When I was in college, studying for finals sometimes became so burdensome that I just went to the movies. Peter decided that being the disciple of a teacher who had gone away was so burdensome that he would just go fishing. When Jesus appeared to him, he made sure that Peter’s nets were full and that he got some breakfast before asking him the only question on the final exam: Do you love me?
Jesus appeared not only to his disciples, but also to at least one large group of about 500 people, and to his own brother, James. James went on to become the leader of the church in Jerusalem.
Matthew 28:16-18; Luke 24:44-48; Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 24:49, Afterward. Jesus gives the great commission (11/5/14)
One of the great and convincing aspects about our Bible is that it pulls no punches. The same early disciples of Jesus who wrote the New Testament say about themselves, “but some doubted.” I can fully understand why they doubted, because the resurrection was unprecedented (and so far, unpostdented). What I have more difficulty in understanding is their scrupulous and self-critical honesty. When we have doubts, do we express them, and thus help our fellow-Christians to understand that doubt is a normal part of spiritual growth? Or do we hide our own doubts, and in turn force them to hide theirs?
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16-17 As for the eleven disciples, they proceeded into Galilee, to the hill where Jesus had arranged to meet them. There they saw Him and prostrated themselves before Him. Yet some doubted.
18 Jesus however came near and said to them, “All power in Heaven and over the earth has been given to me.
44 And He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you – that everything must be fulfilled that is written in the Law of Moses and in the Prophets and the Psalms concerning me.”
45-47 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and He said, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise again from among the dead; and that proclamation would be made, in His name, of repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.
48, 19-20 You are witnesses as to these things. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations; baptize them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; and teach them to obey every command which I have given you. And remember, I am with you always, day by day, until the Close of the Age.”
49 And remember that I am about to send out my Father’s promised gift to rest upon you. But, as for you, wait patiently in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
Acts 1:3-14, Probably a few days before Pentecost. Jesus ascends to Heaven (11/6/14)
We seem to have mixed feelings on the subject of expressing our doubts. Some readers apparently think that expressing our own doubts can be helpful to other believers, and some think that adding our own doubts to the pot wouldn’t be useful. I think that both positions have merit, and each of us should express our doubts to specific people or not as the Spirit leads us to do. Once the disciples got over their doubts about Jesus, they decided that surely now he would restore the kingdom of Israel! They still didn’t understand that the old earthly kingdom of Israel had served its good purpose in its time and in Judea, but Jesus’ new kingdom would be a spiritual one that spread far beyond Judea, to the remotest parts of the earth.
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Random Walk in a Gallery of Religious Art, Step 61: Acts 1:1-12, The Ascension, by Andreas Hunnaeus (8/24/15)
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The eleven disciples got two amazing messages on the day of Jesus ascension. First, they would soon be baptized with the Holy Spirit – whatever that meant! – and receive power to preach the good news all over the world. Second, they would see Jesus return the same way they saw him taken up. It’s really not surprising that Andreas Hunnaeus shows them staring upward with their mouths hanging open in this painting, The Ascension. Previous Step. Next Step. |
 "The Ascension" by Andreas Hunnaeus, from the Gamble family Bible, now in the private collection of Regina Hunter. Photograph by Daryl Lee. |
John 20:30-31, 25, Decades later, in Ephesus, the reason for the Gospels (11/7/14)
We’re finally finished reading the Gospels in (roughly) chronological order. I hope you found it as enlightening as I did. Why did Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John bother to write down for us their selections of events from Jesus’ life? So that we may believe.
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30-31 There were also a great number of other signs which Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these have been recorded in order that you may believe that He is the Christ, the Son of God, and that, through believing, you may have Life through His name.
25 But there are also many other things which Jesus did – so vast a number indeed that if they were all described in detail, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would have to be written.
More of The Chronological Gospel
Birth Announcements and Early Lives of Jesus and John the Baptist
Early Ministries of Jesus and John the Baptist
Jesus’ Early Ministry
Jesus’ Galilean Ministry
Sabbath Controversies
The Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Plain
John the Baptist
Signs and Parables
Miracles and Mission Trips
Bread of Life
Miracles and Meanings
Transfiguration and Teachings
To Jerusalem for the Festival of Tabernacles
Some Results of Luke’s Research
Light
More of Luke’s Research
On the Road Again
The Raising of Lazarus
Holy Week: Palm Sunday and Monday
Holy Week: Tuesday, Parables and Questions
Holy Week: Wednesday Part 1, Discussions
Holy Week: Wednesday Part 2, Be Ready!
Holy Week: Thursday Part 1, Jesus' Celebration of the Passover
Holy Week: Thursday Part 2, Jesus' Farewell Discourse
Holy Week: Friday Part 1, Jesus' Arrest and Two Informal Trials
Holy Week: Friday Part 2, More Trials
Holy Week: Friday, Part 3, and Saturday, Jesus' Death and Burial
The Empty Tomb
Final Appearances of Jesus Prior to Pentecost
Copyright 2014, 2015, 2016 by Regina L. Hunter. All rights reserved. Scripture readings are from the Weymouth New Testament (1912). This page has been prepared for the web site by RPB.
Opinions expressed on this page are solely those of the author, Regina Hunter, and may or may not be shared by the sponsors or the Bible-study participants. Thanks to the Holy Spirit for any useful ideas presented here, and thanks to all the readers for their support and enthusiasm. All errors are, of course, the sole responsibility of the author.
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