My apologies for the lateness of today's devotion: It is my son Caleb's 12 birthday and so my usual early morning routine made way for a happy celebration!
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After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Acts1:3
In recent times even here in South Africa, serious theologians have expressed serious doubt about the resurrection...
Luke has no doubts.
In the closing chapter his gospel and now in the opening chapter of Acts, Luke is absolutely adamant: CHRIST IS RISEN.
The original Greek is even more striking - if I translate a little more literally: "He presented Himself alive after His suffering by many signposts, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the Kingdom of God."
The book of Acts is about the spread of the gospel. It is about the message of the Church. It is about the Kingdom of God. But for Luke there is only one foundation that the life, witness and mission of the church can be built on, and that is the fact that Jesus PRESENTED Himself _alive_ and that He gave them "signposts" (think of the old Roman milestones) that He was alive.
One of the commentators explained the Greek word for "Signposts" (convincing proofs) as follows: supplying indisputable information, "marking something off" as unmistakable (irrefutable).
Why the forty day long delay between resurrection and ascension?
To lay a solid foundation - Christ is Risen.
On Sunday when you go to church, you are participating in a 2000 year old phenomenon: Against all odds, in spite of many show-stopping roadblocks and even though it has been hamstrung by many failures, the Kingdom of God has spread and the church continues - why? Because Jesus is Risen and His ongoing life is the foundation of the Church!
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
