(This is the final meditation in a series of 366 written on the Genealogy of Jesus Christ. One meditation is provided for each day, with an extra for leap years. This series can also be heard as a podcast of the same name, with a month and day assigned to each reading.)
On the third day, after dying on a cross and being buried in borrowed tomb, the Messiah, Jesus Christ, was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He had completed the Father’s will flawlessly, living a sinless life, and laying down His life as the complete atonement for the sin of all who would believe.
Jesus’ disciples gathered after His death and burial, not quite sure what to do now. They were in despair and probably also felt guilty for abandoning Him the way they did, in absolute fear for their own lives. But God was about to turn their mourning into a great gladness.
36 And as they were saying these things, He (Jesus) Himself stood among them. He said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. 38 “Why are you troubled?” He asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Touch Me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” 40 Having said this, He showed them His hands and feet. 41 But while they still were amazed and unbelieving because of their joy, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, 43 and He took it and ate in their presence.
44 Then He told them, “These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. 46 He also said to them, “This is what is written: The Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead the third day, 47 and repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And look, I am sending you what My Father promised. As for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high.” Luke 24:36-49 (HCSB)
Jesus instructed them to stay in Jerusalem until they received the gift of the Holy Spirit, Whom they would receive on the day of Pentecost. When they did receive His Spirit, they were filled with a new boldness, conviction, and connection to God, and we’re never to run from trouble again. After a fruitful and successful life of ministry, many of these disciples would also be put to death for their faith, proclaiming the name of Jesus to the last.
Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus would return to heaven from their presence.
50 Then He led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up His hands He blessed them. 51 And while He was blessing them, He left them and was carried up into heaven. 52 After worshiping Him, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they were continually in the temple complex praising God. Luke 24:50-53 (HCSB)
Their collective Pentecost experience would occur ten days after this, with 120 of the believers having been gathered in an upper room for a prolonged prayer meeting.
One of the youngest of the twelve apostles, John, would still be alive six decades later. While in exile for his faith on the island of Patmos, he was given a vision of Christ’s future return, as recorded in the book of Revelation.
1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. 2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:
Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity,
and He will live with them.
They will be His people,
and God Himself will be with them
and be their God.
4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Death will no longer exist;
grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer,
because the previous things have passed away.
5 Then the One seated on the throne said, “Look! I am making everything new.” He also said, “Write, because these words are faithful and true.” 6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give water as a gift to the thirsty from the spring of life. Revelation 21:1-5 (HCSB)
What began with the call of Abraham, to call out a people of faith, to the call of Moses to free them slavery and lead them into a Promised Land, to David, the faithful king whose throne has been preserved forever for Jesus to reign from, God’s plan for the redemption and restoration of His fallen people has been completed in Christ.
This collection of meditations is the story of the people who lived this journey as members of the genealogy of Jesus, and of the prophets who led, encouraged, and guided them. But this website is just a starting point. By prayerfully searching and immersing ourselves in God’s word, we continue to learn more and more about God’s ways, His kingdom, and His goodness. May we all be filled with the Holy Spirit of Christ and strengthened as we seek to learn from Him, and to follow in His footsteps. May we also be ready and found in faith, with the oil of the Spirit burning bright, when the time comes for Jesus to return for us in His glory. And may the Lord richly bless you each and every day on your faith journey.
Reflection
This series evolved out of a Bible Study on the genealogy of Jesus that my wife and I hosted for a few teens from our church several years ago. During the Covid pandemic, I began writing it down and putting it online, a little at a time. Now, three years later, it is complete.
The sum of this series is a record and a testimony on how God has used His word and His loving generosity to impact my life over the course of many days and years. Along with everyone else, I am still very much a work in progress, with a long, long way to go.
Father God, we pray that the readers, wherever they may live on Your good earth, will find drops of Your grace scattered throughout this writing, and that they will partake of Your enclosed scripture, tasting and seeing that the Lord is very good. We pray Your blessing and protection on all who have the willingness and wisdom to seek and to follow You. We ask this in the name of our precious Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
May the Lord richly bless you with a beautiful day today!