Dear Family,
Today is Sunday, May 1, 2022, Day 1 of Week 3. This is the 15th Day of our Count to Pentecost.
After a brief stay at Marah, the Israelites went further south to another campsite about 20 miles away. At Elim they found an oasis of 12 springs and 70 palm trees. There they were able to rest and refresh. God was preparing them for more lessons and challenges that were on the way.
As we follow the journey the Israelites took from Egypt approximately 3500 years ago in the Wilderness, let us also be reminded about the fantastic events that were occurring about 2000 years ago in the area of Galilee and Jerusalem.
God’s Son, now raised to everlasting life, was appearing to His Apostles, faithful disciples, and other witnesses. He was talking with them and teaching them out of the Holy Scriptures, preparing them for the great events of Pentecost and beyond when God was going to begin His Church and create a spiritual people who would truly be prepared for the literal Kingdom of God on earth.
There were at least 11 different appearances prior to His ascension into heaven. (1) Mary Magdalene apparently was the first to see the resurrected Christ (John 20:10-18). (2) Later, there were several women at his tomb that saw Him (Matthew 28:9-10). (3) On the road to Emmaus, two other disciples encountered Jesus (Luke 24:13-31). (4) Then Jesus appeared to Peter in Jerusalem (Luke 24:34 and 1 Corinthians 15:5). (5) While in a closed room in Jerusalem, several other disciples saw and spoke to Jesus just appeared in their midst. (John 20:19-23).
(6) Eight days later, again in a closed room, Jesus appeared. This time the Apostle Thomas was present (John 20:26-30).
(7) Later, 7 of Christ’s disciples saw Jesus on the shore of the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:1-24). (8) 1 Corinthians 15:6 asserts that 500 believers saw Jesus at the same time. (9) James saw Jesus according to 1 Corinthians 15:7.
(10) Jesus appeared to the eleven Apostles/disciples on a mountain in Galilee (Matthew 28:18-20).
(11) And, on the 40th day after His resurrection, Jesus walked with His disciples toward Bethany just prior to His ascension into heaven (Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1: 4-9).
The only other account we have of a direct encounter with the risen Christ is that of the Apostle Paul who apparently saw Him (1 Corinthians 15:8) and heard His voice from heaven while he was on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-6).
Ben Faulkner, Pastor
© Copyright 2022, Church of the Sovereign God