Jesus Went with Them! part 3

The second emotion the disciples experienced at the death of Jesus was anger. It has been said that Jesus was who He said He was or He was the greatest con artist of all time. If Jesus was not the Messiah, how could He have been so cruel to perpetuate such a hoax? His disciples had loved Him with all their hearts. They had been loyal followers and it was unthinkable that He would betray them in such a fashion. If Jesus was not the Messiah, how could He have performed such miraculous feats as He did? By what power, or authority, or slight of hand, or human trickery could He have done such miracles. The disciples had seen Him stop funeral processions and raise the dead. He appeared to heal the sick, open blind eyes, heal the lame and all manner of diseases. They were with Him when He fed the multitudes (5000 and 4000) with only a few loaves and fishes. The disciples themselves collected the left overs which amounted to more than what they had at the beginning. How did He accomplish that if He was not who He said He was? How could He have performed such miraculous feats in such flawless fashion that they (the disciples) could be so completely fooled?

And if He was the Messiah, how could God have allowed Jesus to be taken from them? Jesus, who was the foundation and head of the Church. It was upon the understanding that He was the Son of God that this New Movement was established. Matt. 16:13, “...he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered 

and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Jesus' promise was to build and establish His Church upon the revelation that He was the Son of God. Why would God taunt them with the promise of salvation and deliverance and then abandon them at the 11^th hour? How could God really love them and allow such a thing to happen? The disciples were looking at the circumstances. How could they understand the revelation that Jesus was the Son of God and miss the prophecy of His death, burial and resurrection?

We can apply the same principle to our relationship in Christ. How can we receive the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God, our Savior, our Messiah and fail to embrace other promises relative to our walk with Him? How do we deal with the significant losses and disappointments in our lives when the Word tells us, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28? How then do we react to circumstances, crisis, persecution and the trying of our faith? 1 Peter 1:6, “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” We should take hold of the Hope of Glory and rejoice in the victory that He will bring upon our lives. The same revelation that opens our heart, mind and soul to the truth that Jesus is the Son of God will energize His Spirit within us to receive ALL His promises. Sometimes, however, we have to wait upon the interpretation.

As with the disciples in this passage it just isn't time for the resurrection revelation. However, it was soon to come because this was the third day. The season had arrived but the hour had not come. God's plan is always on schedule but as Jesus' disciples found out, we must move ourselves into the realm of faith to preserve our convictions until the revelation comes. They were so drawn to Christ as they walked with Him that their “hearts burned within them.” They were so compelled by this yearning that they urged Him to stay with them for “the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them” Luke 24:29.

The revelation of this passage is that as believers in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, we are presently walking with the answer to all our difficulties, tests and trials. The Body of Christ is suffering in a season of extreme trial and tribulation. “...though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:” 1 Peter 1:6. However, the hour of our deliverance is at hand. We must be so drawn to Him that when the circumstances say no to the revelation that His faith will arise in our hearts and preserve us until it is time for the revelation and the fulfillment of the promise. May God help us to see the season we live in and have the heart (spiritual fortitude) to walk with Him until the hour of His revelation. 1 Thess. 4:16, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”