Acts 1:3
He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. (NIV)
After 33 years of earth life, Jesus must have been ‘homesick’ desiring to go back to His Father soon after His resurrection. But He stayed back for another 40 days. What was so important?
It was important that He appeared to His loved ones to show Himself alive.
His loved ones had sunk into a world of gloom and hopelessness after His death. He could not go away leaving them in doubt and despair. There can be no living faith believing a dead god!
His loved ones must know that He rose again and is alive! Our faith is in the Living God!!!
The Bible records at least 13 appearances of Jesus as proof of His resurrection. At one time He appeared to more than 500 people. His every appearance had meaning and purpose;
A few days before the Cross, Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with costly ointment and wiped His feet with her hair. For the oriental women, their hair was their glory!!! No women would wipe anybody’s feet with her hair. It was unimaginable!!! She did it because He had driven out seven demons from her setting her free. He forgave her sins. Her life was changed. He brought back dignity to her life.
At the Cross, Jesus broke His body and poured out His Life and His precious blood to wipe away our sins. He humbled Himself and went to the Cross to die.
When Jesus died the sorrow of Mary was great. On the first day of the week, she was standing in front of the tomb weeping as she could not find the body of Jesus. She did not know that He had risen from the dead! Jesus appeared to her and wiped away her sorrow and tears.
The Lord appeared to Peter when he went back to his old life of fishing, instead of staying committed to the call to be ‘the Fisher of men’. Jesus is not happy when we go back from our heavenly calling!! He who puts his hands to the plough and turns back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.
It was not over for Peter. The feeling of guilt of denying his Lord was nagging him day and night. No one can serve the Lord with a feeling of guilt. The devil keeps us in bondage; of fear, unbelief, doubts and guilt feeling. God wants us to serve Him in freedom. He gave Peter the opportunity to confess his love for Jesus!!!
The doubting Thomas would not believe the disciples that they saw Jesus. Jesus appeared to him to remove his doubts. Otherwise, Thomas would not have brought the gospel to India.
It was important to commission His disciples.
For forty days Jesus spoke to them about the Kingdom of God. He commissioned His disciples to go and preach the gospel. At the same time, He commanded them to wait for the Holy Spirit promised by the Father in order to receive power to witness. When they went out and preached mighty miracles took place and thousands of people got saved.
Is Jesus alive in our lives? Have we received the power of the Holy Spirit? Are we going to take the gospel to the ends of the earth in fulfilment of His commission?
Yes! We know He lives. We will fulfil the commission given to us. We will be witnesses and take the gospel to the ends of the earth because He lives!
He lives, He lives,
Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives,
Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
