Day 21 Until you’re equipped with power from on high

He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way.

He said, “You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem!

You’re the first to hear and see it. You’re the witnesses.

What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you’re equipped with power from on high.” Luke 24:45-49 MSG

Today marks the 21st day and the third Sunday after Resurrection Sunday.  We’re almost halfway there. Time ticks on…

This is another passage deep in meaning and significance. Jesus concludes by instructing his followers to stay here and and wait until you’re empowered ….

I’m not a big fan of waiting.

Continue Reading…

Day 20 Ghost Busters

³⁷ They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸ 

He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it in their presence. Luke 24:37-43

As best I can tell,  a biblical Christian worldview does not adhere to the existence of “ghosts”, defined as  “a disembodied spirit imagined, usually as a vague, shadowy or evanescent form, as wandering among or haunting living persons.”

But the beliefs and worldview of the ancient world were quite different from the modern scientific era. The possibility that ghosts were ‘out there’ was very real in the minds of the disciples.

This wasn’t the first time they confused Jesus with being a ghost.

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Day 19 Peace Be With You

While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, “Peace be with you.” They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death. Luke 24:36-37.

Luke 24: 36-49 describes one of the twelve Jesus resurrection appearances. This passage is rich with insights, take a moment to read it when you have a chance.  We’ll focus on just one aspect today and more next time.

Disoriented

Imagine the scene that Sunday evening and the disciples state of mind. All eleven disciples were gathered together, trying to figure what was going on.

Their leader had been an exceptional human being, a man unlike any they had ever encountered. His example, his embodiment of love, his holy presence, his miraculous power -  had completely and thoroughly wrecked their lives.

His brutal and bloody execution was still vivid in their consciousness. How was it possible?

Now it seems he had – what, come back from the dead? How was that possible?  They couldn’t believe it.

They were utterly disoriented. They had to process this together. Confusion and disbelief were mixed with hopeful expectation. But there was no clarity about what was happening.

Continue Reading…

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. Revelation 12:11 “Overcome”(c) Jon Egan/Vertical Worship

Day 18 Dressed in White

White is the liturgical color for the Easter season until the day of Pentecost, when it changes to red.

White is a traditional symbol of holiness, purity, worthiness.

At the empty tomb and ascension hill, white describes the angels appearance. Continue Reading…

Day 17 What is that to you?

²⁰ Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) ²¹ When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?”

²² Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.”

²³ Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

²⁴ This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. John 21:20-24

There’s a lot of life application in this little exchange.

After all that time hanging around the Son of God,  it seems like at least some of the master’s teaching didn’t rub off on the disciples.

Apparently they didn’t understand the Kingdom attitudes about comparison, promotion and entitlement.

Continue Reading…

Day 16 Moses and the Prophets

Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him. Luke 24:27

If I ever start a garage rock band I’m gonna name it : Moses and The Prophets. [Drummer: Ba-dum ching!]

But seriously folks ….

Luke records four appearances of Jesus: to Peter, to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, to the apostles as a group, and again to the apostles at his ascension. All of them took place in Jerusalem or its neighborhood. (Reformed Commentary)

Luke 24:27 has tremendous impact on me. Here, finally, the mystery of all this bible stuff is revealed. Continue Reading…

Day 15 Truth or Lie ?

A True Testimony

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. John 21:24

³³ They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴ and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.”  Luke 24:34

The quest for truth

I respect the doubt of the agnostic, or the skepticism of the atheist.

In my view, resistance to the Christian narrative, or really, any narrative of faith predicated on belief in the reality of the supernatural – could be the position of someone who is on a reasonable search for truth.

Of course this assumes the non-believer  is actually reasonable and open to a world view that does not fit his paradigm.

Big assumption, but let’s continue. Continue Reading…

[ The Resurrection of Christ ] Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 NIV

Day 14 Do This To Remember

We're reflecting on another aspect from the story of  Emmaus Road in Luke 24. Take a minute and read that, then continue here.

³⁰ When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, Luke 24:30

We forget

Two weeks ago church goers around the world celebrated the anniversary of the most amazing, world changing , life altering event ever to happen in the history of the world.

The residual meaning of that event are what prompted me to write this series. Yet for most people, Easter Sunday and it's real life application becomes a dull memory.

The only act of worship Jesus instituted

Continue Reading...

Today we have a guest post by Kathleen Caron !  She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, three children and two rescue dogs.  Kathleen writes about food, faith and family at {full of life} soul food.

 

In this resurrection series, the scene of our two previous posts were Jesus on the beach in John 21. I imagine that was a beautiful morning sky. Take it away Kathleen!

Day 13 The Heavens Declare The Glory of God

Long before I became a Christian, I was assigned to read a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins in a boring old English class.  Avowed agnostic that I was, I had no idea what the poem was about, although I loved the language so much that I memorized the poem.  “The world is charged with the grandeur of God,” Hopkins wrote, “it will flame out like shining from shook foil.”

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Day 12 A Servant Leader Movement

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.

Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”

Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.

Then he said to him, “Follow me!” ^{John 21:18-19}

Wherever He Leads I’ll Go

During the 40 day period between his resurrection and ascension Jesus was preparing his disciples to change the world.

My guess is they didn’t set out to do that.

“Hey guys let’s change the world by doing what the master taught us and dying horrible deaths.”

My guess is they were simply doing the next right thing.

Continue Reading…