Out of Shame - Seeing Jesus

One of the strongest proofs for the Resurrection of Jesus, in my view, is not the holes in his hands  nor the hole in his side from the spear where blood and water came out (though these two helped Thomas believe {John 20:27}).

It wasn't that he appeared to the fear-ridden disciples behind locked doors (though that is still pretty stinking cool {John 20:19}). 

Its not found in how he simply says, "Mary" (though that is beautiful and would be of overwhelming comfort in the midst of despair {John 20:16}). 

No, what I find so compelling about the Resurrection and where I simply cannot arrive at any other conclusion than ABSOLUTE fact is what happens in a story rarely discussed less than two months after Jesus returns to life.

In Acts 3 and 4 the story is told of how Peter and John, filled with the Spirit of God, healed a man. Acts 4:5 picks it up, 

⁵ On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in their midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

These men were cowering behind locked doors and hiding from the religious elite who had just killed their Savior and now they are standing before those SAME MEN saying the following:

¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.

What happened? The text tells us...

¹³ Now when they (the religious elite) saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 

Jesus changes everything. 

• He takes paralyzing doubt and creates space for one to struggle without the urgency to conform to His understanding. In other words he does not shame the one who seems to spin their wheels. 
• He addresses fear with peace by giving the Holy Spirit (Jn 20:22). The One who is the Prince of Peace dwells in us (who believe) and meets our fear with us as a comforter. 
• He takes what despair concludes is a lost cause and hopeless enterprise and flips the script to possibility and potential.  

This is what the disciples experienced... This is why they were BOLD less than two months after they ran and hid from the SAME people. 

And, I would argue with conviction and passion, this is the intended experience for anyone who claims the name of Jesus Christ as their Savior, Lord and Friend. Be encouraged today. The resurrection is far more than bunnies, good chocolate, and family get-togethers. 

It is JESUS and He changes everything!

(if you so desire you can follow this link to listen to the message I preached on Easter about how God moves us from shame to repentance and joy: click here)