The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in John 21:12b ,
"None of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord."
In one of his post-resurrection appearances (before seven of his disciples at this event), Jesus prepared a breakfast on a beach of the Sea of Galilee for them following an unfruitful night of fishing. At the end of the night Jesus gave them a tremendous net full of fish by having them cast it on the starboard side of their fishing boat. He then called his disciples over to where he had a fire with fish and bread on it. John says this was the third time Jesus appeared before his disciples following his resurrection.
I find the above observation of John interesting. He says that at the breakfast, "None of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord." I have to think that observation could only be made if there was some reason Jesus was not immediately and visually identifiable. I note his disciples had already seen him twice since his resurrection in the locked room in Jerusalem.
I am reminded of Mary Magdalene's experience at Jesus' tomb, when she found it empty, "...she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus." John 20:14. That unrecognizable appearance to Mary may have been due to her stunned state in seeing her Lord, who two days earlier had been put to death. Or, was it because it was that he was not immediately and visually recognizable?
In Luke 24:13-16, we read, "Now that same day [Resurrection Sunday] two of them [Jesus' disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him." How were they kept from recognizing Jesus? Were their minds altered in some way? Or, was it due to Jesus not being immediately and visually recognizable?
I'm leaning toward the thought that Jesus had one or more altered appearances, that he looked different on these occasions, such that those who lived and traveled with him for several years were unable to recognize him. Did his death, burial and resurrection cause him to look differently? Did he take on a new appearance in his resurrected body?
Another thought is that these disciples' minds were altered in a way that made him unrecognizable to them. I certainly don't know anything beyond what anybody else does.
I think there is enough here to be the basis for some interesting (and for all I know, unanswerable) questions. What about our appearance in the resurrection? John says, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2. Does this relate to our physical appearance in the resurrection?
"None of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord."
In one of his post-resurrection appearances (before seven of his disciples at this event), Jesus prepared a breakfast on a beach of the Sea of Galilee for them following an unfruitful night of fishing. At the end of the night Jesus gave them a tremendous net full of fish by having them cast it on the starboard side of their fishing boat. He then called his disciples over to where he had a fire with fish and bread on it. John says this was the third time Jesus appeared before his disciples following his resurrection.
I find the above observation of John interesting. He says that at the breakfast, "None of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord." I have to think that observation could only be made if there was some reason Jesus was not immediately and visually identifiable. I note his disciples had already seen him twice since his resurrection in the locked room in Jerusalem.
I am reminded of Mary Magdalene's experience at Jesus' tomb, when she found it empty, "...she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus." John 20:14. That unrecognizable appearance to Mary may have been due to her stunned state in seeing her Lord, who two days earlier had been put to death. Or, was it because it was that he was not immediately and visually recognizable?
In Luke 24:13-16, we read, "Now that same day [Resurrection Sunday] two of them [Jesus' disciples] were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him." How were they kept from recognizing Jesus? Were their minds altered in some way? Or, was it due to Jesus not being immediately and visually recognizable?
I'm leaning toward the thought that Jesus had one or more altered appearances, that he looked different on these occasions, such that those who lived and traveled with him for several years were unable to recognize him. Did his death, burial and resurrection cause him to look differently? Did he take on a new appearance in his resurrected body?
Another thought is that these disciples' minds were altered in a way that made him unrecognizable to them. I certainly don't know anything beyond what anybody else does.
I think there is enough here to be the basis for some interesting (and for all I know, unanswerable) questions. What about our appearance in the resurrection? John says, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." 1 John 3:2. Does this relate to our physical appearance in the resurrection?
What do you think? How does this "look" to you?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
No comments:
Post a Comment