Where do I find a common thread to begin to tell the story of Jesus Christ being alive in his resurrected body, that will tell you all the events that are recorded in our New Testament? In Acts 1:3, we see Luke giving us the information that Jesus walked the earth for 40 days after being resurrected. It makes my imagination just go off the chart with wondering what he did, and where he went, who did he appear to?
Paul tells us the sequence as Jesus appeared to certain people in 1 Corinthians 15:5-7. He first appeared to Peter, and I’m sure that was no coincidence as Peter was so guilt ridden and ashamed of the way he acted. Then Jesus appears to his half brother James who also was not sure that he was the Messiah of promise; then to all the disciples. There are a few other clues laid out in scripture that we will tie together as we take up the trail of clues.
Things have been very chaotic for all of the disciples of Jesus in these last four days, and as in every disaster in life, we as humans have to return to normalcy and hope for the future as soon as possible. So today as we begin our search for the biblical timeline, we read in Luke 24:13-35 this story of a couple walking back home to Emmaus.
Who were these two people that Jesus just had to see and show himself and explain the Word of God to them the real reason Messiah came to earth according to the Torah? Luke gives us the name of one as Cleopas, who by the way is the Uncle of Jesus. This is the opinion of most of the early Church leaders according to my research. It would also seem logical that the companion was his wife, Mary. They were going back to their home in Emmaus with sad hearts.
Church tradition has the opinion that she is the sister of Joseph, the earthly step father of Jesus. This would make her the sister in law to Mary, the mother of Jesus, (John 19:25). This makes them aunt and uncle by marriage. Jesus suddenly appears on the road behind them as he walks quickly and catches up to them. He ask them a question, “what are you both talking about?”
He joins them as they walk and they explain to him about this tragedy that has just happened in Jerusalem. Jesus listened to their story and hears their sadness as he begins to explain and show them what the real story of the Messiah is all about. God’s version and not man’s idea of who Messiah was. He always had meant the Messiah to be a deliver of all mankind not just a Jewish savior. His views are always on a total scale and not the limited view they had of a human that would lead them to a victory to be free. God wanted all mankind set free from Adam’s rebellion and sin.
As they walk along with this stranger he begins to explain the scriptures to them from the law of Moses and all the prophets that pertained to the Messiah. By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the day was just about over, so they convinced this stranger to go home with them for the night and share a meal too. Jesus accepted and followed them to their home. As they put the food on the table Jesus picked up the bread and broke it as he blessed their food.
Suddenly they recognize Jesus as their eyes were opened and they knew who their guest really was. Then Jesus is gone just as suddenly as he appeared, just vanished from sight. Of course this experience excites them and they leave their home and return to Jerusalem to tell the others what they had just experienced. Luke 24:36 tells us that while they are with the disciples explaining they had seen Jesus and talked with him for hours; suddenly, he is there in the room with all of them.
Jesus instantly tells them to have peace, this was to calm them all down as they were terrified by his instant appearance behind locked doors. Jesus then shows them his wounds to help convince them that he is no ghost. Then to convince them further he ask for food and drink, which he partakes of to be the final proof of his real body and not just a spirit. Then Jesus does what he always did, he teaches them and gives them the wisdom they need to understand the scriptures themselves.
By now Jesus has appeared to about 20 people in these last few days since his death and resurrection. During this first encounter with his disciples John tells us that Thomas was missing, and the disciples tell him what they saw and experienced, but he still would not believe. In John 20:26 we see Jesus once again appears to them all of them a second time, after 8 days, but this time Thomas is with them.
Jesus appears and tells them to be at peace and looks at Thomas and reprimanded him for being so faithless. We as modern day believers see this story of a doubting Thomas, an unbeliever who had to see and touch with his physical senses. I agree mostly, but there is a lesson here that pertains to us that have not seen nor touched Jesus. In verse 29 Jesus says- “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed.” We are blessed because we believe that Jesus is who he said he is without the witness of our senses. I find this very assuring and wonderful too.
Jesus has the ability to be spirit or flesh, and come and go as he desires. Locked doors? Walk right through them. Disappear in an instant, no problem when you can move at the speed of light. Our senses are not enough for us to understand all that Jesus is and can do. We have to walk by our faith and allow our spirit to control our senses and minds. We have the mind of Christ now after we are saved, 1 Corinthians 2:16. We are now children of light now also, it does not yet appear what we shall be, 1 John 3:2.
In John 21:5 we find Jesus walking along the sea shore of Lake Galilee in the early morning hours like he usually did on many occasions. This morning he is there on a specific mission to find his disciples. As he walks to where they are, he sees 7 of them in their boat and he calls out to them, did you catch any fish? No, was their answer to this stranger on the shore. Jesus then tells them to cast their net off the right side of the boat. They do as he suggested and this is where things really got interesting.
The net was so full of large fish they were not strong enough to pull it up. This is 7 men in their prime, and they could not pull it in the boat. Another miraculous event the Lord allowed his friends, to show his great love to them. John then recognized this is Jesus, and tells Peter who instantly gets dressed and jumps into the sea and wades to shore to Jesus. The rest stayed with the boat and dragged the catch to shore. They had caught 153 large, mature fish.
As soon as they arrive they find Jesus sitting on the shore with a bed of hot coals burning with fish laid on the coals cooking and bread also. Jesus tells them to bring more fish and have breakfast with him. This was now the third time that Jesus has shown himself alive to them after he had risen from the dead. Jesus talks as they eat and gives them information they need to learn. Mainly it is directed to Peter but it is for everyone, including us.
Paul explains to us that Jesus appears to more than 500 people at once, 1 Corinthians 15:6. I believe this is a reference to the ascension of Jesus at Bethany, in Luke 24:50 and Mark 16:19. This concludes my timeline of the post resurrection, and as usual it’s too long, but it’s time to finish this series. I do hope you have enjoyed it as much as I did putting it together.
We are so blessed to have these eyewitnesses accounts for us to believe and hold dear as we run our own race towards our final goal of getting to heaven, seeing with our own eyes the face of Jesus, and feel his embrace as he welcomes us home. Please remember as always, you will make it, just don’t give up. See you next time as we study God’s word together.
In His Service As Kilted Priest
The Kilted Priest 