Forty Days of Preparation
What did Jesus do for the forty days after his resurrection and before his ascension? He appeared repeatedly to his disciples. Luke 24 gives a good summary of his teaching during this time;
- He gave them ample time to see his wounds and to see that it was a physical resurrection. “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” V.39
- He gave them a refresher course in the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament that he had fulfilled! These came from every part of their Scriptures. “This is what I told you while I was still with you. Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.” V.44
- He opened their minds so that they could understand the Scriptures. “He said, this is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning in Jerusalem.” V.45 He helped them see the mysteries of God’s plan of salvation and the kingdom that would include men and women from every nation. This included the Great Commission. It was given in command form in Matthew and Mark’s gospels—Go and make disciples; go and preach. Here he gives details about repentance and forgiveness starting in Jerusalem. Perhaps he gave them some advance plans for the church that would be born on the Day of Pentecost. While some appearances were in Galilee, they returned to Jerusalem to see him ascend into heaven from the Mount of Olives.
- He showed them what his glorified body (and ours someday) would look like!
After his ascension, ten days of prayer led them to the Day of Pentecost, which celebrated the giving of the Old Law and Covenant. Could it be that this would be the day God would pour out his Holy Spirit as the prophet Joel had predicted? Would this be the day that a New Covenant would be given to Israel and the world? Stay tuned! There are great things to come in the weeks ahead.
While we love to celebrate the Resurrection, we should not neglect the Day of Pentecost as the birth of the Church. More on that later.
Dear Lord, help us to more fully appreciate how Jesus taught the disciples after his resurrection. They had much to learn. Much of what happened later is recorded for us in the book of Acts and the rest of the New Testament. That revelation shows us what the church should be, even though it seldom measures up to God’s plan. But though it is filled with imperfect people and leaders, the gospel has been preached to all nations in the last twenty centuries. It is to God’s glory that he continues to use imperfect people to accomplish His purposes.
Today as then, our minds can be opened by Jesus to understand the Scriptures, both old and new. Open our minds, Jesus, as we read your Word. Thank you that where people repent, you come to them and reveal yourself, as in those forty days after the resurrection. Lord, let there be a resurrection in our understanding and a fresh Pentecost as we anticipate fresh outpourings of your Holy Spirit. And yes, Lord Jesus, we worship you as our risen Savior!
Hallelu et Adonai! (Praise the Lord!)