Good morning and a blessed Thursday morning to you. 

I'd like to share with you a little bit today about some more of the resurrection appearances of our Lord.

So in John the 21st chapter beginning with verse 4 it says...

4Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.” 6He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. 7That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

Such an intriguing verse! I think in verse four that when it says that Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. What we see in Scripture is that after the resurrection others didn't immediately recognize Jesus either.

For example, John 20:11-16

11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary!” 

We see that as Jesus calls out to her, then she recognizes that it's Jesus.

Now there's also another example over in Luke 24:13

 13Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 

What we see in Holy Scripture is that the eyes of people, us included, have to be opened. And God uses Word and Sacrament to open up the eyes of people, so that we recognize.  

So as we see in these resurrection appearances them not recognizing Jesus and their eyes having to be opened. Why?  It's the same thing for us, isn't it? It's the same thing for all people. God has given us an amazing calling, an amazing privilege, that we are the ones that proclaim the gospel through which God brings people to faith. God opens their eyes, so they recognize Jesus as the Messiah. That's an amazing calling, isn't it?  It's an amazing purpose. It's what gives joy, isn't it?  We are the ones that God uses to proclaim the gospel. And God uses that to bring people to recognize him!

Gracious Heavenly Father, we thank you for this time in your Word. Your Word is truth.  We thank you Lord that you use us to be proclaimers of the gospel, and that you use that gospel message that we proclaim, those seeds that are planted, and you bring people to faith, opening their eyes so they recognize you.  Thank you, Lord, for this calling. Thank you for this amazing privilege. Thank you for the joy of proclaiming the Gospel. In Jesus' name amen.

God bless you, and may God bless the proclamation of the Gospel.

Encourage someone!

Pastor Eibel