Rēad to Read …Again
Daily Reading: Mark 15-16
Mark 16:14
Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.
Multiple times the Lord told His disciples that in Jerusalem He would be betrayed, arrested, beaten, killed, buried, and then rise from the dead. Yet, when it happened they didn’t believe the eyewitnesses of it. Because of their unbelief the Lord upbraided them.
According to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary the word “upbraided” means: “charged with something wrong or disgraceful; reproached; reproved.” On an interesting note, this is the only time in the entirety of the Bible that the word “upbraided” is used. It is a special word reserved for a special issue. That issue is belief in that which Jesus said.
They didn’t believe. Jesus told them this would happen, but human intellect probably got in the way. Logic fought against the very possibility of Jesus being raised from the dead. It’s not like they did not see others resurrected from the dead. During the time of the Lord’s earthly sojourn, He raised at least three people from the dead: the son of the widow of Nain, the daughter of Jairus, and Lazarus. There could have been others, for not everything that Jesus did is recorded in the Bible, and according to John could not be. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. John 21:25
Yes, the disciples saw the dead resurrected, but when it came to Jesus’ resurrection they believed not. They heard Jesus teach them about it, they heard the accounts of the eyewitnesses, and they saw others raised, but they believed not. For their unbelief they were upbraided.
If you have ever been “upbraided” you know, it’s not fun. This is a sobering story for all today, for many suffer from unbelief. They have heard the Bible teachings, have been taught the Bible doctrines, have seen earthly examples of that which a believer in Christ should and could be, yet they themselves believe not. Testified by their actions. One day they will be upbraided by the Lord, for they suffer from “hardness of heart.” Which like the word upbraided, this phrase is only used in this verse and nowhere else in Scripture.
Remember in Matthew when the Lord related a parable about the kingdom of heaven. A man gave his servants talents to invest for him. One of those did not invest the talent, but hid it in the earth. That servant heard these words from his master: …Thou wicked and slothful servant… (Matthew 25:26) He was upbraided. This is an earthly illustration of the heavenly truth that the Lord (represented by the man who gave the talents) will one day bring into judgment the works of His servants (the Judgment seat of Christ). Those who believed Him, thereby obeying Him, will receive rewards. Those servants who did not live by faith, did not believe Him, they will suffer loss, they will be upbraided.
The story of the disciple’s unbelief reminds everyone to simply believe. For unbelief brings with it unwanted consequences. After all, which would you rather hear: “Well done thou good and faithful servant” or “Thou wicked and slothful servant”?
Having experienced a fair share of being upbraided by parents, bosses and church members I can say this. I don’t like it, and don’t want it. Especially from the One who gave His life for mine. Right? Right!
Dr. William T. Howe
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