"Don't be afraid. Take courage. I am with you" Matt14:27 [Sunrise photo April 20 2013]

“Don’t be afraid. Take courage. I am with you” Matthew 14:27 [Sunrise photo April 20 2013]

Day 20 Ghost Busters

37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 

He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look 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.”

40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. Luke 24:37-43

As best I can tell,  a biblical Christian worldview does not adhere to the existence of “ghosts”, defined as  “a disembodied spirit imagined, usually as a vague, shadowy or evanescent form, as wandering among or haunting living persons.”

But the beliefs and worldview of the ancient world were quite different from the modern scientific era. The possibility that ghosts were ‘out there’ was very real in the minds of the disciples.

This wasn’t the first time they confused Jesus with being a ghost.

Remember the account of  pre-back-from-the-dead Jesus walking on water ? (See Matthew 14, Mark 6, John 6)

At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror.

27 But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”

Jesus makes it very clear in both accounts – “No, I’m not a ghost”.

He also makes it clear , when you’re scared out of your mind, turn to Jesus.

“Take courage, I am here.”

The message Jesus gives is two fold.

First – be at peace, don’t stay afraid, don’t remain full of fear.

Next – take heart, be filled with courage. Take action. I am here to help you.

So, may boldness arise in you today!

Stand Up Stand Up For Jesus

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed. 
Words: George Duf­field, Jr., 1858.

Let’s Pray:

I invite you to pray with me today from the Book of Common Prayer:

For Quiet Confidence
O God of peace, you have taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of your Spirit lift us, we pray, into your presence, where we may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

About This Devotional Series

According to the historical church calendar, the Easter season is the 50 day period from Resurrection Sunday to Pentecost Sunday.  I’ll post a fresh devotional thought with my sunrise photo of that morning, everyday through Pentecost, commenting as the Spirit inspires. Check out the rest of the series here.

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