HE’S BACK!

By Rick Mathes

Luke 24:36 ³⁶ While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and *said to them, “Peace be to you.”

What a jaw-dropper that must have been when He appeared alive and well to His loved ones. I can’t blame Thomas for wanting hard evidence. It was just too hard to believe; too good to be true. His appearance banished any doubt that He returned from the dead. Now add to that a 40 day Bible seminar with God and the 500 witnesses to His ascension.

Why did He go through all of this? I think it can be summed up with His love of His creation and the fellowship of His elect. I almost think He was lonesome without us about this astounding miracle certainly revealed His love for us because it obscured our hope of eternal life in heaven.

Seeing Him refreshed their memories of those precious three and a half years of walking and living life with Him. John said the whole world wasn’t large enough to hold all the books that could be written about His short life; the Creator dwelt with His creation; off the chart.

The resurrection was the hinge that opened the door for our understanding. Apart from Him rising from the dead, He could only be a great teacher and nothing more as so many claims. This option is really not open to non-believers. He is either a liar, a lunatic or Lord. These are the only options opened to us.

When He stepped from the tomb, Lucifer knew His days were numbered. The devil and all his demons went into an insane eternity of dark evil intent only to grasp all the souls they can on their way into the flaming lake. Jesus showed heaven, earth and all below that the final Lamb of God does most certainly take away the sins of this world. We stand before a just God in the righteousness of Jesus. This fills us with an unspeakable joy. Our pilgrimage on planet earth, our duties to our Commander, and all we were created to be is rapidly coming to a close. I can hardly wait until you and I walk those streets of gold together. Won’t you join me?