He is Risen! … Now What?

In the forty days immediately following the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Bible speaks of several of His appearances.  In 1 Corinthians 15:5-8, written about 20-25 years afterward, Paul attests to the eyewitness testimonies of those who personally saw the risen Lord during those forty days.  Such people, including himself, who encountered Jesus some time after the ascension, lent veracity to the message of the Good News which was rapidly spreading.

We discussed the first two appearances last week, but we will briefly revisit the accounts.

To Mary Magdalene and another Mary (Matthew 28:9-10)

• They were the first to see Him on that Sunday.  Women in the first century were second-class citizens.  It is telling, then, that Jesus would choose to be seen by them first.
• He instructed them to tell the disciples.

To Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus / To Peter (Luke 24:13-35)

• Like Mary, they didn't immediately recognize Jesus in His glorified body.
• Jesus spoke to them of the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah.
• Jesus broke bread with them, at which point their eyes were opened.
• Upon sharing the news with the disciples, they also learned that Jesus had appeared to Peter.

To the disciples in Jerusalem (John 20:19-23)

• The disciples had sequestered themselves away behind closed doors.  They had been in hiding since Jesus' arrest, and the sheer horror of the crucifixion would have provided a sobering reminder of the dangers of challenging the Romans, of angering the Jewish leaders.
• The joy they experienced at His tangible presence among them emboldened them. ( "The joy of the Lord is my strength."  "For the joy set before Him, he endured the cross.")
• Jesus was now sending them out.  No more closed doors.  No more fear of man.
• Jesus prepared them for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

To the disciples and Thomas (John 20:24-29)

• "Doubting Thomas" has gotten a bad reputation, but the truth is, almost all the disciples wrestled with doubt.  John was convinced upon seeing the empty tomb, but others needed a little more time and proof.
• Jesus was patient with Thomas' desire to see and feel for Himself, but then admonished him to "be faithless no longer!  Believe!"
• We are blessed because, although we have not personally seen Jesus, we have believed the testimonies of those early eyewitnesses who did, and who shared their stories with others.  Had the disciples stayed locked away behind those closed doors out of fear of man, the Gospel never would have made it past the first century.

To seven of the disciples at the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-23)

• Again, the disciples didn't immediately recognize Jesus (for it was dark), but when they were rewarded for obeying  His instruction to cast their nets again, John realized Who it was.  Peter, upon the news, now rushed to Jesus.
• Jesus gave Peter two instructions: "Follow me," and "Feed my sheep."  The one who had publicly denied knowing Jesus was now publicly restored and commissioned.

To the disciples at the mountain in Galilee for the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20)

• Some continued to doubt.  Is it any surprise, then, that we in the 21st century, who have not personally seen Jesus wrestle with doubt?  Yet, more has been written about Jesus than any other historical figure, most of whom we accept without question.

• Do we doubt perhaps because of the claims of Jesus?  Because of the implications of what it would mean if He was Who He said He was?
• Jesus “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations,[a] baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

To the disciples at the Mount of Olives, where He ascended (Luke 24:50-55)

• Jesus blesses His disciples ("supremely blessed; by extension fortunate, well off, blessed, happy.")
• The ascension from the Mount of Olives was significant, too, as it had marked the start of Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and it was prophesied in Zechariah 14 that the Messiah would set foot upon the mountain upon his coming.

Luke begins the book of Acts where his Gospel ended with a recap of the forty days between the resurrection and the ascension, expositing upon the purposes of those specific events.

• 2 - To give His disciples further instructions through the Holy Spirit.

• 3 - To prove to His disciples "in many ways" (the empty tomb, explaining Scripture, breaking bread, disappearing, appearing in a locked room, the wounds, the fishing tips, etc.) that He was alive.

• 3 - To talk with them about the Kingdom of God.  Luke relates in his Gospel (Luke 24:45) that Jesus "opened their minds to understand the Scriptures."  They had heard many of His teachings prior to His crucifixion, but now Jesus enabled them to fully understand all that He had taught.

• 4-5 - To prepare them for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, who would teach them everything and remind them of everything He had told them, who would testify all about him, who would convict the world of its sin, of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment (John 14, 15, 16).

• 8 - To prepare them for the next phase of their mission - To be His witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

The question has been asked, "Why doesn't the Bible record the specific teachings of Jesus during those 40 days?"  The answer is simple, and is found in three words in John's gospel -- "It is finished!"

So, as another Easter fades into our memories, we are also challenged with the question -- "He is Risen!  Now what?"

• Open up the doors!  Live joyously in Him, with no fear of man.

• Banish doubt!  Blessed are you who believe without having seen Him!

• Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

• Be taught and led by the Holy Spirit.  Become intimately familiar with Christ through His word.

• Go, and be His witnesses, in word and deed!

• Remember Jesus said, "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."