After dying on the cross for the sins of mankind, Jesus, demonstrated His resurrection by appearing to His followers. Luke records in Acts 1:3,"During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God." (NLT) Other versions call Jesus' appearances infallible or convincing proofs, or unquestionable demonstrations. To APPEAR means to come into sight; become visible or noticeable, typically without visible agent or apparent cause. It also means to seem; to give the impression of being.
To the rest of the world, it seemed or appeared as if the great prophetic rabbi, Jesus, was dead and gone. I can imagine the folks who'd received healings and miracles, the thousands he fed, or those present at his teachings, mourning saying, "He was such a good man, holding so much of God's power. We'd hoped He was the chosen Messiah, but He still did many good works for God! A shame He had to die in such a brutal way. I wonder where His followers are now..." Those who loved Him missed Him greatly. It seemed as if they'd never see Jesus, their friend, teacher, and guide again— and that all hope of playing a significant role in His Kingdom purposes was lost.
Things are not always as they appear. After rising from the dead, Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdelene, one of His female followers out of whom He'd cast seven demons. Mary was the one who announced to the disciples and Peter that Jesus had risen, but they didn't believer her. (Mark 16:9-11) Jesus appeared on the Emmaus Road to two disciples who did not recognize Him at first (Luke 24). Among other appearances over 40 days were to His disciples and 'doubting Thomas' came to believe by touching the nail prints in His hands and the scars on His side. Jesus restored Peter in friendship and calling as an under-shepherd of the Church in John 20, by exhorting Peter "Feed My sheep," thereby forgiving Peter's three betrayals. Aren't you glad Jesus didn't just leave it to their imaginations to wonder if He'd actually risen. These infallible proofs caused His followers to be willing to suffer and die horrific deaths as martyrs...because they could not unsee what they'd seen with their own eyes. This is in great part why Christianity exists today.
Sometimes circumstances are not as they appear. Maybe what you're thinking about a person is not entirely true or as it seems to be, Perhaps all is not lost in your situation, even though it appears so. The Holy Spirit's power of resurrection is still at work, possibly opening the door to a reappearing. | 
No comments:
Post a Comment