ACC ~ Mark 16 v14b

WHY HE CHIDED THEM

AUGUSTINE: The Lord Jesus himself chided his disciples, his earliest followers who remained close to him, because they did not believe that he was now alive, but grieved over him as dead. [1] They were the fathers of the faith, but they were not yet fully believers. They did not yet believe, although they were made teachers so that the whole world might believe what they were destined to preach and what they were going to die for. They did not yet believe that he, whom they had seen raising others from the dead, had himself arisen. Deservedly, then, were they rebuked. SERMON 231.1. [2]

[1] Cf. Mk 16:14.

[2] Cetedoc 0284, 231.116.244.3; FC 38:203-4*.

THE GREAT COMMISSION

AUGUSTINE: He also showed himself on one final occasion to the eleven as they sat at table together [1] —that is, on the fortieth day itself. He was now on the point of leaving them and ascending into heaven. [2] He was minded on that memorable day especially to reprove them for their refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen, until they had seen him themselves. For when they would preach the gospel after his ascension, the nations themselves would be ready to believe what they did not see. … If, therefore, they were charged to preach that those who do not believe will be condemned, when they themselves had not believed what they had just seen, was it not fitting that they should themselves first be thus reproved for their own refusal to believe those to whom the Lord had shown himself at an earlier stage until they should have seen him with their own eyes? HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS 3.25.76. [3]

[1] Cf. Mt 28:16-20; Mk 16:14-15.

[2] Cf. Mk 16:19-20; Lk 24:51; Acts 1:9; Eph 4:8-10.

[3] Cetedoc 0273, 3.25.76.379.24; NPNF 1 6:220*.