GFT #10 - Witnesses and Faith

"…he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.” Mk 16:14

Unbelief has more than one way to raise its ugly head. Here in this passage, the unbelief of the 11 remaining disciples manifested itself by refusing to believe credible witnesses of a spectacular miracle…i.e. the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. We have historical accounts of witnesses in the Scriptures to the supernatural hand of God. And if we talk among ourselves as believers, we will find among us witnesses to God’s miracles.

One of the purposes of a witness to a miracle is to bolster the faith of those to whom they testify. The writer of the book of Hebrews devotes a whole chapter (ch.11) to witnesses. These are witnesses to the fact that faith in God works. Its called the “Faith Hall of Fame”. After sharing some of their stories, the writer says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Even Jesus is a witness to the fact that faith in the Father works. With eyes of faith, he could see what lay on the other side of the shame and horror of the cross. He could see the joy that awaited him to take his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. These eyes of faith got him through the incomprensible horrors of the cross. Let the example of Jesus and the multitude of witnesses, past and present, bolster your faith in God. Faith in God works!