“Resurrection Sightings – the Disciples”

Scripture: Luke 24:36-49

On Easter morning, people began to realize that Jesus was no longer “tomb-bound”. And in this new, glorious life, he was not going to let any of his followers believe the rumors that had begun circulating – that his body had been stolen, that thieves had broken in to rob his body, that the Roman guards had been bribed to run away, and many other worldly explanations as to what had actually happened in that dark, foreboding place of death. But as he began appearing to the believers, each one would react to his truth in unique and different ways.

Mary Magdalene would be confused, Cleopas and his friend would feel their hearts burning, and Thomas would, at first, refuse to believe, but the one common thread in each encounter was that Jesus was never recognized until he did one thing to help them to “see” him – he spoke Mary’s name, he broke the bread at the meal with Cleopas, he invited Thomas to touch him. Each and every action on his part was meant to reinforce the relationship that had existed, but now was in question.

For the next three weeks, we will be looking at the how’s and why’s of the opened eyes, and the relationships that grew far beyond what had even been before. Today we begin with the disciples who had been hiding behind the locked door of their upper room.

Read Luke 24:36-39

Jesus appears to these believers, even while they remain behind locked doors. Cleopas and his friend had returned to Jerusalem from their encounter with the Living Jesus, and had told their friends all about it – that they had met this stranger as they walked along the road to Emmaus, how he had opened the scriptures to them, and when they stopped for dinner that night, he broke the bread, and they immediately knew who he was (Luke 24:13-35). The others found the story a little hard to believe, except that Mary had come to them with an equally implausible story early that morning.

And as they remembered the events of this day of strange happenings, their Lord Jesus suddenly appears right beside them – inside a locked room, without ever opening the door.

Is it any wonder that they were shocked and scared? Who was this? What was going to happen now? It must be some kind of apparition, but why, what does it mean? And then this unknown entity speaks and offers them “Peace”. But before they can react, he begins to teach them, calming their fears and bringing reassurance of the Truth that was now standing beside them.

But the disciples are still speechless, so Jesus cuts right to the heart of the matter – “Why does doubt still flood your soul? Didn’t I tell you that this would happen? Over and over again, didn’t I tell you?” (Matthew 20:17-19) But doubt is a tough thing to overcome, so Jesus takes the next step, and offers them a view of the damage that is still evident on his hands and feet, and even tells them that if their doubt persists, that they can actually touch him, if that is what it takes to convince them that he is real and alive.

Think about it - if Jesus will go through all of this to convince the 11, those who knew him so well, how far was he willing to go to convince you and me? And how much further is he willing to go to convince other doubters?

Read Luke 24:40-43

The Lord intentionally put his hands and feet in front of the believers, and even though they are still a bit leary of what this situation means for them, their doubts are no longer based in unbelief – it is simply because they are so overwhelmed with all that is beginning to seep into their conscious heart. And just in case a misgiving or two still linger, he asks for a piece of fish to eat.

And why would he ask for food? A ghost, a spirit, even an angel would have no need for sustenance, and may not even be able to eat! It is meant to be one more testimony that this is a living, breathing, physical body that stands with them, and not their imagination. Just believe!

Throughout the gospels, Jesus taught that faith and trust was all that was needed to become part with him. Mark 16:15-16 – “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved”. Mark 5:36 – “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” Mark 11:24 – “... whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received, and it will be yours.” And John 10:37-38 – “…even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” It all begins by believing – whether believing in Christ directly, believing in all that he taught, believing in all of the works that he accomplished, believing in the ways he has touched and worked through others – this is what he was trying to tell the 11 that night. Don’t doubt, don’t fear, don’t hesitate, don’t pull away – just believe that what you see and feel and hear and know - believe that what is in your heart is true!

The disciples were beginning to understand that this vision was not a ghost, was not a spirit, was not simply a vision – this is the Risen and Living Jesus Christ! The doubts were fading but the amazement remained. And this is how our life in Christ must also develop – lose the doubts and apprehensions, and let the amazement grow!
A life in Christ will always be filled with surprises, but that doesn’t mean that we should ever become complacent in our faith. We should be expectant that the Holy Spirit will work wonders for and through us; we should expect that, by faith, we can be conduits for the Lord’s blessings and power, that it might flow to the people of earth; we must never doubt that Jesus is risen, and living, and real for all who will only believe.

Read Luke 24:44-49

And now that Jesus has their attention, he begins preparing them for what will be coming next. And it’s important that we all realize that accepting the Lord for all that he is for our lives, is only the first step! He is anything but selective when it comes to ministry – everyone is useful and important when it comes to spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. And if you don’t quite believe that God can use you, just consider the people who were standing around in that room the night when Jesus came “and stood among them.” Smelly fishermen, a despised tax collector, old men, young ones, doubters, women - and all of them, every one of them, a sinner. And what did Jesus have in store for this unique – well maybe not so unique, and maybe more like us than we think! - set of believers?

They were to begin ministry at home, and one day, would be spreading the word of Christ “to all nations”. They would be telling about God’s forgiveness, offered to all, when we acknowledge our sinfulness and turn back to the Lord’s way. But they are cautioned to wait until all is ready for them to begin their journey – that they must first receive a gift from God.

We can’t be sure that they fully understood what that gift would entail though, and the statement that the gift would clothe them in power probably went right over their heads. But in John 14:26, we read that this gift, the Holy Spirit, will come directly from the Father, that he will teach them everything that they will ever need to know, and will constantly be reminding them of all that Jesus ever said to them. Now that is a power unlike any other - as long as they stay true to the power.

And that is the issue for the entire Church. The power of God is never forced upon us. We – believers in Jesus Christ – have to choose to stay close to Jesus’ way and to allow Godly power, that which comes through the Holy Spirit, to work within us. Jesus had been filled with the Holy Spirit following his baptism (Luke 4:1-2), and he still had to choose to travel the full distance from the Jordan River to his appointed time on Calvary’s Cross. The disciples would also know the power of the Holy Spirit, and each would have to choose to follow his leading them from Pentecost through their own persecution by unbelievers. Through the ages, the Church has also had to choose to discover this same glory, to receive the same call, to allow the same power to work through them, and to decide to follow, regardless of where the Lord Spirit led them.

And if the faithful of the past 2,000 years have had to make a decision daily to follow God’s plan, so will we. It won’t always be an easy or pleasant choice to make, and it will definitely have all the ups and downs of a “roller coaster” life, but it will be a glorious one, and our lives will become as amazing and surprising as those the disciples would soon be living.

Are you prepared for glory? Are you willing to let the Spirit of our Almighty God teach you and remind you of all that Jesus ever said, and to empower you for ministry in the name of the Living Jesus? Are you committed to say “Yes” to Jesus every day of the rest of your life?

May the eyes of your heart be opened to the presence and truth of Christ, and may the power of the Spirit fill you with the grace of God every moment of every day for eternity. Amen.