Luke 24:36-49
Let’s continue to pray for Jim and Marty.
“Notice what you notice.” The disciples were unbelieving when they heard the women’s story, then again when the two men first reported their meeting with Jesus (from Mark’s Gospel). Now Jesus appears in the flesh and the disciples …were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. (v. 37) So Jesus had to convince them otherwise. As with so many other items in Scripture, His convincing was in three parts. First, He appeared in the flesh and spoke to them, even commenting to them that …a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have. (v. 39b) Second, He explained about Himself from Scripture, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead… (v. 46a). Finally, He asked for something to eat.
So, for us…? If you’ve been sharing the Gospel over and again with your family and friends and they still do not believe, don’t quit. It took Jesus appearing in person to convince His disciples that He was alive – and then even with multiplied evidence. Just pray again that He will appear to the ones with whom you’ve been sharing, in the person of His Holy Spirit. Don’t be unbelieving, but believe – wait and pray, pray and wait.
Slava Bohu!