As we close out our reading/listening to the Bible accounts of Jesus with  John 20-21 (ESV), I am struck by the Apostle John's Easter morning spiritual self-assessment.  He wrote in John 20:8-9, "...the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead."  Through these Bible accounts of Jesus, the disciples are portrayed as slow to believe, slow to understand.

But as I think about it, so am I.  So are we. 

There is undeniable evidence that God made a historic housecall on humanity in Jesus.  There is undeniable evidence that Jesus died on a cross.  There is undeniable evidence that Jesus rose from the dead.  The Bible makes it absolutely clear that Jesus endured hell's punishment on our behalf; and that He conquered death on our behalf.  The Bible makes it absolutely clear that forgiveness of sin, a restored relationship with God, freedom from Satan and sinful self, divine power for daily life, heaven, and our physical resurrection-- these are all freely given through faith in Jesus.

Yet, how slow we are to grasp this!  How hard it is for us to get our "head around this!"  How difficult it is to live like this is reality!

Oh, Holy Spirit, please raise Jesus up in our heads and hearts that we might "get it" in greater measure than ever than ever before.  Then, please motivate, transform and equip us to fulfill our God-given mission (John 20:21).  Amen.

Christ is risen!  He is risen, indeed!

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