Day 8 - "Resurrection"

Day Eight - "Resurrection"

“‘Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.’” —John 20:21-23

In the early morning of the garden, there was a violent shaking. Everything the disciples knew had been upended. They ran to the tomb. Mary wept—she couldn’t find Him. They were afraid because they didn't understand. The tomb was empty. Angels told them to go quickly and tell the others that He was risen and would meet them in Galilee. Trembling gripped their bodies, and shivers raced down their spines. They couldn’t speak. This couldn’t be happening. Did someone steal His body? They gathered together and replayed the moments in their minds.

The disciples were perplexed by the news of Christ’s resurrection. The disciples processed the events in real time. It’s one thing to be told what’s going to happen—but another thing to experience the unfolding.

“Why do you seek the Living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen.”

They didn’t believe what He had already said. Understanding His friends’ confusion and doubt, Jesus showed up several times in their presence to remind them of His words. When He explained the Scriptures, their hearts burned. When He broke bread and ate with them, their eyes were opened. They recognized He was the one they had abandoned everything to follow.

It was as if He said to them, “See, I am who I said I am. Even death can’t defeat Me.” 

He breathed peace on them and filled them with His Spirit. He manifested Himself not to pick up where they left off in the old season, but to usher them into the new one. They needed to move into the promises that He had already released to them.

One day, He appeared to them while they were fishing. They had returned to their old way of life. This time, their efforts left their nets empty. Jesus told them to cast on the other side of the boat—as if to say, “Do you not remember what I taught you?” Later, Jesus got alone with Peter. Stirring up Peter’s memory and love for his Teacher, Jesus restored him and gave the student who denied Him the role of shepherd and caretaker of His sheep.

This was the point of Jesus’ resurrection and appearances: The Son of God multiplied His authority to His followers. What He told Peter, He speaks to us: “Tend My sheep. Shepherd My sheep. Feed My Sheep.” 

Disciples become the shepherd. The Lord’s sheep become our sheep. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we can love as He loves. We can forgive as He forgives. We can heal as He heals. Union with the Father motivates us, just as it motivated Jesus. Love takes us where we naturally wouldn’t go and has us do what we naturally wouldn’t do. To follow the resurrected Jesus is to live a life empowered by the Spirit of God.

Reflection:
-What mindsets or understandings is God shaking in order to give you clarity of His voice and face?
-What has He been saying to you? What has He taught you? Are you practicing these things? 
-Is God reviving a dream or word He spoke that you thought was dead? What assurances of peace is He breathing in your current season?