Christ Church Daily Devotion April 4 2024

Jesus appears to his disciples after his resurrection, reassuring them that he is not a ghost but a living being with flesh and bones. He eats with them to further prove his presence. Jesus explains that his suffering and resurrection were foretold in the scriptures, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name. He tells his disciples to stay in the city until they receive the promised power from God. Jesus blesses them and ascends to heaven, leaving the disciples filled with joy and worship. Despite doubts, Jesus' followers are filled with excitement and belief in his resurrection. Jesus invites us to come near and experience his love and joy in our lives. Welcome to Christchurch's Daily Devotion for April 4th, 2024. Today we will be reading from Luke, Chapter 24, Verses 36-53. While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you. They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 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. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet, and while they still did not believe it, because of joy and amazement, he asked them, Do you see anything here to eat? They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything must be fulfilled, that it is written about me and the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Then he opened their minds, so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, This is what is written. The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father had promised. But stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high. When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they stayed continually at the temple, praising God. Jesus' followers were trying to figure out what had just happened. On Friday, they had watched as Jesus was crucified. On Sunday morning, they had discovered his body was missing. And then on Sunday evening, they were processing what seemed impossible, that friends were saying they had seen Jesus alive. The disciples got together and started discussing things. They wanted to believe Jesus was alive, but common sense would have made it hard not to be doubtful. Still, they experienced a sense of excitement as they pondered what the reality of Jesus being alive might really mean. Jesus showed up and revealed himself in the middle of the conversation. He let anyone with doubts come and touch him to see that he was alive. His followers responded with great joy and worship. Our lives are often filled with doubts and burdens. Jesus does not abandon us. He comes to us and invites us to come near. Jesus wants us to experience resurrection joy and let him fill our lives with wonder and belief. Your personal worship option today. Dear Jesus, may your pierced hands still lead us, challenge us, comfort us, protect us, and bless us. Thank you for your love, which you showed when you opened your hands and took the nails for us. Amen.