Even When We Don't Believe

And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment. Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet 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, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Luke 23:55-56, Luke 24:1-11 (KJV)

The disciples had just seen the Lord go through a horrific experience: tried, judged, and condemned to death. Some witnessed the mistreatment Jesus went through, being whipped, a crown of thorns pressed into His skull, being spit upon, and falling under the weight of His own cross. Finally, He was nailed to the execution stake- a cross.

The women came to anoint Jesus’ dead body, but they got a surprise when they were met by two angels who told them that Jesus was alive. So, the women went and told the other disciples that He was alive. In verse 11, we read that the disciples treated the news as idle tales and did not believe what the women told them.

And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27 (KJV)

Jesus appeared to two of the disciples and went through the entire Old Testament Scripture, pointing out where it spoke of Him.

Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, Luke 24:45 (KJV)

Then He appeared to others and explained who He was. He opened their understanding so they could see who He was.

And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. John 20:20 (KJV)

After Jesus showed them the physical proof of the scars in His body, they believed it was Him and were glad. We all go through things that are hard, and we struggle to believe God will be God and make a way. Yet, God works with us to help us see who He is. He is with us and gives us revelation of who Jesus is. As we get in the Word, Jesus will open the Scriptures to us so we know Him better. Jesus is always working with us to enable us to see and know Him over and over again, better than before. He helps us to believe. He will prove who He is and bring us close to Him again.

Jesus helps us to believe, to dispel all doubt, unbelief, pain, and loss. All the pain we’ve experienced will be chased away. He will make Himself known with each situation, so we can believe that He lives and is with us. In whatever we face, we know He is there helping us to believe in Him- again and again.