No More the Skeptic

Scripture – Mark 16:9-13: [The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20.] ⁹When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. ¹⁰She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. ¹¹When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. ¹²Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. ¹³These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either.

Reflection: – It’s amazing how skeptical we can be. The disciples heard reports from three different people, but they didn’t believe any of them. Granted, the news they heard was hard to believe. It stretched them beyond any kind of life-logic they knew. Still, at some point I need to let myself simply believe people I know and trust.

I tend to be skeptical about a lot of things. I’ll let go of that today. I’ll let myself believe what people tell me. One of my teachers in high school began the year by telling our class, “I’ll believe you as long as you don’t lie to me.” Sounds simple enough. I’ll put that into practice today.

Lord, you I believe all the time! Thank you for loving me and forgiving me through my doubts.

Reading for Sunday, April 20:

Scripture – Mark 16:14-20: [The most reliable early manuscripts and other ancient witnesses do not have Mark 16:9-20.] ¹⁴Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. ¹⁵He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. ¹⁶Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” ¹⁹After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. ²⁰Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.