What is your understanding of Jesus’ resurrection? Do you understand it as Him being raised from the dead in bodily form? Do you know He appeared to a few of His disciples on the first day? Do you know He appeared to people for more than a month?
We often talk of Jesus being raised from the dead. We confidently say He is alive today. We likely remember the story of Him appearing to a couple of women who followed Him just outside the tomb where He had been buried.
We may remember the race ran by a couple of His apostles to the empty tomb upon hearing He was alive. One of our favorite stories is of Thomas stating he would not believe until he saw Jesus himself. We like to poke fun at Thomas for doubting. But do we doubt ourselves?
We may remember the story of Jesus meeting a couple travelers on the road to Emmaus. There is also the story of Him meeting a few of His apostles beside the Sea of Galilee and having breakfast with them. But have we read and caught the fact that He met with five hundred people at the same time (1 Corinthians 15:6)?
Luke tells us in today’s passage that Jesus appeared to a wide variety of people for a period of forty days after His resurrection. Is there a significance to the forty days? Is it coincidence it rained for forty days and forty nights to flood the world? Is it coincidence the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for forty years because of their grumbling and disobedience after being freed from Egypt? Is it coincidence Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days after His baptism being tempted by Satan? Maybe. Maybe not.
What we can know for certain is Jesus was seen by numerous people for forty days after He was resurrected. We have eyewitness accounts of His appearance. We have eyewitness accounts of His ascension to Heaven. Jesus was and is certainly the Son of God.
I pray we all believe Jesus is the Son of God. I pray we know that He was resurrected. I pray each one of us ponder His appearing to numerous people for forty days after His resurrection. Believe Jesus is the Son of God. Believe He was resurrected. Believe He appeared to many. Believe the eyewitnesses. Believe He lives today.
Acts 1:3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
Marty Pressey 