Why Were Jesus’ Followers So Discouraged After His Death?

Q: Why were Jesus’ followers so discouraged and depressed after His death? Didn’t they know He was going to be raised from the dead? — J.H.

A: You’re right; no one could have been more discouraged than Jesus’ followers immediately after His death. Confused and dejected by what had just happened, they withdrew behind locked doors, fearful of the future and filled with hopelessness and despair.

And yet Jesus had repeatedly told them that although He would be put to death, only a few days later He would be raised from the dead by the power of God. But they didn’t understand what He was saying, and they simply refused to believe it. After all (they probably told themselves), no one ever comes back from the grave. The Bible says they didn’t even remember His words until after the resurrection.

Why is this important? First, it confirms that Jesus really rose from the dead. Some have tried to explain away the resurrection by claiming the disciples simply talked themselves into believing it, or they had a mass hallucination. But that wouldn’t happen to people who were convinced they’d never see Jesus again. Only later did they realize His promise had been fulfilled. He said to them, “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have” (Luke 24:39).

Second, the disciples’ failure to believe what Jesus had told them reminds us of our own failure to believe what God has told us in His Word, the Bible. How many times — even today — have you forgotten God’s promise to forgive you, or to be with you and help you? Don’t ignore what Jesus Christ did for you by His death and resurrection, but by faith welcome Him into your life today.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)

(c)2018 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.