If someone cries ‘Fire’, you lose no time in verifying the cry is genuine but see how you can put it out.
Mark 15 says that “the chief priests and scribes mocked [Jesus] … saying, ‘He saved others; he cannot save himself. Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe’” (verses 31,32).
These men had witnessed his remarkable miracles! When he raised Lazarus they had “made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were … believing in Jesus” (John 12:10,11). Their minds were blinkered. It the same today.
More and more wonders of nature are discovered – but they still say that all exists by pure chance – given enough ‘endless’ time!
Verse 39 tells us that “the centurion who stood facing him” witnessing the incredible events at his death, said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God’”. Several Centurions had contact with Jesus and his miracles. History shows that there were so many Christians in Rome by AD 64 that Nero put hundreds to death. Perhaps Centurions and soldiers returning with a new belief in Jesus were a factor in this.
Mark 16 tells of three women who came to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus “very early on the first day of the week”. Those who sought to do something for Jesus were the first to believe.
Do we really believe? Jesus told his disciples to “proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved” (verses 15,16). May we have an unshakeable belief in the Gospel and demonstrate it by being baptised.
http://www.thechristadelphian.com/thought_for_the_day.htm
