Daily Devotional Sunday 2nd February 2020
by William MoodyLuke 24:36–49
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38 And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40 And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish,1 43 and he took it and ate before them.
44 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for2 the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
(ESV)
When Jesus appears to His disciples He gives them the strong evidence for His resurrection (v39-40). Meeting the resurrected Christ brings peace (v36).
We have an amazing statement here; ‘they still disbelieved for joy and were marveliing’ (v41). This was too much for them. There should be times in our Christian experience when Christ’s truth overwhelms us. Our Christianity should be living and amazing us and not dead and stale. Pray about this.
Jesus was no ghost (v37) because He ate with them (v42-43). Jesus who died was physically raised, this is the cornerstone of our faith. For those who scorn Christianity challenge them to investigate Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.
Jesus’ life and ministry was all about fulfilling scripture (v44) and if the disciples were to have an effective ministry they needed to understand the scriptures (v45-49).
Pray for Christ to open your mind and heart to the scriptures more and more. Christians should continually be students of the Word, students of Christ.
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