Luke 24:36-43 – Love
Jesus comes to eleven disciples who three days before have shamefully deserted their Master. They have broken their promises. They have forgotten how ready they claimed to be to die for their faith. They have scattered and left Him to die alone. One of them has even denied Him three times. All of them have been cowards. But look what Jesus says to them. Not one word of rebuke, not a single sharp word is spoken. Calmly and quietly He appears in the middle of them and says, “Peace be with you.” What an amazing love! Christ is always ready and willing to make our sins as white as snow, to blot them out, to cast them behind His back, to bury them in the sea, and to remember them no more. What sinner is there that needs to be afraid to come to such a Saviour? What Christian has fallen so far that he needs to be afraid of returning? What Christian can not love such a Saviour and willingly obey Him? What Christian can not forgive others as Christ has forgiven Him?
But the disciples are terrified, thinking Christ is a ghost. Instead of commanding them to believe, Christ tells them to touch Him and see that He is real, and He eats to show them that He is flesh and blood. If only we would treat others as kindly and gently as Christ treats His disciples. Like our Lord, we must be patient and long-suffering. We must not cast off those who don’t see and understand everything at once. Instead, we should use what means we can to explain to them the truth of the Gospel, patiently and lovingly.
Questions
- Why might Jesus have spoken harshly to His disciples?
- Why doesn’t He?
- Why are the disciples so afraid?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would be gentle and patient with others.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.