Mark 16:11 tells us that the disciples, upon hearing Mary Magdalene's report of seeing the resurrected Jesus, did not believe her.
Here's a breakdown of what it implies:
"When they heard that he was alive...": Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus' followers, had seen Jesus after his resurrection and relayed this information to the remaining disciples.
"...and had been seen by her...": This emphasizes that she was claiming to be a witness to this extraordinary event.
"...they disbelieved.": This is the crux of the verse. Despite Mary's testimony, the disciples refused to accept that Jesus was alive.
Possible reasons for their disbelief:
Unprecedented event: Resurrection was not something they expected or understood. It was beyond their comprehension.
Grief and trauma: They were still reeling from the crucifixion and the loss of their leader. It's possible they were emotionally unable to accept something so radically different from their present reality.
Mary Magdalene's credibility: In that time and culture, women's testimony was often not considered as reliable as men's. Some scholars suggest this might have influenced their disbelief.
Misunderstanding of prophecy: They may not have fully grasped the prophecies about Jesus' resurrection.
Fear: They may have been afraid that if Jesus was alive, it would bring further persecution from the authorities.
This verse highlights the initial skepticism and struggle to accept the reality of the resurrection, even among Jesus' closest followers. It underscores the extraordinary nature of the event and the challenge it presented to their existing beliefs.
Mark 16:11 tells us that the disciples, upon hearing Mary Magdalene's report of seeing the resurrected Jesus, did not believe her.
Here's a breakdown of what it implies:
"When they heard that he was alive...": Mary Magdalene, one of Jesus' followers, had seen Jesus after his resurrection and relayed this information to the remaining disciples.
"...and had been seen by her...": This emphasizes that she was claiming to be a witness to this extraordinary event.
"...they disbelieved.": This is the crux of the verse. Despite Mary's testimony, the disciples refused to accept that Jesus was alive.
Possible reasons for their disbelief:
Unprecedented event: Resurrection was not something they expected or understood. It was beyond their comprehension.
Grief and trauma: They were still reeling from the crucifixion and the loss of their leader. It's possible they were emotionally unable to accept something so radically different from their present reality.
Mary Magdalene's credibility: In that time and culture, women's testimony was often not considered as reliable as men's. Some scholars suggest this might have influenced their disbelief.
Misunderstanding of prophecy: They may not have fully grasped the prophecies about Jesus' resurrection.
Fear: They may have been afraid that if Jesus was alive, it would bring further persecution from the authorities.
This verse highlights the initial skepticism and struggle to accept the reality of the resurrection, even among Jesus' closest followers. It underscores the extraordinary nature of the event and the challenge it presented to their existing beliefs.