
There is a still a bit of uncertainty surrounding the resurrection of Jesus among the early disciples. It wasn’t too far back on the narrative when we read of Mary at the empty tomb, with tears in her eyes, crushed under the heavy burden of the sting of death. She was so moved by the loss of Jesus, see didn’t notice the angels were angels, nor did she recognize it was Jesus that she spoke to either. She supposed Him to be the gardener. Joh 20:15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." It was only after He called out to her, “Mary,†that she recognized Him as the Lord and ran off to tell the others that she had seen the Lord. The Lord was constantly teaching His disciples and training them. It becomes very evident in chapter 20. There are at least four places in this chapter, when the disciples go a tell something of Jesus to the rest of the believers. This should be an encourage, to always have something edifying to say about Jesus, no matter the turmoil. In Good times and in bad, have a witness of Jesus locked and loaded.  1. Joh 20:2 So she ran off and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, whom Jesus kept loving. She told them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" 2. Joh 20:18 So Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!" She also told them what he had told her. 3. Joh 20:21 Jesus told them again, "Peace be with you. Just as the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." To Thomas, the disciples said to Him, 4.  Joh 20:25 So the other disciples kept telling him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he told them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger into them, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe!"  Repeatedly, the influence of the resurrected Lord has caused people to tell of Him to the rest of the world. Moreover, your life and testimony should impact others in such a way, that a generous and Christ like rendering of your disposition just becomes natural and automatic to those that know you.
I remember reading of such a man, whose life was so hide in Christ, that it even helped him fall out of being a suspect to a crime. Being a young man that loved to tinker with things, Charles worked with his uncle during the summer months in his shop. Â Each morning they stopped to pick up the newspaper at a small grocery store and read it together. Shifting through the headlines was a highlight of both of their mornings together.
One morning, when they got to the shop, Donald had found, that by mistake, he had accidently grabbed two papers. At first, he wanted to just wait until the next morning when they went to the store, then pay for the extra paper, but his conscience got the best of him and he said, “Hop in Charles, I need to go to the store and pay for this paper before the man thinks that I stole it.†He got in his Ford truck, drove back to the store, and returned the paper.
A week or so went by, and someone stole money from that little country store. When the Sherriff pinpointed the time, it happened, the owner remembered only two people had been in the store that day—and one was my uncle. The owner of that store dismissed my uncle as a suspect, saying, “Donald is really honest. He came all the way back here just to return a newspaper he took by mistake.†It didn’t take much deduction to find the other man, who after confronted made a full-on confession.  Donald’s honesty made a big impression on the owner of the storeowner, and on Charles.
Does your Christian walk square with your Christian witness? When you speak of Jesus, if you speak of Him, does your witness line up with your character? Would people dismiss you automatically, like they did with Donald, because they know you would never do such a thing?
Most importantly, Jesus wants us to “go,†even if we are frightened, like these early disciples, He even wants us to be willing to go. Can you pray that today, “Lord make me willing to be a better witness for you?†We live in such a time, that puts on display the depravity of man, it calls of demands we become the boots on the ground of the Lord Jesus. For many of us, that means we have some cleaning up of our own yard. Here is the thing, don’t dwell in your yard and continue to say, “I can’t be a witness unless I get my life right first. Lean on Christ, He will help you clean up your garbage in life, and be on mission for Him. As the author of Hebrews instructs, Heb 3:1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, Heb 3:2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house.  He has called us all, who identify with the risen Lord, are to be faith to consider and share of His saving grace.
- Jesus Unlocks Doors and Tears Down Fear: Joh 20:19Â On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."Joh 20:20Â When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
- It is amazing, even in the event of His death and resurrection, Jesus is still the master teacher. Just moments before, the disciples were scattered, crushed from despair, and without hope, but Jesus will make them see that what He said of Himself is true and coming to pass before their eyes
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