AFTER RESURRECTION SUNDAY ~ WHAT?

On Monday, the day after the Resurrection, I wondered what were the disciples doing?  What do we do the Monday after Easter? Tuesday through Saturday, what were the disciples doing?  What have we been doing? 

I think that Scripture tells us the disciples were afraid and unsure of what to do and were hiding out in an upper room waiting for the unknown to happen.  I think they were also sharing what they had just experienced about seeing Jesus alive and wondering what He would do next and when they would see Him again.  (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-25)

I am wondering with concern why we are so satisfied with the way that we acknowledge and celebrate the most important event in the history of creation.  The day after Easter seems to be back to business as usual!  Why aren’t we still excited and celebrating the risen Lord?  We didn’t leave Him in the upper room in a story in The Bible, He is still with us and His instructions are still sure.

We’re not told what Jesus was doing following the appearance in the upper room, but evidently He must have been with The Father as He told Mary Magdalene in the garden because we don’t see Him again until one week later.  Or, maybe He was doing personal visiting to some, like Peter and John.  John said in chapter 20:30-31 that Jesus did many other things than what is recorded.

Sunday ~ One week after Resurrection Sunday!  (Second appearing John 20:26) 

Let’s look at what happened 7 days after the Son of God rose from the grave where he was buried because he had been crucified for the sin of the world…

He appears a second time to the Upper room where the disciples are still gathered, and this time Thomas is there.  Jesus tells him and us about those who see and believe and those who don’t see and yet believe.

What did we do the following Sunday after Easter?  Were we still meeting to share the thrill of having seen the risen Lord Jesus, remembering the things He had taught us and waiting with anticipation for Him to come and tell us more? 

Our Sunday School material started a new emphasis in the Old Testament about holiness and the nation Israel’s relationship with God.  But, I used it to put our attention back on the Resurrection and our holiness in Jesus and His Presence by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The third appearing of Jesus after His resurrection was at the Sea of Galilee to Peter, James, John, Thomas, Nathaniel, 2 others (I think Andrew & Philip since they were brothers of Peter and Nathaniel) (John 21:14).  We aren’t told how long it was after the second appearing.  Jesus had told the disciples that He would meet them in Galilee, so Peter, et al must have decided to do some fishing while they were waiting.  I don’t think they knew what to do with themselves, but they had a surprise.  Jesus appears on the shore and instructs them to throw their net on the other side of the boat and they caught a huge load.  Then He had breakfast prepared for them and they ate.  Jesus then reinstates Peter about his love and gives him the responsibility of leading His flock - “Feed My sheep.”

Scripture tells us that Jesus spent a total of 40 days among His disciples after His resurrection visiting and instructing them.  My intent is to do the same thing with the days from Easter until Pentecost which is 7 weeks.  I want to soak in the reality of Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection and ascension to prepare my mind to be a better witness unto Him, and like Paul to say:  “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.” (Philippians 3:10-16)

May I encourage you to also spend some time every day focusing on who we are because of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection, and what we should be doing?  May the world see Jesus in us and hear His voice!