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 21:14,
"This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead."
This is John's comment as he provides the account of Jesus appearing to Peter and other disciples when they went fishing following Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.
It reminds me of Paul's observations of Jesus' appearances following his resurrection, "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." 1 Corinthians 15:3-8.
These appearances are eye witness accounts of the Lord following his death and resurrection. I personally have never seen the risen Lord physically and I have never met anyone who claimed they have. Perhaps it is because, as Peter explains in Acts 3:21, that he resides in heaven and will remain there until "the time comes for God to restore everything". That is, until the end of this age, when Jesus will return to earth a second time, "he [Christ] will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:28.
The accounts of these appearances have been given to us that we might know of Jesus Christ's resurrection. Although we do not see him physically today, we embrace our knowledge of it by faith. Our acknowledgment of his resurrection is an important issue for each one of us as our salvation hinges on our certainty of it, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9.
If we declare Jesus as our Lord, and if we "believe in our hearts" that God raised him from the dead we will be saved! I don't read we "might be saved" or there is hope we could be saved, or that we are a step closer to our salvation. No… we will be saved! I don't read if we declare "Jesus is Lord" and believe in our hearts God raised him from the dead plus see the priest, or fulfill our obligations to the rosary, or give our confession or join the Baptist church or maintain spotless attendance at all church services or tithe religiously. I don't read if we do anything else! Simply embrace the Lord in faith and make him Lord - confess him as Lord of our lives and our place in God's family is secure. Eternal life is ours.
We don't need Jesus to put on a show for each generation. We have eye witness accounts to his resurrection that he has provided us and that is all we need.
What is so wonderful about Jesus' resurrection is it demonstrates the Father's satisfaction with his payment for our sins. Also, as we read of Jesus resurrection, it wells up within each of us our hope as we know that just as Jesus was raised from the dead, we will be as well, "If Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you." Romans 8:10-11.
Just how wonderful is that?!
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.
"This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead."
This is John's comment as he provides the account of Jesus appearing to Peter and other disciples when they went fishing following Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.
It reminds me of Paul's observations of Jesus' appearances following his resurrection, "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born." 1 Corinthians 15:3-8.
These appearances are eye witness accounts of the Lord following his death and resurrection. I personally have never seen the risen Lord physically and I have never met anyone who claimed they have. Perhaps it is because, as Peter explains in Acts 3:21, that he resides in heaven and will remain there until "the time comes for God to restore everything". That is, until the end of this age, when Jesus will return to earth a second time, "he [Christ] will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him." Hebrews 9:28.
The accounts of these appearances have been given to us that we might know of Jesus Christ's resurrection. Although we do not see him physically today, we embrace our knowledge of it by faith. Our acknowledgment of his resurrection is an important issue for each one of us as our salvation hinges on our certainty of it, "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Romans 10:9.
If we declare Jesus as our Lord, and if we "believe in our hearts" that God raised him from the dead we will be saved! I don't read we "might be saved" or there is hope we could be saved, or that we are a step closer to our salvation. No… we will be saved! I don't read if we declare "Jesus is Lord" and believe in our hearts God raised him from the dead plus see the priest, or fulfill our obligations to the rosary, or give our confession or join the Baptist church or maintain spotless attendance at all church services or tithe religiously. I don't read if we do anything else! Simply embrace the Lord in faith and make him Lord - confess him as Lord of our lives and our place in God's family is secure. Eternal life is ours.
We don't need Jesus to put on a show for each generation. We have eye witness accounts to his resurrection that he has provided us and that is all we need.
What is so wonderful about Jesus' resurrection is it demonstrates the Father's satisfaction with his payment for our sins. Also, as we read of Jesus resurrection, it wells up within each of us our hope as we know that just as Jesus was raised from the dead, we will be as well, "If Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you." Romans 8:10-11.
Just how wonderful is that?!
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.
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