Good morning. We are in that in-between time of the year. It is spring-time (yay!) but winter continues to lurk in the corner. It is exceptionally rare for Minnesota not to have measurable snow sometime in the month of April, but that is OK, because we know it will be gone soon.
My dad didn’t yell much, and that was appreciated. But one thing that would get him to shout was when my brothers or myself, in the midst of a cold winter day, would stand in the doorway that led outside, having remembered one more thing to ask or to say. The question was usually for our mother, who would gather her thoughts and then tell us what she felt was required. It was within that time frame, when we were neither inside or outside, but standing in between with the door open that would cause our dad to get feisty. “In or out! Don’t stand there with the door open!”
In the time frame immediately following the resurrection, Jesus appeared to a great many people, over 500 on one occasion alone. (1 Corinthians 5:6). He repeatedly appeared to his disciples and would go out of His way to make it clear that He was with them again in the flesh. 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.”Luke 24:36-39
Jesus ate with them (John 21:1-14) and Jesus challenged Thomas to remove all doubts by placing his hands upon the wounds of Jesus’ hands, feet, and side. (John 20:24-29)
There is no doubt about it, Jesus was making it clear to them that He had been raised from the dead and He was present in bodily form.
But wait a minute, let’s take a closer look at this time when Jesus appears to Thomas: Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” John 20:24-26
Did you notice what is happening? A hint would be my introduction. Jesus is demonstrating to them that He is present in living, physical form. But at the same time, we read this: “although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them.” In the earlier reference of Jesus eating with them He is on shore and has not revealed who He is. He asks if they have caught anything, and when they say “no” he tells them to cast their net to the other side of the boat. When they do, they pull up a net full of fish. When they realize that this has to be Jesus, Peter jumps in the water and swims to Him, and when he does, he finds that Jesus already has a nice batch of fish cooking over a fire for their breakfast. Jesus shares their meal. He is definitely human. And yet, Jesus is exhibiting some very exceptional behaviors. After the resurrection, Jesus is with them in body, with them in spirit, with them in the revelation of truth, with them to bring comfort and to remove doubt. Jesus is, in those days after the resurrection, living with one foot inside humanity, and one unrestrained by the physical limitations.
I remember this truth when I contemplate verses like Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ…
We are reminded that although life goes on in our daily routine, we must always remember that we, as Christian people, are special. We live a dual existence. We live through our days and return to our homes…but do we? Our true home is in heaven! We too are living our lives with one foot in and one foot out, awaiting that time when we will be fully restored into God’s holy presence. Oh what a glorious day!
God bless your day!
Vern