14 day plan

All of Life Worship

Day 14 of 14

NIV

Luke 24:36-43

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

36While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

37They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39Look 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.”

40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate it in their presence.

Reflection:  Recovering from disappointment

We have been walking through Luke with Jesus, and we have reached that moment when Jesus’ humanity cannot be questioned: he died.

How desperate he had been leading up to this in the Garden of Gethsemane.

How awful was his treatment by the guards and officials: mocking him, spitting on him, torturing him.

Then… he was gone. He was dead and buried.

The disciples had run away, and now they gather in confusion and sorrow.

We know Judas and Peter betrayed Jesus, but how many others were fearful of their lives, wanting to disown association with the traitor Jesus?

It is hard to imagine their disappointment with Jesus.

It is hard to imagine his disappointment with them.

He had told them what was going to happen, but they didn’t or couldn’t understand.

Suddenly he appears to them, with those beautiful words of comfort: “Peace be with you.”

He reassures them by demonstrating his humanness: he is able to be touched, and he even eats in their presence.

There was not just a resurrection of his spirit, but a resurrection of his body. Jesus is still recognizably human, and he offers forgiveness and grace to them.

Question:  How can you overcome disappointment in others like Jesus?

Prayer:  Lord of justice and truth, we are conscious of your passion for peace and wholeness, so please help us to weave justice into our lives.  Help us to offer grace and connection to those who disappoint us.  Amen.