Relevant Convincing Proof

I begin by affirming my belief that Jesus still has to go around to many of His own, to let us know that He is alive and not just some spirit who has returned from the dead. We have been told that all Scripture is to help us in our daily spiritual walk. For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15: 4 NKJV. If I take this to mean all Scripture, and I do, then the Scripture about ghosts must be there for my learning. What do you believe? Is it for your learning also?

Remember, it was because of the reaction and response of His disciples to Him, when He appeared in their midst that warranted these words from Him. He said to them, Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have. Luke 24: 38 – 39. This puzzled me for quite a bit, for I never ever thought of Jesus as a ghost and as far as I know, I have never responded to Him as if I were in the presence of a ghost. I mean, I believe in the Holy Ghost, but Jesus is not speaking of any living Person of the Trinity. Then it was all brought to life to me in this conversation with a very long-standing friend.

My friend, who does not live in the same country as I, has phoned me on her usual first of the month call. The first of the month is Resurrection Monday or Easter Monday, the day after Jesus’ Resurrection. I’m expecting her call. It’s not going to be a surprise or any such thing but a time of catching up and simple reminiscing and enjoying each other’s phone visit. She is unable to get out to church now, but she is well informed and keeps in close touch. She also listens to recorded services on YouTube.

I was delighted and most thrilled to tell her of my Resurrection Morning experience at Church and how our Hand bell Choir, which she knows, was able to contribute Easter music. There was a thrilling, miraculous story behind this unplanned happening, this opportunity for the choir to play in this special service. After recounting it all to her, she spoke of how things just happened for the choir and for me. She was happy for us and I accepted her joy for us. It was after this telephone visit that I was brought to an awareness of my ghost-like response and that of my friend’s. When she kept speaking of things just happening, I never spoke up and said that it was our present, Risen Lord, in Person, who was doing it all. It was just as though a ghost was responsible for all that had taken place, someone who was not a Person or Personality.  Then and there, I understood a little more of how we respond to our Risen Lord among us as a ghost. Jesus is real, alive and present with me and to me, or so I thought, yet I never made this clear in conversation with my friend.

However, when I told her about the special celebrations for a past chorister who had reached the good ripe age of ninety, and who was able to attend the Easter service, my friend, was delighted as well. You see, my dear friend, who is now eighty-nine years old, was very much responding to a real person and spoke of things as not just happening, but spoke in terms of flesh realities. Yes, I tell you, our Lord showed me that I listened to my friend and responded in the same manner as she when it came to the work of the Risen Lord Jesus.

Jesus showed me Himself and His response as I had never seen it before. When the disciples responded to Jesus as a ghost, thinking that He was not for real, He never continued it. He immediately put a stop to it. He did so by using concrete, flesh examples for them to see and know. His final and most convincing human evidence in this situation, at this particular time, was when He asked them this question. Have you any food here? So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence. Luke 24: 41b – 43 NKJV.      

Jesus brought His evidence down to the lowest base, as it were, to convince them that He was not a ghost in their midst. He used that which every single human being does and that is eat - from baby stage to old age – human beings eat. Jesus wants them to respond to a human being, not a ghost. He still wants the same from His believers and followers today.

As we conclude, I bring to you something that was brought to me and which has been hovering in my mind. During our Risen Lord’s forty days of going around, convincing His disciples that He was alive, He ate fish with them. On one occasion, He prepared the fish which they ate in His Presence. On another occasion, they prepared the fish which He ate in their presence. However the fish or food is prepared and by who, it matters not for it remains convincing proof of Jesus being a Person and not a ghost.

May the Holy Ghost show us, teach us and help us no longer to treat Jesus with ghost-like responses.  Amen!