Jesus appeared to his disciples at various times after his resurrection for a period of 40 days. Several of these occasions were recorded by the writers of the New Testament. My favorite was written by Luke.
Luke told about two men traveling to the nearby town of Emmaus who were talking about the crucifixion of Jesus. A stranger came up and walked beside them listening to what they were saying.
"What is this you are discussing?" he asked.
Haven't you heard?" they said. "You must not be from around here."
Then they told him about Jesus, his popularity as a teacher and healer, his arrest and finally his crucifixion.
"Now we heard some of his disciples claim he is alive. Not only that, but that they saw him. We didn't see him anywhere around." They added sadly, "We had hoped he was the promised Messiah."
Luke records that Jesus began to talk with them about what the Scriptures said about himself. He agreed with what they knew about the Old Testament prophecies regarding the coming Messiah. But more than that, he showed them how they all pointed to Jesus, even the ones prophesying his rejection, his death on a cross, and his resurrection. Essentially, he validated what the disciples were saying.
As the men approached their destination, still not recognizing him, they invited him to have dinner with them. As he broke the bread with them, their eyes were opened, so to speak, and they recognized Jesus. At once he disappeared. We know how they felt because Luke says they ran back to Jerusalem and told the disciples, "We have seen him, too!"
If you haven't heard it, check out Sandi Patty's recording of "I've Just Seen Jesus."
Paulita
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
The Bible Reporter
Headlines in today's Bible Reporter dated Monday, April 20, AD29 read,
JESUS RISES FROM THE DEAD!
The first article, "Discovery of Open Tomb Made by 3 Women" is the first interview of the women who found that Jesus' tomb had been opened.
Q. How did you happen to make this discovery?
A. At dawn, yesterday, the first day of the week, we were bringing spices to anoint Jesus' body. We wondered who would roll the stone away from the tomb. Suddenly we felt an earthquake. When we looked up, we saw an angel. He had rolled the stone back and was sitting on it.
Q. Where were the guards?
A. They fainted when they saw the angel. We were frightened, too.
Q. Did the angel speak to you?
A. Yes, he told us not tot be afraid. He said he knew we were looking for Jesus who was crucified. He told us Jesus wasn't there. He had risen! He even invited us to see for ourselves.
Q. You mean you went inside the tomb?
A. Yes, and Jesus wasn't there. We saw two angels standing where he had been laid.
Q. What do you think happened to Jesus' body?
A. The angels reminded us that before he was crucified Jesus said, "The Son of Man must be handed over to his enemies. He will die on a cross, but on the third day, he will rise from the dead." Yesterday was the third day.
Q. So do you believe that's what happened"?
A. Yes, we do.
"Guards Tell a Different Story"
Two of the guards who were on duty guarding Jesus' tomb as ordered by Pilate, deny that Jesus rose from the dead. "No one has ever risen from the dead!" they said. "Jesus' disciples came and stole his body while we were sleeping."
So far no action has been taken against the guards.
"Strong Earthquake Felt"
A strong earthquake was felt in and around Jerusalem on the day Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross. Many reports continue to tell of damage to tombs in the area. One aftershock was reported yesterday, the same day the women found Jesus' tomb open.
"Vandalism to Temple Curtain"
Jewish rulers have offered a reward to anyone who can explain how the temple curtain dividing the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was torn. The rip looked as if it started at the top and tore downwards. The apparent vandalism happened at the same time Jesus Christ died on the cross.
"Disciples Believe Report Made by Women from their Group"
"We thought they were just talking foolishness when they said they saw angels," Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, said. "But when Mary told us, 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they have put him,' John and I ran to see for ourselves. We found the tomb empty!"
"Burial Cloths Still in Tomb
"John, a disciple of Jesus, said he saw the strips of linen that had been around Jesus' body. He and Peter, another disciple, inspected the tomb yesterday. Peter noted that the burial cloth that went around Jesus' head lay in a separate spot. The cloth, he claims, was folded.
"Woman claims Risen Jesus Spoke Her Name"
Mary Magdalene said Jesus spoke to her as she looked into his tomb. "He was behind me and asked why I was crying. I thought he was the gardener, and had taken Jesus' body away. Then he spoke my name, 'Mary.' I turned around and I knew it was Jesus."
JESUS RISES FROM THE DEAD!
The first article, "Discovery of Open Tomb Made by 3 Women" is the first interview of the women who found that Jesus' tomb had been opened.
