Jesus is alive!

When the women told the disciples that an angel had appeared to them and said that Jesus had risen, the disciples didn’t believe them. But Peter and John ran to the tomb and found it empty.

That same day, two of Jesus’ followers were walking back to their hometown after the Passover celebration in Jerusalem. They had seen Jesus being crucified, and as they walked along the road to Emmaus, they were very sad. Suddenly, Jesus came alongside them and joined in their conversation, but they didn’t recognize Him.

Jesus explained what the prophets had said about the Messiah—that He would suffer and then be glorified. Yet the two followers still didn’t realize that it was Jesus speaking to them.

When they arrived at Emmaus, they invited Him to stay with them for the night. During supper, Jesus gave thanks and broke the bread. As He gave it to them, their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him.

Why didn’t Jesus show Himself to everyone?

Jesus didn’t appear to everyone after He rose from the dead, but He did appear to many of His followers so that they could see for themselves that He was alive. Some people had seen His miracles and still refused to believe in Him. Jesus once explained that even if someone came back from the dead, those who refused to believe God’s Word would still not believe (Luke 16:31).

Jesus wanted His followers to understand that He had truly risen from the dead. So He showed Himself to the two followers walking along the road, then to the disciples, and later to many others. They became eyewitnesses who could tell people that Jesus was alive. Although the disciples had not believed the women at first, seeing Jesus for themselves changed everything.

Peter and the other disciples became so convinced that Jesus had risen that they were willing to live and die for Him. Because the Bible is God’s Word, and everything it tells us is true, we too can be sure that Jesus is alive today!

Verse for today

Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22

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