Vs. 1-2 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Tiberias. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (called Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together.
What happens to a group of people who have seen the living Lord? The appearances of Jesus to the disciples changed their lives forever. Everything Jesus taught them was true. When He said they would not die, death lost its horrible threat. When He said he would return again to them, they were able to go out in confidence as well as in obedience.
How often do you hear about someone rising from the dead? I remember one news report of a man working on his vehicle when it accidentally fell onto him. When the EMT’s arrived they could not get a pulse beat or other signs of life. To their surprise, as they worked on him, he started breathing again. He was rushed to the hospital and brought back to recovery. The man described his death experience as seeing a bright light and feeling a state of peace. He does not have fear dying again.
In my work as a hospital chaplain and a pastor, I have talked to people who had similar experiences. But there have been others for whom such a death or near-death experience was filled with fear and terror, as if they were at the gates of hell.
I visited with one man who asked how he can be saved because he was more afraid to die than before. We talked about acknowledging and repentance of sins, of trusting in Christ for salvation, and turning his life over to the Lord’s authority by inviting Christ into your life. He accepted Christ that day, and has since passed away with the knowledge of a personal relationship with Jesus.
However, the death of Jesus Christ was far different than our modern-day examples. There was no question of His death. It was affirmed by the Roman government. He was bound and put in a tomb for three days. When He came back to life, He did not require the life support systems in modern hospitals like others do. In fact, with His resurrected body, He could come and go at will in and out of locked rooms. His body was real, but still different than what we experience in our present life. His resurrection began a whole new church movement.
The presence of the living Christ, following the resurrection experience, affects us today as it did with the early disciples. It changed not just their future hope, but also their present lives.
All of Jesus teaching was not just for our understanding, but to affect on our whole being. Because He lives, it makes a difference as to how we look at marriage and family, work and money, entertainment and recreation, our decisions, and our activities.
Because Jesus lives now it should make a difference how you and I live as followers.
Application: Let the truth of your salvation and the truth of the Resurrection affect your entire life.
Prayer: Lord, bring Your Resurrection Power into my marriage, family, work, money, entertainment, recreation, decisions, activities and every area of my life. There is power in the mighty name of Jesus.
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