Devotionals Detail

Readings: Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:9-20; Luke 24:13-49; John 21:1-14

How do you recognize when Jesus shows up? That is part of the question each of us ask as we consider what the resurrection means for us today. If Jesus is alive today, through the Paraclete, the Advocate, the Holy Spirit – how do we see Jesus, feel Jesus, experience Jesus?

I believe the gospel accounts are different experiences of Jesus intentionally, because we all need Jesus to be revealed uniquely.

In the gospel of John, Jesus appears in a closed room as the disciples are huddled in fear, offering them the words “Peace be with you.” Jesus emerges again in John’s gospel, after the disciples have been fishing all night long, and offers them breakfast on the shore together. In Luke’s gospel, Jesus is not recognizable to the disciples traveling on the Road to Emmaus, and it is only when he breaks bread at the table that he is revealed. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus appears in the midst of the eleven disciples doubting, but Jesus still gives them authority to make disciples of all nations, baptizing and preaching. In the extended version of Mark’s gospel, Jesus appears to Mary and to the disciples on the road in the country, who would not believe the testimony that he was alive. So Jesus appears again to criticize their disbelief and commissions them to cast out demons, pick up snakes, speak in tongues, to lay hands on the sick and even to be immune from drinking deadly things!

Each of these gospels about Jesus’ resurrection reveal our universal truth – Jesus is recognizable in different ways for all of us, because every one of us is unique. Some of us need comfort, others need connection, others need community, others need critique, others need direct commissioning.

This Sunday, you will have the opportunity to experience Jesus’ presence in a new way: we have a guest preacher, Witek Nowosiad, who has an amazing ability to honor the uniqueness of every individual. Not only is he the Clinical Educator at Children’s Medical Center of Plano in the interfaith chaplaincy department, but he has started a non-profit called “I Belong,” which creates community for students with special needs. “I Belong” utilizes the visual and performing arts to provide a safe space of creativity and connection for students ranging from junior high through young adulthood. Over the past two years, “I Belong” has been meeting for their monthly Saturday respite program at our church, and seeing the community that has been created through this program is truly astounding. As an observer, I have seen how the care, connection, and creativity of “I Belong” is a glimpse of Jesus presence here at the church. I hope you will attend on Sunday to learn more about

it and the journey our church is taking alongside these students. It is just one example of how Jesus can show up in our lives in the most unexpected places and experiences, to be revealed in unique ways.

It is my hope that as a church, we are always looking for how Jesus is revealed in different ways, because God’s presence always wants to reach us – as unique as each of us are.

You are a blessing,

Pastor Alex