Misunderstandings about the Resurrection

"And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered..." Luke 24:41 (K.J.V.)

"The disciples were not less true to the memory of their Lord. They were like a 'widow indeed,' who remains faithful to her deceased husband, and dotes on his virtues, though his reputation be at zero in the general esteem of the world. Call Him a deceiver who might, they could not believe that Jesus had been a deceiver. Mistaken He as well as they might have been, but an imposter- never! Therefore, though He is dead and their hope gone, they still act as men who cherish the fondest attachment to their Master whom they have lost." The Training of the Twelve, A. B. Bruce, pp. 491.

This time of loss for the disciples is one of despair and grief. They are like a family who has gathered for the loss of a loved one, with the deep introversion that is experienced after a funeral. Only those who remain in the family remain together to cope with the grief of a loved one dying. 

There is one difference though. This family of disciples has the threat of the Jews lurking around them as they grieve. Not only do they experience the grief of loss, but the disappointment of the ones who heard the gospel and yet chose not to believe when Jesus shared. Even yet, the disciples remained faithful to their Lord; only now He was dead. Throughout the women's visit to prepare the body for burial and return testimony to the resurrection, the disciples still had a hard time with the second thing Jesus told them; that he would rise from the dead. In fact John and Peter ran to the tomb not with the belief that He had resurrected, but to find out what happened to the stolen body!

Even today, many of us don't think about the day when Jesus has promised to either come and get us by way of the Rapture, or our death and arrival in heaven. We seem to somewhat go around in our daily lives busy with the things that occupy our thoughts for each day. It is very real in the human nature to deal with what is in front of us each day and not consider tomorrow. But I was thinking the today about something that might help each of us think about that day to come...

When I get close to a time where we are about to go on vacation, I find myself looking forward to that date long before it comes. I'm a planner by nature. I plan the flight or drive, carefully look at the route, see what is in the area I'm headed, check out the accommodations of my stay, and dream of the day we leave! What if though? What if I were to look forward to the day that I might see Jesus face to face like that? In order to be ready though I need to plan how to arrive safely (establishing my salvation), studying the Word of God to find out what it will look like, and finally dream of the day as if it draws closer each day! Just imagine how exciting that day can be and dreaming about a day when your vacation is not even close to the paradise resort you will be arriving! Here's a picture of some of it. No traffic to deal with, no check in lines at the airport, no security checks, no finding your luggage and carrying it around, no needing the rest from the jet-lag of travel. All these things are in the past. You will arrive safe, sound, rested, and rejoicing with praise when we see Him in His ultimate paradise!