Nature - Nature of Christ

In Scripture we can see some of that nature of Christ after the resurrection.

Transfiguration

Luke 9:28 NKJV

Now it came to pass, about eight days after these sayings, that He took Peter, John, and James and went up on the mountain to pray.

Jesus frequently went up onto a mountain to pray,

Usually, He wanted to get away from the crowds,

But this would be different.

And not just because He took with Him, Peter, John, and James.

Luke 9:29 NKJV

As He prayed, the appearance of His face was altered, and His robe became white and glistening.

Jesus’ face changed,

Matthew said His face shone like the sun.

And his clothes became white,

Mark said they became like show, whiter than any launder could make them.

Was this the appearance of Jesus’ glory?

Luke 9:30–31 NKJV

And behold, two men talked with Him, who were Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His decease which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Moses and Elijah show up,

And they appear in glory, bright like Jesus.

And they had a nice little discussion… about Jesus’ death.

Sadly, the three apostles Jesus had brought were not part of the discussion.

Luke 9:32–33 NKJV

But Peter and those with him were heavy with sleep; and when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who stood with Him. Then it happened, as they were parting from Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.

That must have been some wake-up call.

Imagine waking up to three glorious beings, two of which had died centuries before!

Peter, always one to speak first and consider later, sees that Moses and Elijah are leaving and makes an offer.

Master, this is a good deal.

This is more like what we were expecting.

A being that everyone would naturally worship.

With two glorious helpers besides.

Rather than leaving, how about we build you some tabernacles, so you can all stay with us in this nice, bright, shiny form.

People could come up here to worship you.

This was more like the beginning of the new kingdom Israel was expecting.

But, as Scripture notes, Peter did not know what he was saying.

Luke 9:34 NKJV

While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were fearful as they entered the cloud.

This must have been a different kind of cloud.

The only time I’ve been afraid when entering a cloud is when entering a fog bank while driving.

God had appeared in a cloud before.

Exodus 13:21 NKJV

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.

Exodus 40:34–35 NKJV

Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

The cloud of God’s presence does seem to scare people.

Luke 9:35 NKJV

And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

God Himself declares that Jesus is His beloved Son.

And we are not simply to hear what He says.

akouete means to heed what He says.

Luke 9:36 NKJV

When the voice had ceased, Jesus was found alone. But they kept quiet, and told no one in those days any of the things they had seen.

When God stopped talking, Jesus was standing alone.

And the apostles kept quiet,

Rather novel, considering how many times people ignored Jesus when He told them not to tell what had happened.

They waited until Jesus was gone to recall this event.

But Jesus did not always appear in His glory.

Road to Emmaus

Luke 24:13–16 NKJV

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

Two guys, just walking along, when someone comes up to them.

Not that uncommon in a time when people walked from place to place.

Jesus looked like a man,

But their eyes were restrained,

God kept them from recognizing who it was.

Luke 24:17–18 NKJV

And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

Now Cleopas answered has always struck me,

“Don’t you know what’s been going on?”

Jesus is the only person on earth who actually KNOWS what’s going on.

But Jesus plays along ...

Luke 24:19–24 NKJV

And He said to them, “What things?” So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see.”

Quite a story these men have.

A mighty Prophet, delivered to crucification by their rulers.

Hope that He was going to redeem Israel, apparently dashed.

Women claiming they saw a vision that He was alive.

Certainly something to ponder.

Luke 24:25–27 NKJV

Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Always the teacher, Jesus explains that this should have been expected.

Jesus explains to them from their Scriptures, Moses and the Prophets, that this was predicted.

Luke 24:28–29 NKJV

Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther. But they constrained Him, saying, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.” And He went in to stay with them.

Near Eastern culture promotes hospitality.

Not only would it have been rude not to invite this strange man to join them,

But to travel alone at night would be dangerous.

So Jesus joined them.

Luke 24:30–31 NKJV

Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

Isn’t it amazing how little things can bring back memories?

The smell of a familiar meal.

The recitation of an oft heard phrase.

Or the enactment of a tradition.

Once Jesus broke the bread, their eyes are open.

They finally are allowed to see who it really is.

And then He vanished!

Luke 24:32 NKJV

And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

Did our hearts not burn while He talked to us.

The difference between hearing a familiar passage and having it come alive in our hearts.

What were they to do?

Luke 24:33–35 NKJV

So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread.

What could they do?

Forget that it’s night time and dangerous travel.

This news is too important to wait.

They had to go back to Jerusalem immediately and tell the others.

And boy, were they in for a surprise!

Christ Appearance

Luke 24:36–37 NKJV

Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.

Have you ever have someone come up behind you and you weren’t aware?

You jump when they speak, because you didn’t expect it.

Now imagine, you’re listening to these two guys describe running into Jesus on the road,

And suddenly “Peace to you.”

I bet they jumped. I bet they were terrified.

They thought they had seen a ghost when Jesus walked on the water.

Here is was right in their midst.

Luke 24:38–40 NKJV

And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

Why are you afraid? Why do you doubt?

Not just look at Him, but touch Him.

He has flesh and bones.

They could touch Him.

Luke 24:41–43 NKJV

But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.

They couldn’t believe it was true.

Jesus had risen from the dead.

They had seen resurrections, but Jesus had done them.

And now here He is standing in front of them.

EATING!

Appears to the Seven Disciples

Jesus would appear to the disciples one more time.

John 21:1–5 NKJV

After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself: Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.”

When all else fails, we fall back on what we know.

And in this case, fishermen fish.

Once again, Jesus appears, but the disciples don’t recognize Him.

John 21:6–10 NKJV

And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”

Once again, after a fruitless night of fishing, Jesus tells Peter to case his net one more time.

Sure enough, they pull in a huge load of fish.

And Peter immediately recognized who had done this before,

And jumps in the water to swim to shore.

The boat, the nets, not even the fish matter, Jesus is here!

John 21:11–14 NKJV

Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, “Who are You?”—knowing that it was the Lord. Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

And once again, Jesus takes the bread and gives it to His disciples,

And also the fish.

Conclusion

Too often, we have our preconceived notions of how Jesus will appear.

As a king on a stallion,

As a glorified being,

And sometimes, He does.

But other times, Jesus appears as a man,

With hands a feet,

A man we can touch,

And a man who eats.

How many times may you have encountered Jesus, or the angel of God, and your eyes have been restrained?

We may not know until we see Jesus in glory just how often we have encountered our Lord.

May He find us ready and fulfilling His commandments,

Whether we recognize Him or not.