Q. How did you happen to make this discovery?
A. At dawn, yesterday, the first day of the week, we were bringing spices to anoint Jesus' body. We wondered who would roll the stone away from the tomb. Suddenly we felt an earthquake. When we looked up, we saw an angel. He had rolled the stone back and was sitting on it.
Q. Where were the guards?
A. They fainted when they saw the angel. We were frightened, too.
Q. Did the angel speak to you?
A. Yes, he told us not tot be afraid. He said he knew we were looking for Jesus who was crucified. He told us Jesus wasn't there. He had risen! He even invited us to see for ourselves.
Q. You mean you went inside the tomb?
A. Yes, and Jesus wasn't there. We saw two angels standing where he had been laid.
Q. What do you think happened to Jesus' body?
A. The angels reminded us that before he was crucified Jesus said, "The Son of Man must be handed over to his enemies. He will die on a cross, but on the third day, he will rise from the dead." Yesterday was the third day.
Q. So do you believe that's what happened"?
A. Yes, we do.
"Guards Tell a Different Story"
Two of the guards who were on duty guarding Jesus' tomb as ordered by Pilate, deny that Jesus rose from the dead. "No one has ever risen from the dead!" they said. "Jesus' disciples came and stole his body while we were sleeping."
So far no action has been taken against the guards.
"Strong Earthquake Felt"
A strong earthquake was felt in and around Jerusalem on the day Jesus of Nazareth died on the cross. Many reports continue to tell of damage to tombs in the area. One aftershock was reported yesterday, the same day the women found Jesus' tomb open.
"Vandalism to Temple Curtain"
Jewish rulers have offered a reward to anyone who can explain how the temple curtain dividing the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was torn. The rip looked as if it started at the top and tore downwards. The apparent vandalism happened at the same time Jesus Christ died on the cross.
"Disciples Believe Report Made by Women from their Group"
"We thought they were just talking foolishness when they said they saw angels," Peter, one of Jesus' disciples, said. "But when Mary told us, 'They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they have put him,' John and I ran to see for ourselves. We found the tomb empty!"
"Burial Cloths Still in Tomb
"John, a disciple of Jesus, said he saw the strips of linen that had been around Jesus' body. He and Peter, another disciple, inspected the tomb yesterday. Peter noted that the burial cloth that went around Jesus' head lay in a separate spot. The cloth, he claims, was folded.
"Woman claims Risen Jesus Spoke Her Name"
Mary Magdalene said Jesus spoke to her as she looked into his tomb. "He was behind me and asked why I was crying. I thought he was the gardener, and had taken Jesus' body away. Then he spoke my name, 'Mary.' I turned around and I knew it was Jesus."
Monday, April 2, 2012
Hosanna!
"Lift up your heads, O ye gates and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King of glory? Who is the King of Glory? Who is the King of Glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. He is the King of Glory." (Handel's "Messiah")
Today He is my King, my King mighty in battle. He will help me meet every foe that threatens to undo me. He will guard my lips. He will fight the battles in my mind. He will be the whisperer behind me that says, "This is the way. Walk in it." He is here today, but will He be here tomorrow and the next day and the next?
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday (Palm Sunday), today and forever. He will not change, but will I? In my job, in the traffic, in the clamor for my attention, will I still wave my palm branches and cry out, "Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord"?
"The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God and I will give you thanks; you are my God and I will exalt you." Psalms 118:27-28
Paulita
Today He is my King, my King mighty in battle. He will help me meet every foe that threatens to undo me. He will guard my lips. He will fight the battles in my mind. He will be the whisperer behind me that says, "This is the way. Walk in it." He is here today, but will He be here tomorrow and the next day and the next?
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday (Palm Sunday), today and forever. He will not change, but will I? In my job, in the traffic, in the clamor for my attention, will I still wave my palm branches and cry out, "Hosanna! Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord"?
"The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. You are my God and I will give you thanks; you are my God and I will exalt you." Psalms 118:27-28
Paulita
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Who Knew?
Did Jesus know He would be resurrected from the dead?
Yes, Jesus knew, and He told His disciples, but apparently they "didn't press enter," because they deserted Him when the soldiers captured Him in the garden. Only one of them was present at the crucifixion.
Matthew 16:21 and mark 8:31 both say, "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
Who in the Old Testament knew about resurrection in general and a Redeemer in specific?
Moses knew.
