1 Corinthians 15:3-7 Private Encounters (Devotions)
Paul's summary of what happened after Easter is very simple:
1 Corinthians 15:3–7 (NASB95) — 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
What intrigues me about Paul's chronology are these two, private encounters that our risen Lord had--one with Peter, one with James.
Acts 1:4 records that Jesus moved around for the forty days between His resurrection and His return to heaven, but the disciples were no longer traveling with Him. He had a way of finding them, sometimes very unexpectedly, even when they were sequestered behind closed doors. So it's not a stretch to assume that Jesus was the one who sought out Peter and James when they were alone. The Gospels don't record anything about these meetings, and Paul gives us no details.
What I find comforting, though, is the Lord knows where to find us, and He shows up at just the right time. It may catch us off guard. He talks to us about our deepest fears and our profoundest joys. No one else knows--no one else needs to know--what He says to us, but it's just what we need to hear.
Our Risen Lord, Make our hearts ready to have you interrupt our daily lives to talk with you and hear what you have to say to us. Amen.
1 Corinthians 15:3–7 (NASB95) — 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
What intrigues me about Paul's chronology are these two, private encounters that our risen Lord had--one with Peter, one with James.
Acts 1:4 records that Jesus moved around for the forty days between His resurrection and His return to heaven, but the disciples were no longer traveling with Him. He had a way of finding them, sometimes very unexpectedly, even when they were sequestered behind closed doors. So it's not a stretch to assume that Jesus was the one who sought out Peter and James when they were alone. The Gospels don't record anything about these meetings, and Paul gives us no details.
What I find comforting, though, is the Lord knows where to find us, and He shows up at just the right time. It may catch us off guard. He talks to us about our deepest fears and our profoundest joys. No one else knows--no one else needs to know--what He says to us, but it's just what we need to hear.
Our Risen Lord, Make our hearts ready to have you interrupt our daily lives to talk with you and hear what you have to say to us. Amen.
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