Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

What I like about Jesus’ approach in this situation is that he didn’t beat around the bush when it came to the disciples’ unbelief. He gave them a straightforward rebuke. This is important—for clarity and for accountability. Too often in Christian circles, we try to make people feel good about sin. We try to make rebuke palatable. But all this does is water down the seriousness of the sin. It also models a poor path for seeking forgiveness.

If someone doesn’t truly believe they’ve messed up—or doesn’t understand the pain their sin caused—then they will not ask for forgiveness with the kind of humility and brokenness that leads to change. And without that deeper understanding, there’s often little to no growth in that area.

The second decisive action Jesus took was to give them direction moving forward. This not only communicated confidence in their ability to represent him in the future, but also made clear his expectation: Get back up and continue doing the work of the kingdom. It was both “I have forgiven you” and “You are ready for this!”

It’s important for me to internalize this: Jesus doesn’t want us to wallow in our sin. He wants us to fully grasp its impact, genuinely repent, and then move forward in faith, trusting in his forgiveness. He wants RESILIENT LEADERS—those who can rise again after failure, strengthened by grace.

The result of this rebuke and renewed commission was a powerful life of ministry that helped build the Church. Jesus mentored his disciples with real honesty and challenge, which set them up for a resilient, confident ministry. They would endure severe hardships—but they would also witness incredible victories. Spiritual warfare is like that.

Thank you, Lord, for the model you gave us in how to mentor and develop leaders in your Church. You are all about life change and hearts fully committed to your mission. I want to see you work in my heart and life in greater ways. Teach me to receive your rebukes as loving discipline that shapes me—and then help me rise and keep serving.