During this temporary period of “Social Distancing”, many things and the way we do them have changed, such as last week’s Easter Sunday service, for all of us it was a very different. For me, I really missed that personal connection and fellowship, being able to worship with all of our Hope Chapel family. Also, what made it challenging and different for me was broadcasting live our Sunday services on Facebook at 10:00 a.m. which involves many different and new technical aspects than what I am accustomed to which involves a big learning curve.
When we have to do things that are different than the way we usually do them or having to learn a new way of thinking than what we are accustomed, we cannot be set with our expectations or we will become confused, disappointed and discouraged very quickly. The Marine Corps have a saying that fits very well to the many changes we are experiencing in our lives today, “adapt and overcome”. I always like to add “adapt and overcome or be overwhelmed”.
The resurrection of Christ Jesus from the dead presented His disciples and followers with many new and different challenges. In the very beginning, accepting the new normal or reality concerning Jesus being resurrected from the dead did not come immediately nor was it easily accepted. Looking at Luke chapter 24, some of those who had a close relationship with Jesus had to be reminded what He had told them and what the scriptures said concerning His death and resurrection.
The angles or the “two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning”, Luke 24:4, who appeared to the women at the tomb had to remind them, “Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'” 8 Then they remembered his words.”, Luke 24:6-8.
Peter and John, the two disciples who were the closest to Jesus had problems believing that Jesus was not in the tomb. They expected the normal that Jesus was supposed to be where they expected Him to be in the tomb. Luke 24:9-12, 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Jesus had to explain through the Scriptures about all that recently happened concerning Himself to two of His disciples who were going to the village called Emmaus because they were confused and could not make sense of all that had happened to Jesus. Luke 24:25-27, 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”
Jesus told everyone who was present when He appeared to them the night of His resurrection that He was not a ghost because they were experiencing something they did expect. Luke 24:36-39, 36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 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.”
Jesus had to prove the fact that he was not a ghost because they still could not except the new normal or reality of a resurrected Jesus. Luke 24:40-43, 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.
Once they overcame their fears and realized that they were not seeing a ghost, Jesus was able to remind them and teach them about the new reality of Him being resurrected from the dead which is the foundation to the gospel or the good news that they would soon be commissioned to tell the world and later on even die for.
Luke 24:44-48, 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
When we have our hearts and minds set in a way of thinking and processing information because of our expectations of what normal is, it can be very challenging sometimes to overcome our fears and doubts and to adapt to the new normal.
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” John 20:19
The apostle Thomas was not present with all the other disciples the day Jesus resurrected and appeared to the small group of frightened believers. A week later Jesus again appeared to the small group of fearful believers, this time with Thomas present, it was Jesus’ physical presence and Jesus referring to Thomas’ words from the week before that caused him to also become a believer in the resurrection of Jesus.
24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.” 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24-29
Why didn’t Thomas believe his friends when they told him,” “We have seen the Lord!”? Why did he require proof? What Thomas stated in verse twenty-five about what he wanted to personally experience was not much different than what the others experienced. It appears that he was just was more sarcastic about it.
For some it takes more proof and convincing to let go of what they consider will always be and should never change. As with Thomas, Jesus knows how to address our doubts so we can accept and move on to live daily with Him in the reality of the new normal of His resurrection.
Pastor John
