Have You Seen HIM?!?!

The week before Easter is almost as exciting as the weeks prior to Christmas. If you look at the commercial stores, they are almost as busy...with the Easter bunny, baskets, eggs and (oh my!) all the candy! 

Of course, living in the south, we all know you can NEVER wear white clothing, especially shoes, before Easter! Hence, we drag out last year's white purse and shoes, since they are still like new and wear them to church with our newest and brightest dresses, shirts and ties. We look like the decorated eggs themselves!

What about the week after Easter? Do we forget that Jesus is still resurrected? The bible tells us that Jesus appeared several times after the resurrection and walked the earth for 40 days before the ascension.
Jesus appeared at least 12 times, that are recorded in scripture, to different group sizes ranging from just one person to 500 people: (from biblocality.com)
1) Mary Magdalene (Mark 16.9-11; John 20.11-18)
2) the other women at the tomb (Matthew 28.8-10)
3) Peter in Jerusalem (Luke 24.34; 1 Cor. 15.5)
4) The two travelers on the road (Mark 16.12,13)
5) Ten disciples behind closed doors (Mark 16.14; Luke 24.36-43; John 20.19-25)
6) All the disciples, with Thomas (excluding Judas Iscariot) (John 20.26-31; 1 Cor. 15.5)
7) Seven disciples while fishing (John 21.1-14)
8) Eleven disciples on the mountain (Matthew 28.16-20)
9) A crowd of 500 (1 Cor. 15.6)
10) Jesus' brother James (1 Cor. 15.7)
11) Those who watched Jesus ascend to heaven (Luke 24.44-49; Acts 1.3-8)
12) Least of all Paul, though he was not living in the proper time (1 Cor. 15.8-9; Gal. 1.13-16; Acts 9.1-8, 22.9, read all of chapters 22 and 26; 13.30-37; 1 Cor. 15.10-20; Gal. 2.1-10):

• Luke has no problem between Paul's appearance and those made to the disciples in Luke 24, Acts 1.1-11. Luke records both types of appearances of Jesus to the disciples and to Paul.
• "Last of all he was seen of me also" (1 Cor. 15.8).
• "Have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord?" (1 Cor. 9.1).
• Others saw the light and heard the voice during Paul seeing Jesus bodily, however because Paul's experience was post-ascension, it may be slightly different.
• Evolution of a resurrection theory actually devolved from the accounts of the 40 days with the disciples to when Paul saw Jesus (Gal. 1.15-16).
• "To reveal His Son in me" (Gal. 1.16,18) took three years following the Damascus road experience.
• "And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man" (Acts 9.7). This presumes that Paul saw the man. 

We know that Jesus is alive and, through the Holy Spirit, lives in us. Why do we forget so easily what we celebrated last week? Has He shown Himself to you this week? How does He appear to us in today's world? 

I have felt His Presence during my prayer times and devotions, during the singing of our choir at church, listening to praise songs on the radio. God sometimes whispers in a small still voice to my soul, these are sometimes the most meaningful to me. Others, He speaks through a friend or my spouse. 

God knows when we need to see or hear Him. His timing is perfect. We just need to be still and know He is always with us, we don't have to wait for Him to make His appearance like the disciples did long ago. Aren't we blessed? Thank you Jesus for 'showing up' everyday in my life. 

Blessings,
gs