“He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’” And they remembered His words. Luke 24:6-8

I find it interesting that before going to Jerusalem, and ultimately to the cross, Jesus told His disciples numerous times what was going to happen. He told them about being handed over to the Gentiles, and about His crucifixion, and about His resurrection—before any of those events happened.

Peter even challenged Jesus saying, “that’ll never happen as long as I am here to prevent it.” (I’ve paraphrased Peters’ words.)

But when it was happening, they all seemed to be obliviously surprised, not knowing how to appropriately respond to what was unfolding before their eyes. Even when the disciples were told that Jesus had risen, they didn’t believe it. Why was this so?

It is a reminder that saving faith in Christ is not the result of merely hearing, or even seeing, the facts. Saving faith is a gift of God given to those Jesus came to save—and at the time appointed by the Lord Himself. May we who believe be ever humble about our faith. It is not a faith we drummed up or even reasoned based on the facts. It is a faith that is given by the Holy Spirit when He supernaturally regenerates us from spiritual deadness to spiritual life.

Let us also ask for compassionate patience toward those who do not believe. It is not that they are stupid or spiritually inferior. It is because they too must be born again. And for that reason, instead of rolling our eyes and shaking our heads at their unbelief, let us humbly close our eyes and bow our heads in prayer that God would pour out His grace on them, even as He has been pleased to do with us.

Errol