ONLINE CHURCH BULLETIN

Startled!

[Personal note: An electrical storm damaged my modem on Tuesday. I lost computer contact with you and am grateful to be back in touch with you. It is so good to know that technical difficulties do not cause us to lose contact with the Father.]

Luke 24.36 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 Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day,
47 and repentance and 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."
50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them.
51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was
taken up into heaven.
52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem
with great joy.
53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

The startled apostles did not readily believe that Christ had risen. How could they? They had watched the life and blood drain from His body. A dead man had never visited them. This was too good to be true. As Jesus showed them ample evidence of His resurrection, He was also providing evidence to the world. They could see and feel His punctured extremities. They watched Him eat and knew that dead men do not eat. They listened to Him and understood that Jesus was fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies. He did not leave them until they believed and were ready to joyously praise God and wait for the Spirit.

This meeting transformed them. The fact that Christ is risen still transforms people. To human minds, it is too good to be true...but it is true. This is good news! It is great to be a Christian!

Dear Father, we are so grateful for the Risen Christ. We want to continue to be transformed by His power and by the renewal of our minds as we walk with Him. Help us to grow and share the good news. Help those who are hurting. We ask this in the name of the Resurrection and the Life. Amen.
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1 John 5.14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Let us be thankful and prayerful!

Love
Brad Forgy