Proper 7 (GA)

Luke 24:36-53

³⁶ As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” ³⁷ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate before them.

⁴⁴ Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

⁵⁰ Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³ and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Jesus Christ has ascended to the Father. He is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. Jesus lifts up his hands and blesses his disciples. He is that parted from them as he is carried into heaven. The disciples continue to reveal Jesus Christ in the temple as they preached the forgiveness of sins.

Most of us will focus on the great ending of the story. Maybe we will pay attention to the fact that Jesus offers the disciples Peace or that Jesus fulfills all of the Holy Scriptures. But here is the part where most of us are: "Why do doubts arise in your hearts?" Many of us often times have doubts arise in our hearts.

Some of these doubts may concern the resurrection of Jesus Christ, like the disciples. But most of us have doubts about whether God really loves us. Some may even doubt whether God will forgive our individual sins. You may even be doubting whether God is still having compassion on you during your times of trouble.

I tell you for certain, God knows everything that is going on in your life. God has provided the sacrifice for every Sin, there is no sin so small nor so great for which Jesus Christ has not paid the price. Jesus Christ stands before his disciples and makes sure that there doubts are proven wrong. Jesus is physically raised from the dead. Jesus is with you through the good times and the bad. God has had compassion upon you, and offers you the perfect gift of healing: Everlasting Life.