November 22 - Jesus the Resurrected Man

Luke 24:36-43

See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (Luke 24:39 ESV)

Some pretty incredible events transpired in a room that has came to be known as the Upper Room. First, the Last Supper was held there and it is where Jesus instituted Communion. Also, Jesus appeared to ten of his disciples there following his death and resurrection.

Seeing Jesus was almost more than they could bare. Their minds couldn't take it. It was inconceivable, even to those who had seen Jesus do the impossible time and time again. Some thought he was merely a spirit, and not actually the resurrected Christ. Jesus put that thought to rest by challenging them to see his scars and to touch his skin. He challenged them to experience his resurrected body.

He is still challenging us to experience the resurrection. He beckons us to him to find hope, healing, and forgiveness. Not to just a spirit; but to the resurrected Son of God.

November 21 - Peter Saw Jesus

Read: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. (1 Corinthians 15:3-5 ESV)

I can't help it. When I consider death I think of the finality of it. It just sounds like an ending. And, in spite of my belief about the afterlife, anytime someone I am close to dies it feels like a forced goodbye.

I think Peter must have felt much the same way about Jesus. The resurrection wasn't something to they were counting on. No one had done it before. And even though Jesus told them exactly what would happen! it seems like they largely missed the point.

So when Jesus began to appear to his disciples I can't imagine how they must have felt. It would have been like seeing something you believed to be impossible happen right before your eyes. Like seeing a fallen leaf fall up or a man flying under his own power.

Death feels certain. And life after death unknown. We believe, and we hope we know, but we don't know for certain. Peter had his conviction steeled the day the risen Son of God appeared to him. The man he loved demonstrate the reality of his deity by returning to life. Everything changed for him he day that Peter saw Jesus.

November 18 - Running to Jesus

John 20:1-10

Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. (John 20:4 ESV)

Peter and John heard that the tomb of Jesus was empty, but they had to see it for themselves. So they ran all way there. John outran Peter, but Peter went in first.

They saw the empty tomb. Jesus was not there. They believed him to be alive, but they didn't yet understand the significance of the event. It was unprecedented.

Today, it is still unprecedented. People don't just come out of tombs. When we run to Jesus we aren't running to the grave. We're running to the grave robber. We're running to life.