After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts 1:2 
The opening of Luke's second, less obvious, book about Jesus begins by summarising the 'period of 40 days' between 'his suffering' and ascension. There is, then, the period of suffering then the 40 days, in which he proved he had risen and spoke of God's kingdom.
Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, was always with the Father before his incarnation. He has now ascended again to God's right hand. Between these two points are his years of suffering and the 40 days of showing himself to his disciples and teaching them.
The suffering began with his birth, circumcision and flight from Herod. Next came poverty and obscurity in Nazareth then constant opposition and attempts to take his life culminating in his arrest and the cruelty and indignity of flogging, crucifixion, death and burial. Many things happened over the 33 years before resurrection but Luke sums them up as 'his suffering', enduring the penalty for sin to save his people.
His death and burial were not the end of the story. After three days he arose. He remained on earth in a resurrection body some six weeks to do two things. First, to show himself - not to everyone but to the Apostles, chosen in the time of suffering. He gave them 'many convincing proofs that he was alive' - eating; allowing them to touch him, perhaps. It was important they be convinced that he who suffered and died then rose again.
He also spoke about God's kingdom. There were things they could not understand in the time of suffering and that could only be clarified after his resurrection. They are reflected in the New Testament, which, though not always speaking in such terms, is concerned with God's rule and its extension.
We know Christ suffered to save his people and triumphed over death to rise again. We know he taught about God's Kingdom - that entrance is by new birth, is through many hardships and is a matter not of eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). We must live in light of these truths.
The opening of Luke's second, less obvious, book about Jesus begins by summarising the 'period of 40 days' between 'his suffering' and ascension. There is, then, the period of suffering then the 40 days, in which he proved he had risen and spoke of God's kingdom.Jesus, the Second Person of the Trinity, was always with the Father before his incarnation. He has now ascended again to God's right hand. Between these two points are his years of suffering and the 40 days of showing himself to his disciples and teaching them.
The suffering began with his birth, circumcision and flight from Herod. Next came poverty and obscurity in Nazareth then constant opposition and attempts to take his life culminating in his arrest and the cruelty and indignity of flogging, crucifixion, death and burial. Many things happened over the 33 years before resurrection but Luke sums them up as 'his suffering', enduring the penalty for sin to save his people.
His death and burial were not the end of the story. After three days he arose. He remained on earth in a resurrection body some six weeks to do two things. First, to show himself - not to everyone but to the Apostles, chosen in the time of suffering. He gave them 'many convincing proofs that he was alive' - eating; allowing them to touch him, perhaps. It was important they be convinced that he who suffered and died then rose again.
He also spoke about God's kingdom. There were things they could not understand in the time of suffering and that could only be clarified after his resurrection. They are reflected in the New Testament, which, though not always speaking in such terms, is concerned with God's rule and its extension.
We know Christ suffered to save his people and triumphed over death to rise again. We know he taught about God's Kingdom - that entrance is by new birth, is through many hardships and is a matter not of eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). We must live in light of these truths.
No comments:
Post a Comment