Yesterday we celebrated Jesus’ resurrection. He appeared to His followers. He had fulfilled prophecy and defeated death.

But there was more.

He stayed for forty days.

From yesterday that would be through May 15th. He was here for a good while.

Think about that,

He remained to allow the disciples to have verification.
He remained to validate the rumor of His Resurrection by appearing to hundreds of people, and to Paul.

As I think about this, I wonder where were the Pharisees and what were they thinking? What did Pilate do after hearing about His appearing?

By appearing to about 500 people, His appearing was not kept a secret. There was too much excitement among His followers for it to be a secret.

He was here to validate His earlier Words. He stayed to encourage His Disciples. He remained to finish off His Teachings.

He stayed and brought Peter back into the fold. Peter would not have become the Leader he did, if it were not for Christ forgiving his betrayal, if it were not for Christ instructing him to “Feed my Sheep”.

He stayed 40 days and allowed what He had said earlier to settle in the minds of His followers.

He remained and instructed His Disciples to be filled with The Holy Spirit…as described in John 20.

He told them He would never leave them. He stayed to assure the disciples of His Trustworthiness.

He told them He would not forsake them. He didn’t.

He stayed, ate with them, probably laughed and shared His Joy with them, showing them He
was true and honest in His Word.

He brought them salvation, they had not received it before His death, It had not been achieved yet.

He finalized His teaching and instructions.

He gave reality to the Hope He had preached to them earlier.

Over the next 39 days, be conscious of this. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you in these days, as He revealed Himself to so many in the Epilogue of His First time here.

Terry
April 6, 2015