And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
Jesus risen first appeared to Mary Magdalene, out of whom seven devils had been cast. Her weeping was turned to joy and rejoicing, and she went and told those who had been with him while they were mourning that he was alive and had been seen by her. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe her report. Though she testified that she had not only seen her risen Lord but had spoken with him, they still refused to believe that he had risen.
Instead of responding with joy, the disciples were astonished and perplexed by the report that Christ was alive. Though they began to recall his words foretelling his resurrection, their faith was too weak after his death to accept the fact, having been weakened by grief and great disappointment. With their hopes so blighted, they could not believe the statement of the women but dismissed it as a mistake, a deception, or an illusion.
This unbelief came while they were terribly depressed, having seen their Master die on the sixth day and finding themselves on the first day of the next week deprived of his body under the stigma of having stolen it away to practice a deception upon the people. They despaired of ever correcting that false impression, were newly perplexed by the reports of the believing women, and yearned in their trouble for their beloved Master who had always been ready to explain the mysteries that perplexed them and smooth their difficulties. Their unbelief is evidence that they were not celebrating the resurrection that day.
Jesus risen first appeared to Mary Magdalene, out of whom seven devils had been cast. Her weeping was turned to joy and rejoicing, and she went and told those who had been with him while they were mourning that he was alive and had been seen by her. When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe her report. Though she testified that she had not only seen her risen Lord but had spoken with him, they still refused to believe that he had risen.
Instead of responding with joy, the disciples were astonished and perplexed by the report that Christ was alive. Though they began to recall his words foretelling his resurrection, their faith was too weak after his death to accept the fact, having been weakened by grief and great disappointment. With their hopes so blighted, they could not believe the statement of the women but dismissed it as a mistake, a deception, or an illusion.
This unbelief came while they were terribly depressed, having seen their Master die on the sixth day and finding themselves on the first day of the next week deprived of his body under the stigma of having stolen it away to practice a deception upon the people. They despaired of ever correcting that false impression, were newly perplexed by the reports of the believing women, and yearned in their trouble for their beloved Master who had always been ready to explain the mysteries that perplexed them and smooth their difficulties. Their unbelief is evidence that they were not celebrating the resurrection that day.