As they were talking about these things, Jesus Himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”
Luke 24:36-49
From His Emmaus road appearance, Jesus appears to His Disciples, behind closed doors, fearfully hiding from the authorities they thought were looking to arrest any of Jesus’ followers. Jesus announced “Peace” to them but, they thought they were seeing a spirit or a ghost. To ease their fears, Jesus showed them His hands and feet and, He said they could touch Him to assure themselves that He was real. Remember that Jesus is the first-fruits of the Resurrection to come and He gives His Disciples and, all Christians by extension, information about the resurrected body all Christians will inhabit one day. He told them that a spirit does not have flesh and bones. He showed them the marks of the nails that pierced Him in His crucifixion. And, while they were joyful at all they were seeing, Jesus asked for something to eat and, He ate before their very eyes! Jesus will have the scars, displaying on His body, for all eternity, the terrible price He paid to redeem His people and make them His Bride, the Church. Jesus, then, reminds His Disciples of the things He spoke to them, during His earthly ministry, that everything written in the Scriptures must be fulfilled. As Jesus nears the end of this appearance to them, He says, “I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” Now, Jesus will appear to His chosen ones many times and, in many places, in the coming 40 days before His Ascension to God the Father. But the promise of the Holy Spirit to come upon them will not occur while Jesus is among them. He had told them that before His crucifixion. Pentecost is coming! O, what a day of fire and powerful preaching that will be! Jesus will populate His church there in Jerusalem beginning with 3,000 newly regenerated Christians who will go, tell, baptize and, teach all things Jesus has commanded them to do! Thank You, Lord, for providing the path to You through the sinless life and atoning death of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ!!
Source: S C Ball May 10, 2023
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