THIS SAME JESUS

They walk with Him that day slightly over a mile East of Jerusalem to a small ridge of mountains and a place called Olivet. I can’t imagine how that walk felt for them.  They had thought He was lost to them forever.  They had seen Him beaten to the point of death.  They had seen Him struggle through the streets of Jerusalem, half carrying, half dragging that harsh instrument of death. They had watched as His last breath from the cross escaped his tortured lungs and drifted away over the now God forsaken land. They had watched the end of His life.

But then… the rolled away stone, the empty tomb, the garden encounter and the upper room visit.  Now He was back in their company.  But as they walked that day I imagine they just had to know something was about to happen; Kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop. 

He talked with them, and knowing Him, He wanted to make sure He spoke the right things in the right way so that His words would make a lasting impression on them.  And while they stared at His face and focused on His words He was taken up into a cloud.  What!!??

 If I would have been there I would have been doing the same thing His disciples were doing.  Standing there in the middle of the road with my mouth wide open and a thousand questions that I wanted to ask dangling from the tip of my tongue.  But their attention was soon captured by two men, dressed in white who said (In Chilton County terms) “What are you lookin at”? This same Jesus will come again, just like you’ve seen Him go”.

They probably didn’t understand it then.  I doubt that we understand it now. 

·         But if you are facing sickness, remember the one who spoke to the lame man and he sprinted away on previously worthless legs.  This same Jesus can do the same for you.

·         If you are facing the death of a loved one, remember Mary and Martha at the death of Lazarus This same Jesus will come to comfort you just at the right time.

·         In a storm today?  So were the disciples and they yelled out “Don’t you care if we perish”?  He whispered to the winds and seas and they became as still as a gold fish pond.  Know that this same Jesus will still the storms in your life. 

·         You may be faced with doubt. So were His followers.  He spoke to them “Let not your hearts be troubled.  You believe in God, believe also in me”.  This same Jesus wants you to know Him in a personal way. 

I have been in sinking ships and burning buildings, overturned locomotives, and crashed aircraft.  I have walked among the dead and dying and through it all He never left me.  Can I tell you this morning this same Jesus will walk with you through the trials of your life?

Tempted to do your own will and not His?  Been there, done that.  But He, with the temptations I faced also provided a way of escape.  This same Jesus will not allow you to fight your temptations alone.

Go ahead, pick up your Bible and read about all the stuff He did for the people in “the old days”.  He provided, healing, power, security, love, comfort, guidance, wisdom, friendship and as the Word tells us so much more that the world could not contain the accounts of all He did.  And today, in your world, this same Jesus stands ready to provide for you as well.

Jesus knew first hand that living a holy life in this world was going to be tough.  He told the people of that day, “In this world you will have tribulations, but be of good cheer.  I have overcome the world”. 

This same Jesus wants you to hear that message today.   

It’s your choice.  You can choose to do things your way, try and be tough and make it on your own.  Depend on your skills, knowledge, craftiness, endurance, abilities and guts.  Or, you can accept Him as your savior and give your life to Him.  When you do that, this same Jesus will become the Lord and Master of your life. 

And one day, in a place I’ve never been and in a place my mind  can’t even imagine, I will walk through gates made of pearl and sashay down streets paved with pure gold.  I plan on sitting down beside the river of life and hanging my old tied feet in its cool waters.  I think I may just reach up and grab a bite of fruit off of the tree that’s planted there.  And as the angels sing in four part harmony and their melodies echo off the walls of jasper, I just believe my friend will walk up to me and give me the best hug I’ve ever had.  You know who that will be don’t you?  It will be this same Jesus. 

Will you meet me there?