On Sunday before dawn, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw it had been opened. She ran and told Peter and the disciple Jesus loved, who went to see for themselves. The disciple Jesus loved made it first but didn't go into the tomb. When Peter got there he went right on in the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, but the cloth which had been around Jesus' head was folded and placed separately. The other disciple went in too, and then they went home. Mary Magdalene, however stood crying outside the tomb. She looked inside and saw two angels dressed in white, sitting where Jesus' body had been. They asked her why she was crying. She thought someone had moved the body. She turned around and saw Jesus standing near her. She didn't recognize Him at first, then He said her name and she knew it was Him. He told her not to hold on to Him because He had not been to the Father yet. He told her to tell the others He would come see them after He had gone up to God. Later that night Jesus appeared to the disciples where they were gathered. He gave them peace and then showed them His wounds. They were overjoyed to see Him. Then He breathed and gave them the Holy Spirit. Thomas wasn't there, but when they told him, he refused to believe until he saw it for himself. A week later, Jesus came again and had Thomas touch his wounds so he would believe. Jesus performed many other miracles in the presence of His disciples, but they are not written in this book. What's here has been written so you may believe and by your faith in Him, have life.
Later when the disciples were together, they decided to go fishing and didn't catch a thing. As they were returning to shore a man at the water's edge told them to drop their nets on the right side of the boat. They caught so many fish they couldn't get the net on the boat. The disciple whom Jesus loved recognized Jesus and told Peter. They brought the boat back to shore and saw a fire and bread and Jesus gave them some to eat. This was the 3rd time they saw Jesus after His death. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Jesus and three times Peter told Him he did. All three times Jesus told him to take care of His sheep. Peter asked Jesus about the disciple He loved, and Jesus told him that if He wanted him to live until He returned, what was that to him? Rumors started that this disciple would never die, but that isn't what Jesus said. The one Jesus loved spoke of these things and wrote them down; what he said is true. There isn't enough room in the world for all the books which could have been written if everything were recorded that Jesus did.
Another letter to Theophilus, the book of Acts continues the gospel according to Luke. For 40 days after His death, Jesus appeared to the disciples and left no doubt that He is alive. He told them to stay put until they received the Holy Spirit. Jesus was taken up to heaven and then there were two angels there speaking to the disciples. The disciples replaced Judas because in Psalm 109:8 it said he would be replaced. They prayed then voted between a man named Justus and another named Matthias. Matthias became the new disciple.
When the day of Pentecost came all the believers were gathered together and a loud noise came and a strong wind which blew tongues of fire on each of them and they began speaking in languages from all over. Some knew it was from God, others just thought they were drunk.
Tomorrow read Acts 2:14-4:37
No comments:
Post a Comment