Text:
Luke 24:36-49
Introduction
Just
as with Christmas it has become traditional to give gifts to others at Easter.
There are four gifts that the Lord Jesus Christ gave to His followers when He
arose from the dead.
His
Peace
“And as they thus spake,
Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto
you. But they were terrified and affrighted”
(Luke 24:36-37a).
This
was more than a polite greeting, for He was offering them the peace only He
could give. This peace was certainly needed because they were in anxiety, fear
and confusion over the events of the last few days. They were terrified as Jesus
appeared to them out of thin air.
The
peace that God gives does not mean that our lives will be free from problems and
difficulties, but it does enable us to face them in faith and confidence. If
Jesus overcame death, then we can assure our hearts that He will give us the
victory over all of life's problems. “And
the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and
minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7) … “Therefore
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ” (Romans 5:1).
His
Presence
“And supposed that they
had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do
thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself:
handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while
they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any
meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he
took it, and did eat before them” (Luke 24:37b-43).
It
was the real Jesus that was standing before them that day, not a spirit, an
illusion or a hallucination. The Christ we believe in is not an emotional crutch
or a figment of our imagination; instead He is a reality to us. “And
if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God
that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise
not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not
raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Corinthians
15:14-17). If only we would accept
that this same Jesus is with us every day of our lives. “I
will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5) … “Lo,
I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).
His
Promises
“And he said unto them,
These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all
things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the
prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding,
that they might understand the scriptures”
(Luke 24:44-45).
The
Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled every Old Testament prophecy regarding the life,
death and resurrection of the Messiah. There are over 7,000 promises in Scripture that
relate to the Christian believer, and the moment the Lord rose they were forever
confirmed. “For all the promises of God
in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2
Corinthians 1:20). The Bible contains enough promises to cover every one of
life's problems. They are there to sustain, encourage and restore us.
His
Purpose
“And said unto them, Thus
it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead
the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in
his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of
these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry
ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high”
(Luke 24:46-49).
The
resurrection of Christ is one of the greatest teachings we can take to this
fallen world. The Great Commission would be a meaningless obligation if Jesus
had not literally and bodily risen from the dead. Therefore the Easter message
is not for one day in a year, but an ongoing declaration of true followers of
the Risen Saviour. Only those who are truly born again, and filled with the Holy Spirit,
are commissioned to speak for Christ.
Conclusion
Here
is a guaranteed miracle for all who believe in Christ. The miracle is Jesus
Himself. In Him we find His peace, presence, promises, and purpose.
© 20/3/2008