The Finally Get It Series

36As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!" 37But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39See 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." 40And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. 41And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and He took it and ate before them. 44Then He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." 45Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46and said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." 50Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands He blessed them. 51While He blessed them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53and were continually in the temple blessing God.

After the Resurrection:

36As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace to you!" 37But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.

Now I want us to take a breath here and recount where we have just been… Jesus was crucified and the women came on Sun morning to wash His body with spices and ointments but the stone was rolled away and His body was gone… 2 men in WHITE apparel told them He was risen! They ran back and told the disciples who did NOT believe them… Peter was in shock!

Two disciples decide to go home after this has happened and they meet guy on the road back to their house and this man begins to share the Scripture with them and He tells them about Messiah… they ask Him to stay the night and He blesses the food and He is revealed to them to be Jesus… their risen Lord! And then He simply disappears before their eyes! These men are so excited about their news… what the women had told them was true… it was NOT idle tales… it was NOT nonsense… it was TRUE! So they get back out on the road and RUN to Jerusalem to tell the disciples… and this is where we pick up the story!

These men had made it back to Jerusalem and they were sharing their story with the disciples, when all of a sudden… POOF Jesus was there in their midst! Just as Jesus had DISAPPEARED…

Jesus reappears to the entire Disciple body (less Thomas) and the first words out of His mouth… is the Greek word ‘E-ray-nay’ and is very similar to the current day Hebrew/Jewish greeting of “Shalom” which means “peace to you…” and comes with a connotation of ‘don’t have fear or don’t be afraid…

Jesus knew and understood that these men would be terrified…that everyone there would be terrified! They had seen Him die… and now his body had been taken and He understood that this would terrify them… so He offers ‘peace’ to them!

They had seen Him die! They had seen Him be buried… and now these men fully believed they were seeing a ghost and they were terrified! THEY wanted to KNOW, but they could not understand. Jesus speaks… His voice they would KNOW and understand. tells them “peace” to settle their hearts.

Have you ever been startled? When that happens it is a ‘scary moment’ and many of us usually out of sorts when it happens to you… so I cannot say that I blame them…

How often do we find ourselves terrified when Jesus shows up in our lives? Has that ever happened to you… you are going thru your life and Jesus shows up… God shows up… unexpectedly…! Many of us would tell ourselves, “I would not be afraid… after all Jesus showing up is what I want to happen in my life!”

But what if you walked into your house and turned on the lights and POOF, he was there? You would be frightened! These men…these people were frightened and so Jesus takes the initiative to calm the room and He offers v.39-39 as comfort…