Luke 24:36-53
I could not get it. My head had begun to hurt proving that my brain was stretched beyond its normal boundary. I had carefully followed the procedure. I had worked the problem over and over. I had even tried some creative ways to come to a suitable solution. Finally my pride had to be stuffed into the hole of submission and I went to the teacher’s desk. Esther Ruth Collins was probably the smartest high school teacher I had ever known. She would be able to help me. And she did. The algebra problem was worked before my eyes with such ease and speed that I felt small, insignificant, dumb and grateful all at the same time. It was one of those, “Oh yeah, I knew that” times.
The disciples must have felt somewhat the same way. Luke says, 24:37 “But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.” KJV At that time they were not bragging about their overwhelming grasp of theological concepts. Jesus began to carefully go through it all one more time. How many times had He explained to them before? He does that for us. He confirms His love over and over. He lets us know that it is okay when we don’t understand or even remember, All we need to do is come to Him. He never gets tired of hearing, “Would you please help me with this problem?”
Dr. Gayle Woods
Gal 2:17-21 (20)
I have been at the head of a casket many times. Each time as the mourners passed by I tried to see inside of their soul. I have seen them tremble violently. I have seen them cry freely. I have seen them wail mournfully. And yet, one woman made an indelible impression on my mind. Her face was hard and expressionless. I saw hopelessness stamped across her countenance. I later learned that she was terrified of death. To her it was the end of all that she loved dearly. She saw no hope beyond the grave.
The Christian on the other hand looks at physical death from a different perspective. Because Jesus lives we have promise of life forevermore. Thus in explaining the separation that must take place when we turn from a life of sinfulness, Paul uses a meaningful word picture. He gives the paradox of the Christian hanging on a cross in death but at the same time full of abundant life. What does the word picture describe? Our life that is crucified is our past life of sinfulness. The past life of sinfulness and the determination to continue to live a life that is friendly toward sin is also crucified. And yet our life following conversion does not come to an end. Through the resurrection power of Jesus we now have life in Him. This means that our purpose for life is no longer to follow the suggestions of a sinful world but rather to do our best to be always pleasing to God.
Dr. Gayle Woods