The God Who Listens: Jesus Appears and Speaks Peace to His Disciples

We continue our meditation on Christ's appearance to the disciples after God raised Him from the dead. When the two disciples from Emmaus realized the risen Jesus had been talking with them at supper and on the road, they returned to Jerusalem to share the good news with the other disciples. We can only imagine how great their joy must have been as they hurried back to Jerusalem to tell the others about their encounter with the Lord Jesus. It was likely late in the evening when they finally covered the seven miles uphill to the room where the disciples were gathered, with the door “locked for fear of the Jews” (John 20:19). When they burst into the room, testifying to Jesus' walking and talking with them, they learned that Peter had received a personal appearance from the Lord (Luke 24:34). How wonderful of the Lord to confront Peter apart from the other disciples. We know nothing of that conversation, and that is fitting when a man faces his failure. We can only imagine the wide eyes in the room as the two Emmaus believers shared their experience of talking with and seeing the risen Christ.

We don't know where the disciples gathered that resurrection Sunday evening, but it was likely the same upper room where they had eaten the Passover meal. It must have been a poignant scene. The last time they shared a meal, Christ told them He would be betrayed and taken from them. Now they were discussing that He was alive again. Mark adds that they were eating at the time (Mark 16:14). The news from the Emmaus disciples caused a stir in the room, and they were still talking about these events when Jesus Himself appeared before them.

³⁶While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." ³⁷They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. ³⁸He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? ³⁹Look 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." ⁴⁰When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" ⁴²They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and he took it and ate it in their presence (Luke 24:36-42).

It must have been terrifying to see someone suddenly appear in the middle of the room — it feels like a scene from Star Trek or another sci-fi show! Initially, they might have thought He was a ghost, especially considering His unexpected arrival among them. One of the first things Jesus asked was, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?” (v. 38). How did He know they felt troubled and doubted His resurrection? He was listening, naturally! Where two or three gather in His name, the Lord is present among them (Matthew 18:20). The Lord hears our conversations and understands exactly where we stand in our faith journey. He is aware of our needs even before we express them.

Although we cannot see Him, He observes and listens to everything we say and do. Nothing escapes His notice. He understands the pain and heartache you're going through. He knows our loneliness; He sees how we are treated at work or home. The Lord never abandons us when we have doubts or when questions arise in our hearts. Be honest with God, for He listens not only to your every conversation but also to every thought. Listen to what the psalmist says:

¹O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. ²You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. ³You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. ⁴Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD (Psalm 139:1-4).

Just as He came among the disciples while they were having doubts, He longs to do the same for each of us. He is a good listener. He listened to the testimony of the two Emmaus disciples even when they did not realize who He was. He is a God who is near us all the time. Keith Thomas.

More in-depth notes are found at the following link: The Burial and Resurrection of Christ

The YouTube video of this talk with closed captions (subtitles) in 64 languages is found at the following link: https://youtu.be/OSV2bnALI6w