Devotional 4-24-09

You are Witnesses to These Things
Read Luke 24:36b-48

When Jesus appeared to his disciples after his death and resurrection, they were understandably frightened. Can you imagine what the disciples must have thought? Even though they had witnessed many of the miracles of Jesus from turning water into wine to reviving Lazarus, they were witnesses to the brutal death of Jesus. How could he be alive?

It is understandable to me that even Jesus’ closest disciples wanted proof before they believed. After all, seeing is believing. He showed them his scars and had a meal with them, and somehow that was enough. As they ate, Jesus “opened their minds to understand” and reminded them as to how the scriptures had foretold of the Messiah’s suffering, death, and resurrection on the third day. “You are witnesses to these things.”

I am blessed to be involved in a small group of men that meets together each Wednesday morning. We call ourselves Andrew’s Brothers, named after the disciple Andrew who brought his brother Simon Peter to know Jesus. Before the sun comes up, we sing (albeit off-key) and share scripture, devotion, prayer, coffee and—once each month—breakfast. We soothe each other’s pains and scars, and we celebrate each other’s joys. In that level of intimacy, the resurrected Christ is revealed.

Are you part of a group that reveals Christ to you, so that you can see and believe in the resurrection? Although I love church and worship, Sunday school and sacred music, devotional reading and Christian service, there is no aspect of my own spiritual life that is as important to me as my mid-week group. We encourage each other and hold each other accountable. We lift each other up, and at the same time keep each other humble.

I urge you to join or form a group where you can experience Jesus’ resurrection. You can meet in a home, a restaurant or coffee shop, or at the church. You can have a prayer group, a book study, or perhaps just good Christian fellowship. Share joys and celebrations and you may find that Jesus is revealed. “You are witnesses to these things.”

Jeff Taylor