Joy and Amazement

Luke 24:36-43

1. This is the evening of the Lord's resurrection, the disciples still in Jerusalem., maybe in the upper room where they had the Passover meal.

Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene, the other women returning from the tomb, Peter, and the two disciples on the road to Emaus.

John 20 says they were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews. Jesus just appeared in their midst. They were will marveling that four different people or groups saying that Jesus was alive and had appeared to them. They must have been afraid that the Jews would want to investigate the disappearance of Jesus' body.

1. The disciples thought they were seeing a ghost. Perhaps because of how he just appeared, maybe because they knew Jesus was dead and they could not believe he was alive.

38-40. They had troubles and doubts. Troubled - stirred up, anxious, agitated, restless. "Taraso" was said of an angry sea. Doubts - deliberating, questioning, hesitating. Their emotions and their minds were stirred up, anxious.

But Jesus had answers for their doubts and troubles. He had holes in his hands and feet where he had been put to death and yet he is alive! It was him! Not a ghost, not an imposter, Jesus in his resurrected, immortal body. Our emotions and our minds get stirred up, we become anxious, restless, worrying, but we have a risen Savior who lives in immortality. And he brings peace and he promised he would never leave us or forsake us.

When my emotions are stirred up, and my mind restless, I either doubt Jesus' promised presence, his power to help me, or his goodness.

Charles Spurgeon sermon on these verses, "Let no low thoughts of God come in." One of the great benefits of daily morning quiet time is that before we face the troubles and doubts that our day will bring, we get to remember that Jesus lives and he lives with us. He is present by his Spirit every moment of our lives. He lives and his Spirit never abandons us.

Before he ascended, the last thing he told his disciples, "I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

1. "They still did not believe it for joy and amazement." They had gone from doubting out of rejection, "this cannot be." Now that they saw Jesus together, they could not believe Jesus was Alavert because it was too good to be true.

That joy and amazement is the same that you and I still feel when we remember what god has done for us.

Joy and Amazement - As dark as my sin is, as much as I have tried to wash out the stain, the blood of Jesus cleanses me from all my sin.

• I do not deserve the Lord's forgiveness, but He has poured out overflowing mercy and love on me.

• I did nothing to earn God's favor, but trust in Jesus Christ.

• I am accepted by God as I am

• I am being transformed to glorify God with my life

We have so much reason to rejoice and to be Amazed It IS too good to be true - but it IS true!

Joy and Amazement My dark, sinful stains are washed clean. I am unworthy of His grace. I did not earn the Father's favor, Jesus did. I am accepted by God. I am being transformed to glorify God.