Jesus Appeared….in the Upper Room

April 16, 2024 nofearlindaLeave a comment

Jesus appeared to the disciples and others to show them living proof that He was alive. He did not appear just once but multiple times between His Resurrection and His Ascension when He returned to heaven. Over the period of 40 days He met in various places to reassure them He was alive, had returned from the dead and that their faith in Him was real and true. On Resurrection Sunday He met the women in the garden, and the two men walking on the Road to Emmaus. In today’s passage, Jesus appeared to those disciples gathered in the Upper Room.

After encountering Jesus and breaking bread with Him, Jesus disappeared and the two on the Road to Emmaus quickly went to find the disciples. “They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together ³⁴and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” ³⁵Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. ³⁶While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ³⁷They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹Look 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.” ⁴⁰When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴²They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and he took it and ate it in their presence.” Luke 24:33-43 NIV

What was their immediate concern? Is Jesus real or are we experiencing hallucinations? What was Jesus immediate concern? Jesus wanted them to have and be at peace. He did not want them anxious or fearful but open and willing to welcome Him into their midst. What is your reaction when confronted by Jesus? Do you doubt who Jesus is and question His reaching out to you or do you welcome Him with peace? Jesus reassured the disciples that He was a real and alive just as He promised. He proved it to them by calmly showing them His hands and feet- pierced at the cross, and eating food with them.

How does Jesus make himself known to you? Does He come to you in prayer, in the helping hands of others or through His Word? Jesus can and does reveal himself to us if we are open and willing. In Matthew 7:7 Jesus tells us, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Be a seeker today and know the joy of His presence. Be amazed as you encounter the living Lord Jesus, just as the disciples did in the upper room. Each encounter with Jesus brings new revelation and understanding of who He is! Be open to Him and He will reveal Himself to you and grace you with His peace.

Room thought to be the upper room where Jesus appeared.

Linda

“Come.” It is that simple.

October 31, 2023 nofearlindaLeave a comment

John the Baptist mentions to 2 of his disciples, as Jesus passes by, “Look the Lamb of God!” John had just baptized Jesus and now knew He was the Messiah. We don’t know if these men were present earlier but I would assume not or they would have recognized Jesus themselves. John 1:33-39 “The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” ³⁷When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” ³⁹“Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.” The disciples were intrigued by John’s comment and decided to see for themselves. Jesus, as always, goes to the heart of the matter wanting to know what they want. He knew what they needed and invited them to come. They went and spent hours with Jesus.

The next scene tells us what happened with one of those men who went to meet Jesus. John 1:40-42 “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴²And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).“ Andrew was so affected by his encounter with Jesus he went to tell his brother Simon. He brought Simon to Jesus and Jesus told him his future involved a name change.

What truths about Jesus do we see in these encounters?

**Meeting Jesus face to face is life changing. Andrew, Simon and the other disciple were never the same after meeting Jesus. We will see this truth over and over in John’s gospel as lives are transformed though encounters with Jesus. Nicodemus, lame man, the Samaritan woman, the royal official and the list goes on as people are never the same once they meet the Savior.

**Meeting Jesus and learning who He is causes us to desire to share that wonderful information with others. We want others to know and experience this Jesus too. We will see this again and again as the Samaritan woman runs off to tell the whole town, the official tells his whole household and all are saved, later the people who are fed by Jesus continue to seek him and bring others.

**Meeting Jesus changes our future and gives us purpose and hope for eternity with Him. The disciples were never the same as they sought to tell the known world about Jesus. They took the gospel to the world In Acts we are told about their adventures and Paul wrote of his love for others and seeing them come to know Christ in his letters.

The question for you and me is, what will we do with our knowledge of Jesus? Do we have the desire to tell others and seek to live for Him? Jesus was issuing the command to ‘Come’ to those in His time and to you and me. Just as those first followers found Jesus to have the answers to life and death so we too can find those same answers if we will only Come to Him. We will be amazed as we learn more and more about Jesus. The excitement will grow and we will want to speak out and tell others, so they can experience Jesus too.

Linda

Breakfast on the beach… with Jesus

May 8, 2020May 8, 2020 nofearlindaLeave a comment

One of my favorite post-resurrection appearances is in John 21. This passage will bring a smile to your face and assurance of the Savior’s love, as you picture the scene beside the Sea of Galilee.

Several of the disciples had gathered by the Sea of Galilee, Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James and John and 2 other disciples (John 21:1-2) and Jesus appeared to them.

some.” When they did they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him(for the had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about 100 yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” ¹¹So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. ¹²Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. ¹⁴This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. John 21:3-14

I love this tender story of Jesus’ compassion for the tired discouraged fishermen who were his friends. Here are a few Lessons and Truths we can know from this passage. What Jesus did for them that morning, He can do for us too: 1. Jesus knows how things are going in my life, my disappointments and my joys. 2. As believer, Jesus considers me His friend. 3. Jesus can guide and provide for my needs. 4. If I look, Jesus will reveal himself to me; He is always near. 5. Jesus can and does make himself known to me. I need to be aware and watchful. 6. Jesus desires to fellowship with me.

Which of these lessons and truths speak to you today? James 4:8 tell us, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” Meet Him today wherever you are, He will be there waiting for you just like He was for the disciples that morning by the sea.

Linda

Encountering Jesus brings….

May 17, 2019 nofearlindaLeave a comment

One of my favorite post-resurrection appearances is in John 21. This passage will bring a smile to your face and assurance of the Savior’s love, as you picture the scene beside the Sea of Galilee.

Several of the disciples had gathered by the Sea of Galilee, Peter, Thomas, Nathaniel, James and John and 2 other disciples (John 21:1-2) and Jesus appeared to them.

“I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with. you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him(for the had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about 100 yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with some say the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came , took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead. John 21:3-14 (The prior appearances were in the upper room, see blogs from April 26, May 10 and May 14)

I love this tender story of Jesus’ compassion for the tired discouraged fishermen who were his friends. Here are a few Lessons and Truths we can know from this passage as what Jesus did for them that morning, He can do for us too: 1. Jesus knows how things are going in my life, my disappointments and my joys. 2. Jesus considers me His friend. 3. Jesus can guide and provide for my needs. 4. If I look, Jesus will reveal himself to me; He is always near. 5. Jesus makes himself known to me. 6. Jesus desires to commune with me.

Which of these lessons and truths speak to you today? James 4:8 tell us, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” Meet Him today where ever you are, He will be there waiting for you just like He was for the disciples that morning by the sea.

Linda

Here is my picture of sunrise over the Sea of Galilee and the typical fishing boat used with tourist in Israel today.