How Jesus Processes Our Disbelief
41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,
47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Luke 24:41–49 ESV Read More
I was in a state of disbelieving for joy once. Maybe a couple of times now that I think about it. Thankfully, I remember everyone else around being just like Jesus was in this instance. He didn’t hit the disciples over the head and call them morons, He helped them in their disbelief! He stood on the belief they had and boosted them up with encouragement to show that what He said was true.
Look at the progression of what they were to believe, too!
- These are the words I already spoke to you…yep
- I showed you everything that was prophesied in the Law and the Prophets, and it happened…yep
- I suffered and rose from the dead…yep
- And now repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in Jesus’ name to all nations all over the world…Wait, what?!
It’s all on you, now, disciples. (Cue Audio Adrenaline’s Worldwide) You thought Samaria was rough but what did Jesus do there? It says He healed everyone in that town that came to Him. And Syria? Yep, He preached and healed there too. Roman Centurions, synagogue leaders, and even a syro-phonecian woman along the road have already heard this good news.
Now it’s on you to take it all over the world.
So Jesus started with people of little faith and built them up to have the confidence to tell others. He promised and gave the Holy Spirit to empower them to do ‘greater things’ than He did.
You are the witnesses. The word used here is the same Greek work from which we get the word “martyr,” so there’s some of that too.
Don’t go out to the nations and take this message worldwide. Talk to Jesus about your disbelieving joy and let Him increase it so much that nothing can stop you. That’s how He works. That’s how He’s always worked.