Mary recognizes the risen Christ. And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
- Acts 1:9-11
When Jesus arose from the dead in the tomb donated by Josepth of Arimathea, he walked out of the tomb in a new body. He was able to be seen or not seen and he was not constrained by physical limitations, now capable of walking through walls or any physical obstruction. It was as God intended, for He knew that now that His Son had died and been resurrected, it was important to leave sufficient evidence of His existence to help doubters believe by faith. The faith was the first necessary ingredient since His being alive was passed by the verbal tradition. There were no cameras or other equipment items to support the claim, but those who witnessed it spread the word for the entire world to behold.
There was Mary at the tomb that Resurrection Day morning, besieged by sadness which turned to tears of joy once she recognized Him. There were the two men on the road to Emmaus who walked and talked with Him and only recognized Him when He broke bread at an inn with them. And then, of course, there were the disciples gathered in the upper room, fearful of capture by the Temple soldiers who were looking for Him, desiring to eliminate anyone who tried to continue what they considered the nonsense of this King of the Jews, this Jesus. But then, as if out of nowhere, Jesus was beside them in the gathering room. And later He even convinced Thomas, the doubter, when he saw Him and put his hand on the miraculously healed nail marks on His hands and His pierced side.
There were a number of other occasions where He was seen before the time would come for His Ascension back into heaven. After all, He remained on this earth in His new body for forty days. But even then, He left His word about His coming return, when He would return to rule the world for one thousand years, coming back in the same way as He ascended.
The entire point was to give us enough evidence to believe by faith in Jesus as Lord and accept His gift of grace, love and salvation that He offered through death. Each of us has to decide for ourselves, but is there really any viable other reason why we would be put on this earth at birth, living in a place where so much suffering and hardship takes place, yet a place which allows us to grow in stature and wisdom if we accept what He offers. It's a free will choice, ours for the asking. What will you decide? Don't put off your decision until it's too late.
Dear Lord, Thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ and open our hearts to the joys and the love that believing by faith in Him can bring to each and every one of us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
- Acts 1:9-11
When Jesus arose from the dead in the tomb donated by Josepth of Arimathea, he walked out of the tomb in a new body. He was able to be seen or not seen and he was not constrained by physical limitations, now capable of walking through walls or any physical obstruction. It was as God intended, for He knew that now that His Son had died and been resurrected, it was important to leave sufficient evidence of His existence to help doubters believe by faith. The faith was the first necessary ingredient since His being alive was passed by the verbal tradition. There were no cameras or other equipment items to support the claim, but those who witnessed it spread the word for the entire world to behold.
There was Mary at the tomb that Resurrection Day morning, besieged by sadness which turned to tears of joy once she recognized Him. There were the two men on the road to Emmaus who walked and talked with Him and only recognized Him when He broke bread at an inn with them. And then, of course, there were the disciples gathered in the upper room, fearful of capture by the Temple soldiers who were looking for Him, desiring to eliminate anyone who tried to continue what they considered the nonsense of this King of the Jews, this Jesus. But then, as if out of nowhere, Jesus was beside them in the gathering room. And later He even convinced Thomas, the doubter, when he saw Him and put his hand on the miraculously healed nail marks on His hands and His pierced side.
There were a number of other occasions where He was seen before the time would come for His Ascension back into heaven. After all, He remained on this earth in His new body for forty days. But even then, He left His word about His coming return, when He would return to rule the world for one thousand years, coming back in the same way as He ascended.
The entire point was to give us enough evidence to believe by faith in Jesus as Lord and accept His gift of grace, love and salvation that He offered through death. Each of us has to decide for ourselves, but is there really any viable other reason why we would be put on this earth at birth, living in a place where so much suffering and hardship takes place, yet a place which allows us to grow in stature and wisdom if we accept what He offers. It's a free will choice, ours for the asking. What will you decide? Don't put off your decision until it's too late.
Dear Lord, Thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ and open our hearts to the joys and the love that believing by faith in Him can bring to each and every one of us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
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