March 30, 2016
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Final Encounter

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Living Lord, You alone are holy and worthy of praise. Your promises are true, You restore my soul.

Read LUKE 24:36-49

[36] While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” [37] They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. [38] He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? [39] Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” [40] When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. [41] And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” [42] They gave him a piece of broiled fish, [43] and he took it and ate it in their presence. [44] He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” [45] Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. [46] He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, [47] and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. [48] You are witnesses of these things. [49] I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“Peace be with you” (36) seems to be a good summary of the Gospel.

When our kids were young we took them to Christian camp in the summer. When the time came to say goodbye I often gave this terse bit of advice, “Hat! Grease!” It was my way of reminding them to wear a hat and use sunscreen to avoid getting sunburn. In this passage, Jesus is saying goodbye to his disciples but his parting advice is no joke. There are four important things he needed to give them before he left.

First, Jesus offered peace (36). He knew that the disciples were confused by the past few weeks and he knew his reappearance now would scare them (37), but the deeper point was that they had nothing to fear. When Jesus is present we are safe (Matt. 8:23-27). Second, Jesus offered proof (38-39). He wanted them to have no doubt about his resurrection (48). It wasn’t a stand-in who was talking to them. It was the flesh-and-bones Jesus, bodily resurrected from the dead. That conviction is what causes the church to grow. 

Third, Jesus offered perspective (44-47). We noted yesterday that the whole Bible points to Jesus, but here, he circles back to make the point again, so it must have been important. How does this perspective affect the way you read the Bible? Finally, Jesus offered power, which they would soon experience through a dramatic outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13). Jesus was handing his mission over to his followers (47; Matt. 28:16-20) and there was no way they could accomplish it in their own strength.

Apply

In light of your circumstances, where is the mission field Jesus has sent you to? Who are some of the people you can witness to by your life and testimony?

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, You have not left me alone to carry on Your work in my world. I am grateful for the peace I have and Your power working through me.

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