Mark 16:8-13: a reflection

8They went out, and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had come on them. They said nothing to anyone; for they were afraid. 9Now when he had risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11When they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they disbelieved. 12After these things he was revealed in another form to two of them as they walked, on their way into the country. 13They went away and told it to the rest. They didn’t believe them, either.

In the accounts of the resurrection, something surprising appears again and again: the disciples were slow to believe the good news. When Mary Magdalene told those who had been with Jesus that he was alive and she had seen him, they disbelieved. When two others reported that they had seen him, the rest did not believe them either. The best news imaginable, that Jesus was alive, was met not with instant joy but with doubt and disbelief. The disciples, grieving and afraid, were slow to believe even the good news of the resurrection when it was reported to them; their doubt did not put them beyond Christ's reach, but it was real, and it was slow.

Notice how slow the disciples were to believe the good news. They were not eager credulous believers of anything; they were grieving, afraid, and slow to believe even that Jesus was alive. Report after report was met with disbelief. This is oddly reassuring: the resurrection was not the invention of people ready to believe anything, but was believed only slowly, against doubt, by people who first disbelieved. And yet Christ did not cast off these slow-to-believe disciples; he met them, appeared to them, patiently overcame their doubt. Their slowness to believe the good news was real, but it did not put them beyond his patient reach. Christ met their doubt with his own gracious appearing.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too can be slow to believe good news, yet Christ meets our doubt patiently. When good news comes, even the good news of the gospel, we can be slow to believe it, weighed down by grief or fear or doubt, as the disciples were slow to believe the resurrection. But our slowness to believe does not put us beyond Christ's reach; he met the doubting disciples patiently, and he meets our doubt too. Do not despair if you find yourself slow to believe the good news; Christ met his slow-to-believe disciples patiently, and he meets your doubt too. Take heart that Christ meets our slowness to believe with patience, as he met the disciples who disbelieved the good news of his resurrection until he appeared to them; for our doubt, though real, does not put us beyond his reach, and he patiently overcomes our slowness to believe, meeting our doubt with his own gracious appearing rather than casting us off for it.

Lord Jesus, in the accounts of your resurrection, something surprising appears again and again: the disciples were slow to believe the good news. When Mary Magdalene told those who had been with you that you were alive and she had seen you, they disbelieved. When two others reported that they had seen you, the rest did not believe them either. The best news imaginable, that you were alive, was met not with instant joy but with doubt and disbelief. The disciples, grieving and afraid, were slow to believe even the good news of your resurrection. Show me how slow the disciples were to believe the good news. They were not eager credulous believers of anything; they were grieving, afraid, and slow to believe even that you were alive. Report after report was met with disbelief. This is oddly reassuring: your resurrection was believed only slowly, against doubt, by people who first disbelieved. And yet you did not cast off these slow-to-believe disciples; you met them, appeared to them, patiently overcame their doubt. Take that to my heart, for I too can be slow to believe good news, yet you meet my doubt patiently. When good news comes, even the good news of the gospel, I can be slow to believe it, weighed down by grief or fear or doubt, as the disciples were slow to believe the resurrection. But my slowness does not put me beyond your reach. Keep me from despairing if I find myself slow to believe the good news; you met your slow-to-believe disciples patiently, Lord, and you meet my doubt too, overcoming my slowness with your patience rather than casting me off.