Why Some Don't Believe in Jesus' Resurrection

Humans initiate a search for truth even while in the womb (I feel safe and secure in here). We construct what I like to call a "truth screen" over our mind somewhat like the face mask that competitive fencers use to protect them from injury. If a concept is unfamiliar to us, it probably won't filter through our screen.

Remember how you puzzled over the reality of Santa Claus? For years you naívely received the lies that he flew over town in a sleigh, slid down chimneys and yet stayed clean, etc. As you matured you discovered your error and reconfigured your "truth" screen.

Let's apply this to Jesus' resurrection. After Jesus was raised Mary ran and brought the good news to the disciples, but "when they heard that He was alive, and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it" (Mk. 16:11). Why, for heaven's sake? Their truth screen had not yet been reconfigured. Their old "truth" screens blocked God's truth from being embraced by their minds. Prior to Jesus' finished work at Calvary it was impossible for a person to get born again. Therefore, the resurrection truth bounced off their screens like a rubber ball until the Holy Spirit reconfigured their screens in the second chapter of Acts.

The veil that blocked man's ability to understand spiritual truth back then is still firmly in place today: "...the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ" (2 Cor. 3:14b). Don't get bent out of shape if we can present a clear, logical, bulletproof case for Jesus' resurrection and it still be rejected by unbelievers. It's simply that God's truth is bouncing off of their screen.

The reason that the truths of our Savior's identity and resurrection are real and precious to us in our day is not that we're so sharp, but that the Holy Spirit gave us the ability to comprehend spiritual truth at salvation. It's by God's grace and mercy alone that our truth screens were reconfigured to receive the understanding that Jesus is alive and that He is God's Christ.

Don't be surprised if an unbeliever is slow to accept Jesus' glorious resurrection as truth. Instead keep in mind that the Holy Spirit specializes in reconfiguring screens that can accommodate the truth about Jesus Christ. Trust the Holy Spirit to do so as you share Christ with a friend. Be loving and patient. Remember...you and I would also be living in darkness had He not melted our screens. As the expression goes, "There, but for the grace of God go I." Apart from grace, I'd have been just as blind as they were.

Thank You, Lord, for your marvelous grace and mercy to me. Thank You that I live on this side of the cross instead of when the yet-to-be-crucified-and-resurrected Jesus walked the earth." Thank You, King Jesus!