ALIVE: Chapter 186 (86-over and out. Roger that.) The Last 40 Days
/To what can we compare the days after the resurrection when Jesus appeared and disappeared on earth? Nothing and everything. After the resurrection, the Holy Spirit aspect of Jesus was most apparent. The ability to float in and out of the narrow spectrum of light, visible to the physical world, and to change His appearance revealed the fluidity between matter and spirit.
And yet, He was still 100% human, and at the same time 100% divine, however, never since His birth was Jesus’s divinity more apparent in the Scriptures than during these 40 days. Every year for more than two thousand years, many of His dedicated followers contemplate the magnificence of Jesus’s mystical post resurrection life on earth.
Those Saints who struggle most to unite with Christ in His humility and suffering, have similarly found themselves moving back and forth in this fluid state of both matter and Spirit. It is here, during this forty days, as Jesus demonstrated, and the rare others have experienced that the curtain is drawn back that exposes the totality of reality, the realm that physicists and engineers dapple in, i.e., the invisible, mathematical nature of creation.
We have spent a while tracing the life of Jesus, the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Messiah, the Christ from birth through death. In these pages we have been given an opportunity to appreciate Him in a new way, reading into His humanity with its joys, frustrations, work, His relationships with the crowds, His followers, students and His enemies. We experienced through our imagination those awesome miracles, such as multiplying food, walking on water, healing the blind, lame, leprous and sick, and raising the dead. Jesus showed us what Adam forfeited by yielding to Eve’s distrust that lead to flat out disobeying God, Adam’s father. He also told us that we will be able to do these things and more. Saints have often demonstrated the truth of that statement while others have been ruined by trying and failing and thus falling away because of it.
After Jesus returned after defying death and releasing the captives in Hades, He further illuminated the path to the narrow gate that we must force our way through, as Jesus said, to enter the Kingdom of God and live forever on the new earth under the new heaven.
Jesus told us that the Kingdom of God is first conceived and grows within the heart of children of God during our physical lifetime; we need wait no longer to experience the life of the truly living, who are aware of being united with God and boldly recognize our wrestle with evil. [That is within us and comes at us, struggling to be able to discern the difference, though that doesn’t really matter. Evil is evil.] Heaven too is here and now. Woe to those blind who can’t see it, and are as captive| on earth as the dead were in Hades.
Saint Basil the Great The Hexaemeron: “If the sun, subject to corruption, is so beautiful, so grand, so rapid in its movement, so invariable in its course; if its grandeur is in such perfect harmony with and due proportion to the universe: if by the beauty of its nature, it [the sun] shines like a brilliant eye in the middle of creation; if finally one cannot tire of contemplating it, what will be the Sun (son) of Righteousness? If the blind man suffers from not seeing the material world, what a deprivation is it for the sinner not to enjoy the True Light.”
After the resurrection Jesus returned to His family and friends to prove that He was as alive as ever, and to demonstrate that life follows death. In life as in His resurrected life, Jesus demonstrated what our physical body will be like when we live happily ever after. How nice that we can still eat!
The first five times of His appearance were on Pascha day as described in Chapter 185:
Mary Magdalene: Early morning. (Jn. 20:11-18)
Women at the Tomb: Early morning. (Matt. 28:8-10)
Peter: Early to mid-day. (Lk. 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5)
The men walking to Emmaus late in the afternoon. (Lk. 24:13-32)
The eleven w/out Thomas in the evening (Lk. 24:36-49; Jn. 20:19-23)
After the surprise….
Disciples with Thomas (a week later) John 20:24-2
Bartholomew went to the door this time and cracked it open to see if it was friend or foe. Seeing Thomas he exclaimed, “Where have you been? Did you hear what happened? Jesus is alive! We saw Him!”
“I had business, but I heard some say that Jesus came back from the dead. I don’t believe it.”
Bartholomew opened the door wider to let Thomas in, and shook his head thinking, ‘Poor sap.’ Then as Thomas entered past him Bartholomew said, “Well He was here.”
Behind them was the sound of human trumpetted-voices bellowing in harmony, “We saw Him. He IS alive!”
Thomas turned to look at Bartholomew and said, “Sorry pals, but unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I won’t believe you.”
Another week went by while the inner circle of disciples and the women were packing and planning their next steps. They knew that they should leave Jerusalem, but argued whether it should be clandestinely to avoid the Pharisees and chief priests, and even Pontus Pilate, or not. Sabbath came again and they decided to trickle away in twos and threes so as not to be noticed. But to leave in daylight. The doors were shut. Without any knock or opening of the doors, Jesus suddenly appeared.
Bartholomew who noticed Him first was not surprised. He just smiled broadly.
