“Jesus presented Himself alive after His suffering BY MANY INFALLIBLE PROOFS (tekmērion: where something is surely and plainly known), being seen by them (His followers) during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” (Acts 1:3) Jesus could be touched, He ate and ministered, then He was, “…seen by Cephas (Peter), then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over FIVE HUNDRED brethren at once…” (1 Corin. 15:5-7) Jesus wanted us to know that HE REALLY IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS.
According to the Gospel record the actual first appearance of our Lord was not to Peter but to Mary Magdalene. As the Gospel accounts tell us, she was first at the tomb and she mistook Him for the gardener on that Easter Sunday morning. It was only when He spoke to her that she realized that this was the Lord, and she tried to hold Him by the feet and worshipped Him. But, Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father…” (John 20:17). Then He sent her away to tell the disciples. But in the chauvinistic mentality of that 1st century, a woman’s testimony did not count. Mary’s words “seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.” (Luke 24:11) So, they went to see for themselves. Jesus made great attempts to assure His followers that they COULD REALLY DO ALL THAT JESUS SAID THEY COULD DO. Then Jesus said “…you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you…” (Acts 1:8) Thousands were added to the church and hundreds were healed…
So, what about us today? Jesus said, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me WILL DO the works I have been doing, and they WILL DO EVEN GREATER THINGS than these, because I am going to the Father. And I WILL DO WHATEVER YOU ASK in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me FOR ANYTHING in my name, and I WILL DO IT.” (John 14:12-14) Now, we can read this and smile joyfully, or we can believe it and DO IT and REJOICE AS THE LORD WORKS MIRACLES…
-Bill Stockham