Greetings again my Brethren. Okay more this month about when Jesus visited the disciples and others in the Scriptures. As we have said in months past Jesus comes for a visit usually when we are in a situation or circumstance not to our liking, but His arrival brings the peace, the calm, and understanding to our hearts. Often His appearing brings the clarity of purpose why the situation or circumstance has come our way. When we were living in Fayetteville, NC one day Jesus came walking my parent’s home. Now my mother bar none was the most spiritual woman I have ever met in my life. I could go on and on with example after example, but unless you knew her you would think I was lying. Anyway, my mom would lay on the couch in the living room with the door open so she could look out the front door as she prayed or just waited before the LORD. One day she was in the living room and she said to my father “hon, hon (she always called my father hon) quick come see Jesus is walking down our road.” Well, my dad got up from his chair (he as watching TV) and ran into the living room and said, “where is He?” Mom said, “He just walked past our house.” So dad darted out on the porch and he said he thinks he saw Jesus go into the house on the corner. Now the house on the corner was owned by Mike a one-time helicopter pilot in the US Army who lost his flight status and was ultimately kicked out of the US Army because he lost his battle with the bottle and his health was very poor. He would come over to our home drunk as a skunk asking for my mother to pray with him and she would. Time and time again he would come over (he would never go inside the house) to our car port in a drunken stupor asking for prayer. Well, on this day Jesus walked past our home and paid a visit to Mike. About two maybe three hours later my parents heard the siren of the rescue squad and saw it come barrelling down the road and it stopped at Mike’s home. We never knew the cause of death all we knew is Jesus stopped by for a visit. In this case we do not know what happened no funeral, the house was sold, and new folks moved in. But you know all of that does not matter. Jesus stopped by for a visit and He (Jesus) was gracious enough to let my mom know what He was doing. This event had a large affect on my dad. At any rate, Jesus’ presence calmed the situation in Mike’s life. Now did Mike go to heaven? I do not know that is not for me to say, but I do know Mike’s situation was taken care of. When Jesus comes for a visit our situations and circumstances are always taken care of. This was the case with the disciples when they were hiding in the upper room, after Jesus was crucified and risen from the dead. Only Marry had seen Jesus, Peter and John heard about it from Mary and went to the empty tomb, but now Jesus appears to the disciples, except for Thomas. In John we read, “Then the same day (the next day or the morning of the resurrection, maybe a Sunday that night) at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace beunto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.” (John 19-20) Here Jesus stops by for a little visit to let His disciples know what he said was true but probably more important to calm their fears. Jesus told them (his disciples) He would be put to death, but fear not on the third day He shall arise, but they really did not believe Him. In Luke we read, “Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. 32 For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 34And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” (Luke 18:31-34) So Jesus had to let them know His words were true and He is what He said He is, the Son of the living God. When Jesus comes by for a visit the truth or the lie is revealed for what it is. Jesus had to let the disciples know His words were true if not how could they go out to the Jewish people and try to convince them Jesus arose from the dead as He had said? Jesus put them at peace. When Jesus comes by for a visit being the Prince of Peace He brings the peace or maybe a sword depending on the situation. Jesus shows them His hands and His side, I guess He was wearing sandals. And they (the disciples) were glad. Now that answered their physical question is this Jesus, but their real problem was not the physical, but their spiritual lack of understanding because Luke 18 tells us in verse 34, “And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” The disciples biggest need was their lack of spiritual understanding of which Jesus has to impress on them. When Jesus comes by for a visit most often it is not to change our physical conditions, but to change our spiritual condition forever. This Jesus began to do on that evening. How about you?
Next month we will continue to look at some circumstances in which the LORD has visited man as seen in some diverse situations. Do you see Him draw near? Please know God is near to them who are near to Him. Do you feel His presence? Do you see His hand in your life? He is waiting on us to make our first move. Written by David Stahl
