My God and My Country

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 16:9-14

9 And when Jesus was risen again, early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils:
10 And she went and told them that had been with him, which mourned and wept.
11 And when they heard that he was alive, and had appeared to her, they believed it not.
12 ¶ After that, he appeared unto two of them in another form, as they walked and went into the country.
13 And they went and told it to the remnant, neither believed they them.
14 Finally, he appeared unto the eleven as they sat together, and reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him, being risen up again.

Brethren:
 
Perhaps it is not so amazing that they did not at first believe. Place yourselves in their shoes at the time. Even though they themselves, had witness the raising of the dead on a few occasions, (the most notable being Lazarus), they could not bring their faith to believe that He that raised others, would Himself be raised.

Verse 9 - Christ himself appeareth to Mary Magdalene to upbraid the disciples’ incredulity.
Verse 12 - Christ appeareth to two other disciples, and at length to the eleven.
Verse 14 - The Evangelist considered not the order of the time, but the course of his history, which he divided into three parts: The first showeth how he appeared to the women, the second, to his Disciples, the third, to his Apostles, and therefore he saith, Finally.

“Better news cannot be brought to disciples in tears, than to tell them of Christ's resurrection. And we should study to comfort disciples that are mourners, by telling them whatever we have seen of Christ. It was a wise providence that the proofs of Christ's resurrection were given gradually, and admitted cautiously, that the assurance with which the apostles preached this doctrine afterwards might the more satisfy. Yet how slowly do we admit the consolations which the word of God holds forth! Therefore while Christ comforts his people, he often sees it needful to rebuke and correct them for hardness of heart in distrusting his promise, as well as in not obeying his holy precepts.” - Matthew Henry Theologian