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What does the Bible say about the unbelief of Jesus Christ's disciples?



    
    

Clarify Share Report Asked April 14 2020 My picture Jack Gutknecht Supporter

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Mini Anand Mishra Supporter trying to be humane
The bible clearly states we walk by faith, not by sight. Identity crisis and material hankering triggers unbelief. However, since belief in the lord is not a natural process, you are entitled to ask this question.

April 15 2020 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Mini Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army
To me, there were four particularly prominent instances with respect to the unbelief or lack of faith of Jesus' apostles or disciples recorded in the gospels:

1) their attitude when the ship in which they were travelling on the Sea of Galilee was overtaken by a storm (Mark 4:35-40);

2) their arguing among themselves when Jesus told them to beware of the leaven (yeast) of the scribes and Pharisees, where Jesus was referring to their false teaching, but they thought that He was speaking of literal bread (Matthew 16:5-12; Mark 8:14-21);

3) their inability to perform a healing (Matthew 17:14-20);

4) their unwillingness to believe the account of the women who came first to the tomb after Jesus had risen from the dead (Luke 24:1-11).

I would say that, in each of those cases, Jesus was disappointed (and, in some cases, sorely disappointed) at their lack of faith -- even being recorded as rebuking them for it with regard to the reports they had heard of His resurrection. That disappointment was also particularly pronounced on occasions when they had witnessed repeated demonstrations of Jesus' power (often immediately prior to their faithlessness), as in His comment recorded in Mark 8:21, as cited above.

In my opinion, the recording of those instances of unbelief or lack of faith are both an indication of the accuracy and honesty of the gospels, as well as a comfort to Christians today with respect to the fact that, despite those instances of fallibility and unbelief on the part of Jesus' closest followers (which would potentially be a greater possibility for those who have not personally witnessed Jesus' actions, as the disciples did), Jesus did not (and will not) forsake or abandon them because of it.

April 15 2020 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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My picture Jack Gutknecht Supporter ABC/DTS graduate, guitar music ministry Baptist church
"[Unbelief] lies in the moral aversion of human will and in the pride of independence, which says, “who is Lord over us? Why should we have to depend on Jesus Christ?” As faith is obedience and submission, so faith breeds obedience, but unbelief leads on to higher-handed rebellion. With dreadful reciprocity of influence, the less one trusts, the more he disobeys; the more he disobeys, the less he trusts. Alexander Maclaren
The unbelief of Jesus Christ’s disciples was shown in 3 ways.

I.	Unbelief concerning Jesus Christ’s power over the natural world
John 11:39

II.	Unbelief concerning Jesus Christ’s resurrection
Mk 16:14; Lk 24:25
See also Mk 16:9–13; Lk 24:11; Lk 24:37-41*; Jn 20:25
*‘They—supposed that they had seen a spirit’—the Unbelieving Heart Luke 24:37; Mark 16:14 which held a baseless supposition.
Christ's disciples should have believed that Jesus' appearance was not as a spirit. Evidences? 

A. The scars in His hands and feet ("Behold my hands and my feet.")" --Luke 24:39 
B. His tangibleness in being handled ("handle Me, and see, for a spirit doesn't have flesh and bones, as you see Me have")* 
C. His ability to eat (Luke 24:41-43; Acts 10:41). 

*"handle me" -- the same word is used in 1 John 1:1.

III.	Unbelief concerning Jesus Christ’s power to heal
Mt 17:17
See also Mt 17:19-20

Encouragements (from Jesus, mainly) in overcoming unbelief:
Mk 9:24; John 14:111 See also Mt 11:4-6; JJn 10:37-38; Jn 20:30-31; Ro 4:20

April 18 2020 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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