16:9-13 Why did the disciples not believe that Jesus had risen from the grave even though He told them He would, and there were witnesses to it?
16:9-13 Why did the disciples not believe that Jesus had risen from the grave even though He told them He would, and there were witnesses to it?
Because they had hardened their hearts to the truth of it. Some still doubted even when Jesus was in their very midst (cp Mt 28:16-17; Lk 24:36-46; Jn 20:19-20, 24-29).
Scriptures do not say that Jesus rebuked all the disciples for their unbelief and hardness of heart but He did rebuke the eleven that were closest to Him (cp Mk 16:9-13; Lk 24:10-11 with Mk 16:14).
The disciples never really took what Jesus told them about the resurrection literally until He was literally resurrected (cp Jn 2:22 with Psa 16:10).
In Jn 20:29 Jesus pronounced a blessing on all who would come to faith without the help of a visible, bodily manifestation to them (cp Jn 20:29).
This blessing comes to all who believe on the basis of the proclaimed gospel and the scriptural evidences for its validity (cp 1Pe 1:3-9).
Believers today are not deprived by not seeing Jesus physically; instead they are the recipients of His special blessing "…blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed".
(See also comments on Mt 16:21-23, Mk 9:9-10, Jn 20:9).