We see, lastly — how slow of belief

We see, lastly — how slow of belief the first disciples were on the subject of Christ's resurrection. We read that when the women returned from the sepulcher and told the things they had heard from the angels to the eleven apostles, "their words seemed to them idle tales, and they did not believe the women." In spite of the plainest declarations from their Master's own lips, that He would rise again the third day — in spite of the distinct testimony of five or six credible witnesses that the sepulcher was empty, and that angels had told them He was risen — in spite of the manifest impossibility of accounting for the empty tomb on any other supposition than that of a miraculous resurrection — in spite of all this, these eleven faithless ones would not believe!Perhaps we marvel at their unbelief. No doubt it seems at first sight most unreasonable and unaccountable. But shall we not do well to look at home?Do we not see around us in the Christian Churches, a mass of unbelief far more unreasonable and far more blameworthy than that of the apostles? Do we not see, after eighteen centuries of additional proofs that Christ has risen from the dead — a general lack of faith which is truly deplorable? Do we not see myriads of professing Christians who seem not to believe that Jesus died and rose again, and is coming to judge the world? These are painful questions. Strong faith is indeed a rare thing. No wonder that our Lord said, "When the Son of man comes — shall He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8.)