Jesus returned the smile with one of His unique glowing smiles and said, “Peace!”
To get Thomas’ attention, Jesus cleared his throat. Thomas turned his head with widening eyes. He was speechless.
Jesus walked over to where Thomas was sitting, looked down and said, “Give me your finger.”
Thomas looked up and in shame reached out his hand slowly. Jesus opened His robe to reveal the scar left by the pierce. He took Thomas’ hand and brought it to His side. While guiding Thomas’ hand to the scar, He said, “Don’t be faithless. But believe!”
Thomas’ eyes welled up with tears about to spill out and said to Jesus, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus replied, “Because you have seen and touched, you believe? Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed.” Thomas winced and looked at the ground.
Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Come here. Put your finger here and see My hands. Do not doubt but believe.”
Thomas didn’t have to do that anymore. He was ashamed enough at his hubris and his doubt. He looked down again and just as suddenly Jesus disappeared.
“Where did He go?” said Thomas.
Bartholomew replied, “Wherever He wanted to! He is free now. More powerful and more free than ever. They can’t kill Him again. Want some lunch?”
(7.) Jesus appears to the 11 while they sit at table. Mark 16:14
By now, the disciples had gotten used to Jesus’s new way of appearing and disappearing. It seemed to be a way to gently prepare His men and the women to become accustomed to the living Jesus that was unseen. To some, like John and Mary Magdalene there was no difference at all in their love and relationship whether He was standing in front of them or speaking to them in their hearts or consciences.
But there were the others, as Jesus knew very well, who were only fixed on what they saw, like Thomas was before.
(8.) Jesus Appears to the Eleven While They Sit at Table. Mark 16:14-18
All the disciples managed to get to Capurnaum, to the Galilee region.
One Sabbath evening they were gathered at Peter’s house. His wife and mother-in-law were glad to have Simon Peter home again. Although they too had been grief stricken at the news of the crucifixion, they wondered in hope whether Simon would stay close to home now.
“Supper is ready, come gentlemen.” called the wife. The hungry men gathered and after prayer eagerly passed the platters and filled their plates.
Sure enough, while they were eating Jesus appeared (as Simon Peter’s wife hoped He would.)
He was not happy this time, away from the women disciples, and His mother He upbraided His men. “How many times did I tell you that I was going to suffer, die and be raised?! Why were you surprised?” And looking at Thomas and others, He added, “Why did you not believe Me?! Are you so hardened in your hearts that even after I have overcome death, you are still surprised to see Me alive!? Open up! Soften up!”
Them Jesus toned it down, knowing that He needed to build or rebuild their confidence… the same men that fell asleep while He was praying in the garden, the same men who scattered when He was arrested.
He continued more calmly but firmly so as to leave no doubt that they were being given orders, not suggestions. “Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation, that I have overcome death, that the curse on Adam and Eve has been lifted for those who believe. He that believes and is baptized will be saved; but he that does not believe..” looking around at His disciples\ “will be condemned. And these signs will accompany them that believe: in Me they will cast out demons; they Will speak with new languages; They will be able to take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no way hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Jesus scanned the group to discern whether they heard and accepted the Great Commission.”
All heads nodded in agreement.
“Fine, let’s eat.”
The men dined with Jesus while Peter’s wife and mother in law served them. After the meal ended and they had spent some time in conversation, Jesus said, “I am going soon. Meet Me on that mountain in two days.”
When they all lowered their heads to continue eating, Jesus gradually disappeared.
(9.) Jesus appears to 11 on a mountain in Galilee. Matthew 28:16-20
The men noticed that Jesus was gone again and discussed their next steps. It was very new world that they needed to acclimate to. Following Jesus was going to mean a lot more than being body guards and crowd control. Actually imitating Him as they had practiced when they were sent out to heal would be the real test of a disciple. An average earth-bound person, oblivious to the source and meaning of life and death would fail. The three years they spent with Jesus was not very much time. Their future was to be the time to grow into what was expected of them.
Hiking up the mountain, each man was enveloped in his own thoughts. One by one, he reached the meeting place. When all eleven were there, they all looked around for Him and saw nothing but trees and sunny views. Most bowed their heads and some fell to their knees to pray; but some still doubted.
Jesus silently walked up to them.
“Hello Master, where did you come from? You frightened me.” said Peter.
Hearing that, the rest looked over and gathered around their resurrected Master to hear Him clearly.
“I brought you here to tell you what you need to be doing now. Do not fear the Pharisees or priests anymore. All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go out into the world to make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to observe whatsoever I commanded you. Be assured that I am with you always, even to the end of the world. Is that clear?Any questions?”
Each disciple agreed whether aloud or in his heart. ‘Mission accepted.’
