August 11 | Acts 10:34-43
DAILY READING
Acts 10:34-43
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REFLECTION
Believe and See
by Judy Webb
Acts 10:39-43
"They killed him by hanging him on the cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen." (Acts 10:39b-40)
This is the Gospel, the Good News message in just a few words. Jesus died on a cross, God raised him from the dead on the third day. It is the next six words that caught my attention. "And caused him to be seen." I dug into these words to see what they meant, what the significance of them are to us, as we read scripture today. The Believer’s Bible Commentary says: “As far as we know, the Lord Jesus was not seen by any unbelievers after His resurrection.
"He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen – by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead." (Acts 10:41)
Those who ate and drank with Jesus after his resurrection received unmistakable proof of his bodily resurrection. “Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ None of them asked him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord.” (John 21:12) This shows Jesus had a real physical body after his resurrection. And, eating and drinking are signs of close personal fellowship.
"He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead." (Acts 10:42)
Jesus did not appear to Pilot, or any of the Pharisees, but only to those who knew and loved him. They are the ones who would obey and begin to tell the world. The resurrection was too unbelievable for the masses to comprehend. Jesus appeared only to certain individuals so they could be his witnesses. And the story moves on from there. As Believers, we too are called to share the Good News, to tell everyone who will listen, about the life-saving love of our Savior.
Dear Jesus, Thank you for a Believer's heart. Thank you for revealing yourself to those who traveled the road to the cross with you. Thank you for including me in that vision, for embracing me, a sinner, and forgiving my sinful ways. Amen
