‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?’ “
Luke 24:38
When Jesus asked this question, He framed it within the context of His Presence. His point is well-taken.
A troubled and doubtful heart is evidence of the need for the calm assurance that is available when Jesus is present. When trouble and doubts arise in your heart, they are no match for The Risen Christ.
Luke's account of The Resurrection Day ends with Jesus appearing in The Upper Room, revealing Himself to His confused and frightened disciples. As they heard the amazing report of two of their trusted and breathless friends, fresh from a seven mile uphill climb from the village of Emmaus, "Jesus stood in their midst." v. 36
Jesus didn't arrive in the room with great fanfare. This time there was no rising crescendo of an angel army announcing His entrance. He softly stepped into the room and into the lives of His followers with all the calmness and quietness of the desert dew settling over a parched landscape. Still...
"They were startled and frightened." v. 37
This fresh encounter with The Risen Christ did not boost their self-confidence. It struck fear in their hearts. They would not be the last followers of Jesus to respond to answered prayer with unbelief.
Many times over the last 2,000 years the church has called for prayer, but then responded to answered prayer with awestruck amazement, by blurting out, "I can't believe it!" Thank God He answers prayer whether people believe it or not.
Jesus appeared to His disciples in the flesh. He had bone structure, a beating heart, nail-scarred hands and feet. He invited His disciples to be in touch with Him. He still invites people to be in touch with The Body of Christ.
"See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." v. 39
As His disciples warmed up to The Presence of Jesus, their fear and trembling were replaced by joy and amazement, but their belief in Him still wavered. Their energetic expressions of emotion and enthusiasm did not reveal a development of genuine belief. Sometimes they do.Sometimes they don't. Don't trust in emotion. Trust Jesus.
"They still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement." v. 40
Jesus took them to another level of belief by requesting they share their meal with Him. Unfortunately many people in the contemporary church have distorted this question and corrupted it into the mission of the church.
"Have you anything here to eat?" v. 41b
The Risen Christ ate a bit of fish with the disciples to prove He was alive in the flesh, not just a fleeting spirit or a figment of their imagination. Jesus immediately fed them from the Word of God. He still does.
Any church seeking to be a true representation of The Body of Christ will always feed their people with The Scriptures. The Risen Christ reminded His disciples...
"...all the things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." v. 44
When the church leadership fails to be open-minded to understanding the Scriptures, they lean on their own understanding. This fails to truly open their minds, but it definitely lets their brains fall out.
"Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures..." v. 45
Anyone seeking to be a part of a church that represents the Body of Christ will be more concerned over what they are being fed from the pulpit on Sunday morning than what is on the menu at the Fellowship Supper. Never trade eternal soul food for temporary heartburn.
Jesus called His disciples to proclaim in His name a message of "repentance for forgiveness of sins" to all the nations. Anything less is not the gospel.
Proclaiming forgiveness without repentance is not an act of generosity to people seeking God's grace. It is an act of treason to the Kingdom of God. The Risen Christ was clear...
"...that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning with Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things." v. 47
NOTE TO SELF: Don't be so open-minded that your brains fall out. You are called to be a witness. Show people how to let go of their sin. Proclaim to them how to find His forgiveness by turning around and getting in touch with Jesus. The sense of His Presence is only a prayer away.
TALK LESS! PRAY MORE!