As in the good old days, the men built a campfire and sat around it and talked, getting further instructions from Jesus, warnings and advice. But most importantly, He let them know that He would always be with them to guide them. They camped out that night and in the morning He was gone again. The men planned where each should go.
(10.) Jesus appears to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberius. John 21:1-14
Catching fish helped the disciples to understand what Jesus had meant at the very beginning when He said that they would become fishers of men. On a very practical level selling the fish brought in the funds they would need for their travels. The men relished these last days together before heading their separate ways to cover the world with the message of peace through trusting God, His Holy Spirit living and guiding them within, and ultimate eternal life. How could such a message be rejected? And yet, gaging from what they knew of humanity, the ego wars, they would be in for tremendous resistance and even their own crucifixions. They were ready. They had seen enough miracles to bolster their faith.
From the mountaintop that morning the band of disciples, the first chosen seeds of a new world, went down to the sea of Tiberius. Joining Simon Peter in his business were Thomas, Nathanial of Cana, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Andrew, and Bartholomew. They prepared the boats and the nets all day, stopping when Simon Peter’s wife brought lunch, followed by their afternoon nap. Finally, it was time to board the boat and start fishing. The experienced fishermen boarded the boat while others waited on the shore. The evening and night creeped on slowly without catching a single fish. Such a circumstance was embarrassing to Simon Peter who always boasted of his fishing skills and how he was able to feed his family and the surrounding villages.
When dawn came, they had to give up and go to shore, exhausted and humiliated. As the boat pulled up, they all saw a single man on the beach looking at them. They pulled the boat up on the shore and disembarked. The stranger approached them and asked, “Guys, do you have anything to eat?”
Most of the men replied with a trail of echoing “NO”.
“Go back out. Cast out your net on the right side of the boat, you’ll find fish there.”
They looked quizzically at the stranger who seemed to speak with some authority. John said, “What have we got to lose?”
The men boarded the boat again while the strange man watched. They sailed back out a little ways and let the net out. Almost instantly the boat started to topple with the weight.
This time it was all hands on deck to get the boat to shore. It was around then that man after man realized that the stranger was Jesus.
John exclaimed to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Peter heard that he immediately wrapped himself, since he was naked, and then jumped into the sea.
The other disciples who were still on the shore saw the burdened boat flailing and walked and the swam to it to rescue them by towing it in.
Once the boat was ashore all the men pulled together to drag the net full of fish onto the shore; it was much heavier on land than it had been in the water. Exhausted, one by one they all noticed a live fire-pit. The men went over to collapse closer to the fire to dry off and rest. As they reached the fire they noticed there was already fish on grills cooking and the stranger waiting for them with a basket filled with loaves of bread.
He said, “”Bring Me more fish to cook.”
Simon Peter went back to the net and selected several wiggling fish which he placed in a pail and took it to the fire-pit. The men untied the net and for fun, counted the number of fish they caught. 153!
John exclaimed, “It’s amazing that the net didn’t even tear with all these fish!”
Jesus called out, “Breakfast is ready!”
Even though they did not recognize Jesus by His appearance, they all knew who that Stranger really was. Like a servant, Jesus started passing out chunks of bread and pieces of cooked fish. John thought about it and figured that it was the third time he had seen Jesus after He had risen from the dead.
(11.) Paul’s account, 1 Corinthians; 15:3-8
“3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures; 5 and that he appeared to Cephas; then to the twelve; 6 then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep; 7 then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to the child untimely born, he appeared to me also.”
Paul, who may be called the first-born of billions of post-resurrection disciples also saw the resurrected Jesus in the flesh. The shock of the appearance transformed Paul’s mind like a packet of instant repentance, like a mustard seed growing into a tree big enough to shade an entire hemisphere, and then the other.
Jesus, during these holy days walked the earth in a physical body, His appearance having changed several times to disguise Himself when appropriate. He had not yet risen to his Father. He visited the places He had been to and the people He loved, down to each person that He had healed or fed, or taught such as St. Thomas, the Myrrbearing Women, the Paralytic, the Samaritan Woman, and the Blind Man; visits we all take as we read these events over and over again, and as we appropriate their stories into our own lives.
It is believed that likewise each baptized follower, after death, although no longer attached to his or her physical body will do likewise before ascending on the 40th day. Has someone you love recently breathed his or her last? Has the heart stopped beating for the first time since conception. The heart that never stops day and night, day and night from gestation through every phase of growth and deterioration, like an invisible revolution around the sun.
Those are holy days for Jesus and for each of God’s children, filled with love and nostalgia for a world of the knowledge and experiences of good and evil, and we know it! We just must never eat it again! Trust God instead. He shows us the way through life to Life.