Mark 12:26-27 refers to the story in Exodus 3:6: "Now about the dead rising - have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the living.'"
Job knew.
Job 19:25-27 quotes Job as saying, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"
The song writer of Psalm 49 knew.
Psalm 49:7-9, 15 says, "No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him - the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough - that he should live on forever and not see decay... But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself."
Isaiah knew.
All of Isaiah 53 describes Jesus life, death, and resurrection. Part of it says, "After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
These all looked forward to the event we call "Easter." We look back and celebrate Christ's victory over death. This is the most exciting and glorious event in Christianity, and its central issue.
Pondering,
Paulita
Yes, Jesus knew, and He told His disciples, but apparently they "didn't press enter," because they deserted Him when the soldiers captured Him in the garden. Only one of them was present at the crucifixion.
Matthew 16:21 and mark 8:31 both say, "From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
Who in the Old Testament knew about resurrection in general and a Redeemer in specific?
Moses knew.
Mark 12:26-27 refers to the story in Exodus 3:6: "Now about the dead rising - have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the living.'"
Job knew.
Job 19:25-27 quotes Job as saying, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"
The song writer of Psalm 49 knew.
Psalm 49:7-9, 15 says, "No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him - the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough - that he should live on forever and not see decay... But God will redeem my life from the grave; he will surely take me to himself."
Isaiah knew.
All of Isaiah 53 describes Jesus life, death, and resurrection. Part of it says, "After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."
These all looked forward to the event we call "Easter." We look back and celebrate Christ's victory over death. This is the most exciting and glorious event in Christianity, and its central issue.
Pondering,
Paulita
Monday, February 13, 2012
What if It's Not True?
Where can you find information on Resurrection? I chose the Bible and further chose I Corinthians 15 where I came across the question, "but if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?"
What are the consequences of refusing to believe that there is such a thing as resurrection to life after one dies? Well, first of all, then not even Christ has been raised, and his resurrection is what all this is based on. If Christ has not been raised, than the Bible is a lie and our faith in it is dumb, at best. If we've told others we believe because of his resurrection, we are encouraging deception.
The Bible says, "For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."
Oops! Yes, I guess that is why the resurrection is important. It authenticated, verified, proved the reason Jesus came. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45 and Matthew 20:28) "She will give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:21) "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (I Peter 2:24)
I Corinthians 15:19 concludes "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."
Thoughtfully,
Paulita
What are the consequences of refusing to believe that there is such a thing as resurrection to life after one dies? Well, first of all, then not even Christ has been raised, and his resurrection is what all this is based on. If Christ has not been raised, than the Bible is a lie and our faith in it is dumb, at best. If we've told others we believe because of his resurrection, we are encouraging deception.
The Bible says, "For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."
Oops! Yes, I guess that is why the resurrection is important. It authenticated, verified, proved the reason Jesus came. "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45 and Matthew 20:28) "She will give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21) "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:21) "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." (I Peter 2:24)
I Corinthians 15:19 concludes "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men."
Thoughtfully,
Paulita
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Resurrection
It's January 22 and I haven't started a blog for the year. This will be my third blog. The first was called A Year of Christmas and I was pleased that I could think about Christmas for a whole year. Last year I did New Insight. That wasn't so successful. I guess I didn't get much insight or else it was just for me.
This year I'd like to focus on the Resurrection at least until Easter. It is, after all, the most important event for Christians. Part of the great Resurrection chapter, I Corinthians 15 says, "For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."
I read one book by a man who said he spent 90 minutes in heaven. I found that book credible, but I read another one, the name of which I don't recall, where I knew in a few minutes it couldn't be true because it didn't line up with Scripture.
I have never witnessed a resurrection nor have I been part of one, but I do expect one some day when I die. So I want to learn all I can about it and I think the best place to learn is from God and His Word. So here I go. You can come along, too.
Paulita
This year I'd like to focus on the Resurrection at least until Easter. It is, after all, the most important event for Christians. Part of the great Resurrection chapter, I Corinthians 15 says, "For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."
I read one book by a man who said he spent 90 minutes in heaven. I found that book credible, but I read another one, the name of which I don't recall, where I knew in a few minutes it couldn't be true because it didn't line up with Scripture.
I have never witnessed a resurrection nor have I been part of one, but I do expect one some day when I die. So I want to learn all I can about it and I think the best place to learn is from God and His Word. So here I go. You can come along, too.
Paulita
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