“Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.” – Mark 16:14

I had always misread the meditation verse above.

I assumed that it said ‘Jesus rebuked them for their unbelief.’

However, the Bible says; “Jesus rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart to believe.”

It was not the disciples that He rebuked; He rebuked the unbelief. You see the big difference?

The Greek word translated ‘rebuke’ means to ‘adjudge’ – a legal term defined as to decide by a judicial opinion or sentence.

The same Greek word was used in Mark 4:39 where it says He “rebuked” the storm and in Luke 4:39 where it says “He rebuked” the fever.

I like how the word was used in Mark 9:23-24 where Jesus told a father to a deaf son; “All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!” Immediately the father of the boy cried out [with a desperate, piercing cry], saying, “I do believe; help [me overcome] my unbelief” (Amplified Bible).

The next verse says; “Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again!”

I believe that was exactly what Jesus said when “He rebuked the unbelief in the disciples”:   “I command you, come out of them and never enter them again!

The point here is that God detests unbelief in the hearts of His people, implying that unbelief and doubt are as destructive as a storm and as harmful as a deadly disease or evil spirit. 

The Lord had to deal with it if His work in the world was to continue.

And indeed after unbelief was rebuked from them, they became the greatest of believers to the extent that we would not be here if it was not for their immovable faith in the Lord.

“All things are possible for the one who believes and trusts [in Me]!” Immediately the father of the boy cried out [with a desperate, piercing cry], saying, “I do believe; help [me overcome] my unbelief”

MARK 9:23-24

Unbelief is bad because it stifles spiritual growth and hindersa deeper sense of fulfillment and purpose in the divine life.

Fighting and defeating unbelief helps us to engage with God’s promises, which can contribute to an unshakable sense of connection to the divine life.

Unbelief is a negative force that causes us to struggle to develop a meaningful relationship with our Father in heaven because “without faith it is impossible to please Him.”

Unbelief leads to separation from the divine life, which is a form of spiritual death or alienation from the source of ultimate meaning and purpose.

So, we must garner all the spiritual resources necessary to daily “fight the good fight of faith” and completely defeat and banish unbelief from our hearts.

I rebuke every form of unbelief in your heart in the Name of Jesus, say Amen!