“He’s dead! What now?”
For three years, they had followed Him as He crisscrossed Israel, teaching, healing, exciting the crowds. They had watched Him die. They had witnessed His burial. “He’s dead! What now?”
Would the soldiers who arrested Jesus come for them next? Were their lives in danger? Would they also be arrested and crucified?
Locked in the guest room, they pondered these troubling scenarios (John 20:19).
“As they were saying these things, he himself stood in their midst” (Luke 24:36). Luke wrote, “they were startled and terrified” (Luke 24:37). I suspect that was a profound understatement. They were horrified, petrified, scared witless!
And then He spoke. “Peace to you! … Why are you troubled? … And why do doubts arise in your hearts?” (Luke 24:36-39).
Was this a figment of their imagination? Were they dreaming?
To further alleviate their fears, Jesus compassionately reached his hands out, revealing the jagged scars left by the rusty spikes. With a nod of His head, He gestured toward His feet. They, too, were scared.
He offered still more evidence of His miraculous resurrection. “ ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence” (Luke 24:41-42).
The evidence was overwhelming. He left them no doubt. Jesus had died. He’d been buried and remained in the grave for three days. Now, He was alive! Alive.
“Peace to you!”
“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).
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