“Later 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.” Mark 16:14

Mary told the disciples she had seen Jesus. The two on the road to Emmaus brought news to the disciples that they had seen Jesus. Even Simon Peter gave an eye-witness report. Why did they refuse to believe it?

The word for “stubborn refusal” is “sklerokardia”.
“Sklero” means dry, hard, or tough.
“Kardia” means heart.

Trauma and grief can do a number on our hearts.
It can make us shut down our emotions and shut out our hopes.
In an attempt to protect ourselves from more pain,
we stubbornly refuse to believe anything good.

Yes, it was hard to believe Jesus was alive.
But He took the disciples to task for their hard hearts.
Jesus expected better from His friends
and interrupted dinner to express sharp, stern disapproval.

Sometimes we need to be comforted,
and sometimes we need a kick in the pants.

Lord, may we have stubborn belief.