Last 40 Days with
Jesus
Starting on the day
of His resurrection Jesus spent, on and off, 40 days with his disciples. Can
you imagine how eye opening those days were. His plan for redemption, phase
one, had come to a completion. Finally a way of redemption was in place. A way
that can be achieved by everyone without ridiculous rules or steps that were so
complicated only a few could achieve. Salvation is now available to anyone and
everyone who truly and faithfully wanted to be saved and serve God.
Jesus embarked in a series of
appearances, of which five are recorded in the gospels, which were both amazing
and intentional in their purpose. First he appeared to the women. They were
scared and worried that someone had stolen the body. The pain of Jesus’ loss
fresh in their minds and now this, an empty tomb and angels proclaiming he has
risen. Jesus then appears to them and takes away their fears with a greeting of
joy, the Greek chairō used in Matthew 28:9 is a
greeting of rejoicing. Scripture describes the next thing that happens after
Jesus’ words to them. In Matthew 28:9 we see their response to this encounter
with the resurrected Jesus; taking a hold of him and worshiping. What the women need most was their joy
restored to them; intentionally Jesus does just that for them. Are you missing your joy? Take a hold of
Jesus and worship him!
In the gospel of Mark we are
told the conversation that happened between the women and the angel. The women
were told to tell the disciples what they have just seen and to tell Peter and
the others to meet up with Jesus in Galilee. Jesus intentionally leaves
instructions that single out Peter as one of the people that He is eager to
see. I believe that aside from his mom, the one person who was hurting the most
because of the death of Jesus was Peter. Having made eye contact with Jesus, (Luke
22:60-62) after the rooster crowed at his last denial of Jesus, must have been
the worst memory to have ever. Jesus wants Peter to know that forgiveness
abounds and has already been granted. He left a personal message to Peter, he
called him by name. You might think your transgression is unforgivable, yet
Jesus is calling you by your name.
The disciples had many doubts
and fears that must have kept them up at night. Even though the women told them
what they saw and Peter and John ran to the tomb and found it empty, their
doubts still persist. Cleopas and Simon came back from walking and talking with
Jesus to tell the disciples that Jesus was alive. Yet they just could not
believe. Their spirits were troubled and they were in desperate need of peace.
The Jesus appears to them in their closed door room and intentionally the first
thing he offers them is “Peace to you”. He goes on to show them he is indeed
alive in the flesh and sits down to eat fish with them to erase any doubts and
fears they might have. Thomas was missing at this first encounter with Jesus so
when he was told about it he wanted proof. Eight days later Jesus gave him
proof Thomas was so in awe of Jesus that he declares Him for who He really is;
God and Lord. Do you need peace in a situation in your life? Do you have
doubts? Just spend time with Jesus in prayer and ask for the peace that can
only come from him. The proof will come when you need it most and in His perfect
timing.
The final encounter recorded in
scripture is the appearance on the shore(John 21). If you have not read this passage you
are missing out on one of the most intentional moments in Jesus’ teaching.
Picture the scene. A few of the disciples go fishing and spend all night at sea
without any results. As they approach the shore they see Jesus. Jesus asked
them if they have caught anything, knowing full well that
they had caught nothing. He then tells them to throw the net to the side of the
boat; suddenly the net is full of fish. The disciples try to reel in the fish
but it is too heavy, remember that! Peter get’s off the boat and
goes to the shore to eat breakfast with Jesus. The rest follow Peter, Jesus had started
a fire with a few fish but they needed more. Jesus then tells Peter to bring
the rest of the 153 fish in the net. Scripture says this: "Bring
some of the fish you've just caught," Jesus told them. “So Simon Peter got up and hauled the net
ashore, full of large fish--153 of them. Even though there were so many, the
net was not torn.” John 21:10-11 (HCSB). Did you see that, it was not until Jesus commanded to bring
the fish that Peter was able to bring them to shore on his own. The picture of
evangelism is like the one in this story. We can cast our nets with the Gospel
but until Jesus commands us to bring them in and we obey, nothing will happen. The
word of God has power beyond our understanding. Intentionally after this Jesus
restores Peter and erases his denials with three professions of love
affirmation and commissions him to take care of His sheep, but notice this; it
wasn’t until Peter was fed the Jesus asked him to feed others. Be careful to
keep your spirit well fed with God, only then will you be able to feed others. When
we minister to others we take care of God’s sheep, one person at a time.
RH
