his day, today our lifespan is about 79 years. Jesus said, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.” (Matt. 25:13)
Will it be said about us, they DID NOT BELIEVE!!!
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham