CONVINCING PROOFS
Acts 1:3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that the was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
It is certainly understandable that Jesus would rise from the dead to show himself not only alive, but having a new supernatural body that could appear and disappear or even change in appearance. The apostles had seen Jesus raise other people from the dead, but they would eventually die again. In Jesus case it was different. With Jesus’ resurrection he would never die again. His resurrection would be proof that he indeed conquered sin as well as death. Without doing this there would have been the question if he had really made an acceptable atonement for all humanity to God.
Surprisingly it seemed that the only ones that seemed to remember that Jesus said he would raise from the dead were the very ones that put him on the cross. Their concern was for a different reason. They thought that Jesus’ disciples would come and take his body, making it look like he had risen from the dead. I don’t believe that they really believed that he would raise from the dead. If they believed that then they would have been foolish to have him killed in fear of reprisal. Even Jesus apostles didn’t believe in his resurrection at first. And then after several appearances of Jesus some still doubted.
When the two disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus and Jesus appeared it tells us that at first he kept them from recognizing him. It was only when he broke bread with them that they recognized him. When they did recognize him, he disappeared before them. Not only did Thomas not believe at first, but when Jesus appeared to his apostles at the Sea of Galilee it says that even then some questioned if it was Jesus, because it says they didn’t dare to ask if it was the Lord. Then it says that they knew him. Jesus was testing their faith and spiritual insight. For years they had followed Jesus by his physical appearance. Now they were going to have to follow his leading with their spirit and the Holy Spirit within them.
One of the more convincing time was when he appeared to over 500 hundred people at one time. And then of course when he ascended up into heaven from the Mount of Olives or as Luke 24:50 says Bethany.
Jesus wanted his Apostles, disciples and us today to have confidence in his victory over sin and death. This is why he appeared on earth over 40 days before ascending up into heaven to be with God the Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit. It is important that we have a sure belief in Jesus, all that he said, did and certainly his victory over sin and death. All these point to his resurrection. Because he lives, we too shall live. In John 14:3 says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am going.” We are not a people that have our belief based on wishful thinking. We have sound reason for our beliefs and our hope is secure. Because of this we stand in confidence even on our deathbed.
We have not only confidence in his resurrection, but his return in the physical as well. In Luke 1:9-11 it says, “After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Then in Zechariah 14:4 it says, “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south. He will then walk across the Kidron Valley, and go through the Eastern Gate into the new Jewish Temple. Even though we have no pictures of what Jesus looked like when he walked on earth, we will recognize him by his signs and by the inward witness of our spirit with the Holy Spirit. Once again Jesus will give many convincing proofs that it is indeed him when he returns.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for giving us good reason to believe in your victory over sin and death, by the example of your resurrection. Thank you as well for the prophecy concerning your return, so we will not be deceived. We love you Jesus.
