Some thought Easter was over at 12:00 today when church services were over. In this scripture we see that it was just beginning at sunset. Easter is not over. The sunset won’t stop it.
The last ones to discover Jesus face to face were those first men who walked with him. Sunset on Easter saw a fresh beginning for the apostles of the church. It got dark as far as nature was concerned, but there was no sunset on the work of Easter. There never will be.
Luke 24:33 “And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them, 34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. 35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread. 36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. 43 And he took it, and did eat before them. 44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.”
The disciples were the last ones to be convinced, and it took the Savior appearing himself and offering to show his wounds for them to be convinced. How could they be so thick headed? Stop and think about it. We find ourselves the same way sometimes. We all have our stubborn times when we’re slow to believe. Sometimes we’re just as hardheaded as they were.
The sun was going down. Jesus had already appeared to the women and Simon Peter. That afternoon he appeared to two of the 70 disciples as they headed back home to Emmaeus. As they walked, defeated at the events of the past few days, Jesus joined them. They spilled out their hearts to him, but didn’t recognize him. Jesus is often closest to us when we least recognize him. Sometimes we need to clean our spiritual glasses. They had not taken to heart what Jesus taught them during those three years. Maybe it faded in and out. Maybe their minds wandered at times while he taught them. What we learn at church is so important to us during the sunsets we face in life. During the week, our time in church can be a great help to us.
The women told them they had seen the Lord. The disciples were just slow to believe. When Jesus broke bread with these Emmaeus disciples, their eyes were opened. They ran back to Jerusalem and told the others. As they spoke, Jesus appeared. It scared them to death. They thought they were seeing a ghost. The devil didn’t want them to believe.
Jesus does expect us to live by what he says and not continually ask for signs or make deals with him. Why can’t we take him at his word? Our belief in his word was what saved us. His word is all it will take to get us through life.
Jesus knew their thoughts. He said “behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” In other words “it’s me! I’m still Lord!” They needed a reality check. Instead of believing he arose bodily, they thought he was a ghost.
It’s getting toward sunset on this Easter, and we need to remember we’re saved with a real salvation. We pray to someone who is real. The Bible is not just a book; it’s the Word of God. We don’t serve a memory. This is not a commemoration day. It’s a time for renewed realization. The sun never sets on the truth that Jesus is alive. No matter what comes or goes in life, no matter how rough sunsets may be, Jesus will always be alive.
We are indeed witnesses of it. It was proven to us when we trusted Jesus as Savior. Jesus is still just as fully alive now as he was the day you were saved. When the last sun sets on the human race, Jesus will still be alive because he’s alive forevermore.
A good prayer for us as this Easter Sunday draws to a close would be “Lord, help me not to be slow to believe. Help me never doubt or downplay the fact that you’re alive.”
By trusting in the Lord, no matter how many sunsets we have, we will be alive in the Lord.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 