Convincing Proofs - Power 2

 As we are about to leave this specific place and time, I believe, like me, you may want to hear these details again. We want to hear them, not just to have certain historic facts straight in the archives of our minds, not to feel secure and spiritually correct about the events, but to receive again, as we continue on, the sacredness of our Omnipotent God, in His immeasurable works in the, after Resurrection events, which we have been discoursing throughout the course of the week.

It was the evening of the first day of Jesus' Resurrection from the dead. On the evening of the first day of the week. Jesus wasted no time, for He went to people both morning and evening to show Himself.

What sacredness does this seal in you? For me it seals the fact that regardless of my time of day, even in the evening of my day, our Jesus will come to me.

That gladdens us, doesn’t it!

It was an occasion when the ardent friends and followers of Jesus were locked behind doors of fear. When the disciples were together, with the doors locked. Jesus was not in any way so concerned about locked doors, as He was about locked lives, when He simply appeared through the locked doors.

What sacredness does this cement in you? For me it cements the fact that regardless of my frame of mind, my emotional condition at that time of day, even in the obvious darkness of my fears, Jesus will come and call on me.

That blesses us, doesn’t it!

It was the occasion when the disciples of Jesus were as sheep without a Shepherd, not knowing where next to turn. The religious leaders of the day had not loved their Master as they did and had Him crucified. Now, they are mortally afraid of what these religious men of power may do to them, the dead Man’s followers. For three days they carried this manipulating fear, for fear of the Jewish leaders. Jesus simply casts out that demon of fear with His Absolute Authority.

What sacredness does this stake down in you? For me, it stakes down the fact that regardless of how weak and utterly helpless I may be against powers bigger and stronger than I, our Jesus is way times more powerful. He will come and stand on my side.

That satisfies us, doesn’t it!

Armed and filled with our Lord’s Peace in His serving of Positioning, Presence and Power, we travel to another occasion. This time, we are not behind locked doors but in the open, fresh air, by the Sea of Galilee.

Isn’t this most touching and heart jerking when we see the loving and passionate nature of the Risen Lord for His disciples? Listen to this verse of Scripture from John 21: 1a. Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. 

Keep alert and aware of the fact that Jesus is on His convincing mission, providing proofs that He is alive in body, flesh and bones. The disciples, not in a state of fear at the moment, as they were when they were behind locked doors, but in a state of limbo, are right back where, Simon Peter first met Jesus. It was the place of his call. Matthew 4: 18 – 20, describes it for us. As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. Come follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. At once they left their nets and followed him. Years later, Peter has returned to Galilee and to the same place from which he was called by Jesus, the Galilean Sea. Jesus, the Risen Lord, has no problem in going that journey to Galilee, just to bring His sheep back to Him. On this occasion, seven of His Eleven are present, and He has come to convince them.

Honestly, isn’t this truly heartwarming and touching? This tells us that even in our states of uncertainty, even when we have no clue what we are to do, even when our discipleship has run aground, in our minds and hearts, Jesus will come back to where He first found us, to bring us back to Him. He comes, not with a scolding, rebuking tongue, but with total understanding, open compassion and visible gestures of deep love.  He comes to raise them from their dead position - a state of limbo - by convincing them that He is alive and actually with them.

What convincing proofs does Jesus use? We are offered four ways, or moves, which will begin to be unraveled to us tomorrow.