April 5, 2026 - Made New
- brooks16055
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
I first want to share an additional thought to yesterday's post. Talking with a friend I was reminded that Passover was more of a celebration of them being set free from captivity. Jesus' blood does that for us too. We are set free from sin and death. It does not mean that we will never sin or never die a physical death. but it does mean that we are no longer slaves to sin. We also have a promised land to look forward to. When Jesus returns He will bring us into the promised land for all eternity. But just as the Israelites wandered in the difficult desert, we must endure this difficult world. Filled with struggles and enemies. Will we grumble and long to return to captivity for the ease of being given what we want? I hope not. We have so much to look forward to in our promised land. Not only will it be a new perfect earth but we will have new bodies. Just as Jesus' body was new and better than the old body ours will be also. Today's reading demonstrates this truth.
Luke 24:1-8 NIV
[1] On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. [2] They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, [3] but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. [5] In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? [6] He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: [7] ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” [8] Then they remembered his words.
When the women took the spices and perfumes that thy had prepared on Friday to the tomb very early Sunday morning the tomb was empty. Jesus had risen! Just as He had told them. They still had an expectation that Jesus was still dead and that someone must have stollen the body but then the angels appeared and told them what had happened. Then they remembered Jesus' words.
Luke 24:12 NIV
[12] Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
When the women went to tell the others, they didn't believe them enough to take them at their word. Peter wanted it to be true. Remember he is the impulsive and take charge one. So, he took off and ran to the tomb. I imagine that he not only wanted it to be true, but he was already thinking through multiple things. If it's not true, we have to find Him. I need to get to the tomb right away so that I can find clues that will lead me to Him. Perhaps the women were mistaken, and his body really is still there. When he saw the burial cloth lying there empty, he had to process the fact that Jesus really was gone, and He really did rise from the dead. Jesus body was removed from the grave clothes without disturbing them. His broken and bloody body was removed and renewed. Something our human bodies normally couldn't do.
Luke 24:25-27 NIV
[25] He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Jesus then joined a couple of disciples who were walking along the road. Perhaps His body was different enough that those who were distracted and distraught did not recognize Him. Maybe they were expecting Jesus body to be as they had last seen Him. Bloody and scared. Or perhaps one of the abilities that Jesus new body had was to alter himself as He wanted. Or perhaps it was just His power of influence that kept their eyes closed from recognizing Him. He obviously didn't show them his scared hands. Even when He spent a long-time walking with them and reviewing the prophecies that predicted all that had happened.
Luke 24:30-31 NIV
[30] When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. [31] Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
When He broke the bread and gave thanks their eyes were opened. Either Jesus' appearance changed just enough to be recognizable with this familiar time with Him. Or Jesus' power to open their eyes was all that was needed. But we see that His new body and ours will be recognizable.
Luke 24:36, 38-39 NIV
[36] While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
[38] He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? [39] Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
Jesus' new body was able to appear and disappear as needed. He appeared among the disciples in a locked room. We may also have similar ability when we spend eternity in the promised land.
Luke 24:43 NIV
[43] and he took it and ate it in their presence.
Jesus eats with them. This is good news to me because I love food.
Luke 24:45 NIV
[45] Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.
He gives them the ability to understand Scripture. We will be able to understand things that we are not able to understand on this earth. And it will just be knowledge that we are given. Understanding of things that are beyond this world's understanding.
Luke 24:51-53 NIV
[51] While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. [52] Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. [53] And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
Jesus leaves in the same way that He will return. I love that the disciples "worshiped Him and...stayed continually in the temple praising God." That is the picture of what it will be like for us when Jesus returns and we are taken to live with Him on the new earth. We will worship Him with great joy continually.
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