After the resurrection leaving an empty tomb, Jesus appeared to his disciples a few times. One instance, two were walking on the road to Emmaus when Jesus joined them. They didn't recognize him, but talked to him about the things that had transpired. They asked him to visit with them. While they were eating, the gospel of Luke says he took bread, blessed it, brake it, and gave to them. At this point they knew him and then he vanished from them. They discussed how that while they were on the road, their hearts "burned within them" as he talked. Yes, Jesus speaking to a heart can do that for sure.
There was the time also when he met with the disciples and showed them the scars in his hands and feet. Thomas was not there that day. He insisted he would not believe unless he saw for himself. Afterwards, Thomas did see Jesus and the scars and believed. That's where you get the phrase "doubting Thomas".
I love what Jesus said to Thomas, "...because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." Jesus is talking about me here...and you...and the whole world. Blessed because we have believed.
A short time after that, Jesus and his disciples were together. He was "parted from them and carried up into heaven." Another gospel says he was "received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God".
I also love the account in Acts 1:9-11. It says that while they watched, he was "taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight." And while they looked toward heaven as he went up, there were two men standing by in white apparel. (Angels, I presume.) They said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."
That tells me, just as the folded napkin in the tomb did, that He IS coming again! Hallelujah, praise the Lamb of God!
The song I have chosen for this final series of posts sort of tells the whole story. It, too, is another of our choir songs, one of my very favorites actually. The title is "We Shall See Jesus" and it goes like this:
"Once on a hillside people were gathered
Hoping to see him, as thousands were fed.
He touched the blind eyes, healed broken spirits
He moved with compassion, as he raised up the dead.
Once on a hillside people were gathered
Watching as Jesus was crucified.
No one showed mercy to the one who had healed him
Yet Jesus loved them as he suffered and died.
Once on a hillside people were gathered
For Jesus had risen and soon would ascend.
Then, as he blessed them, he rose to the heavens
And gave them his promise, to come back again.
We shall see Jesus just as they saw him.
There is no greater promise than this.
When HE returns in power and glory
We shall see Jesus, we SHALL see Jesus, just as HE is!"
And ALL God's people said, "AMEN!"
There was the time also when he met with the disciples and showed them the scars in his hands and feet. Thomas was not there that day. He insisted he would not believe unless he saw for himself. Afterwards, Thomas did see Jesus and the scars and believed. That's where you get the phrase "doubting Thomas".
I love what Jesus said to Thomas, "...because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed; blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." Jesus is talking about me here...and you...and the whole world. Blessed because we have believed.
A short time after that, Jesus and his disciples were together. He was "parted from them and carried up into heaven." Another gospel says he was "received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God".
I also love the account in Acts 1:9-11. It says that while they watched, he was "taken up and a cloud received him out of their sight." And while they looked toward heaven as he went up, there were two men standing by in white apparel. (Angels, I presume.) They said, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven."
That tells me, just as the folded napkin in the tomb did, that He IS coming again! Hallelujah, praise the Lamb of God!
The song I have chosen for this final series of posts sort of tells the whole story. It, too, is another of our choir songs, one of my very favorites actually. The title is "We Shall See Jesus" and it goes like this:
"Once on a hillside people were gathered
Hoping to see him, as thousands were fed.
He touched the blind eyes, healed broken spirits
He moved with compassion, as he raised up the dead.
Once on a hillside people were gathered
Watching as Jesus was crucified.
No one showed mercy to the one who had healed him
Yet Jesus loved them as he suffered and died.
Once on a hillside people were gathered
For Jesus had risen and soon would ascend.
Then, as he blessed them, he rose to the heavens
And gave them his promise, to come back again.
We shall see Jesus just as they saw him.
There is no greater promise than this.
When HE returns in power and glory
We shall see Jesus, we SHALL see Jesus, just as HE is!"
And ALL God's people said, "AMEN!"
No comments:
Post a Comment