The church world is in the time period between the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the time of His ascension. During these fourty days, Jesus has appeared to individual believers and also groups of believers. Some sought Him, but mostly He sought them. It is beneficial for us to examine the circumstances surrounding His appearances to see where we are, and more importantly where we will be when Jesus shows up.

The first appearance of Jesus after His resurrection was to a woman named Mary Magdalene. She had been possessed by seven demons, and delivered by Jesus. She had followed Him since that deliverance. The morning of the resurrection, she had arrived at the tomb with other women prepared to finish the anointing of the body of Jesus. The tomb was empty because the Lord had risen. The angels told the women so and even asked why they were seeking the living among the dead. But Mary heard none of this. She ran to tell Peter and John who immediately ran to the tomb to see for themselves. They went into the tomb and saw the grave clothes with the napkin folded to signify that He would be back. But they left the tomb to return from wherever they had been. Mary, however, reached the tomb again. This time, probably pondering the question still, "Where is He?" She looked one more time inside and saw two angels. One sitting at one end of the stone slab and the other at the other end. The sight of angelic beings didn't cause her any alarm. When the angels asked why she was weeping, through tear dimmed eyes, she replied, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don't know where they have laid Him." Turning away from the angels, with head held down, she saw the robe of Jesus, but did not know it. When He asked why she was weeping and whom she was seeking, she answered Him, believing Him to be the gardener, "If you have taken Him away, tell me where He is, and I will bring Him back to this place." Jesus then revealed Himself to her by calling her by name, "Mary." At the sound of her name, she knew Him. She turned herself toward Him and looked up at Him. She was looking into the face of not just her Master, Teacher, Deliever, but her Savior.

When we are in despair, we often look down, not up. Looking down through our tears, we only see His robe. In those times, listen for His voice as you seek Him, and look up into His face. Then He can speak the words that you need to hear. Life giving words. Words that bring hope and faith.

The other women that had come to the tomb that morning with Mary Magdalene saw the angel (Matthew 28:8-10) but they reacted with faith and belief. The ran to tell the apostles with fear and great joy. On their way, Jesus rewarded their faith. They had not seen Him, but they believed the angel that said He had risen. ad their faith was rewarded. Jesus appeared to them as they were going to tell the good news of His resurrection. Do you believe God's Word just by being told, or must you see something first?

There is no detailed account of Jesus' appearance to Simon Peter, only the fact stated in Luke 24:34 and I Corinthians 15:5. We are not told how or where or what was said, or Peter's reaction. Just, the Lord appeared to Simon Peter. How blessed is this! Peter, the one who had denied Jesus during the trials. Peter, who had been warned that he would deny Christ, yet boasted that he never would - did. Peter, who afterwards, went out and wept bitter tears of repentance. Now, the Lord whom he had denied, came to him for a private meeting of restoration and reassurance that all was forgiven, that He still had a job for Peter to do. Peter, was still the leader Jesus had intended him to be.

How blessed that Jesus still comes to us in our deepest moments of repentance. When we think and feel all is lost and offers forgiveness and restoration. And we can still accept that forgiveness and restoration and go on in our service to our Lord. Peter did, so can you.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus is one of my personal favorite appearances of the Lord that resurrection day. They had waited in Jerusalem for three days, but they had not waited with the right people. We don't know who they were with, but the were not with the apostles, because they had heard early that morning that Jesus had risen. Mary Magadalene and the other women had seen Him. Peter had seen Him. But these two had not heard the news. They could not believe His words that He would rise from the dead, because they had not heard it from someone who had first hand knowledge. But in their despair, Jesus joined them and began to minister to them, reveal scripture to them, and finally Himself.

Isn't that like us many times. Walking down the road of life, unmindful of the many promises of God. And then Jesus comes silently along us and begins to walk with us, minister to us and finally reveal Himself to us.

We all know about "doubting Thomas," th apostle who had to see to believe. I might add, that Thomas was not at that first "church service" that Sunday night after the resurrection. Why not? We don't know. But we do know that He missed being in the presence of Jesus because of his choice not to go. Have you missed being in Jesus' presence because you chose not to attend a church service?

There were several appearances to the apostles during those forty days before His ascension. Some we know about, I suspect that there are some that we are not told about. I notice though that He appeared to the apostles when they were together most of the time. Does that tell us anything? Maybe that we should be with the right company? I think so.

The last appearance was with more that 500 followers and His apostles. At this gathering, He commanded them to return to Jerusalem and wait "for the Promise of the Father that I will send." He specifically said, "Wait until you are 'infused' with power from on high." As they watched Him ascend into the heavens on a cloud, they received the the message from the angels stating that "this same Jesus...will come again." One hundred twenty of them obeyed and went to Jerusalem to wait. They would be there when the Promise came. The question today is, when Jesus shows up, where will you be? With the disciples, the followers, the Christians, at church (even on Sunday night), or will you be with the 380 who didn't go to Jerusalem and wait. Will you recognize Him, like the "women" or have trouble focusing on Him because of your lack of faith? Jesus comes to all at least once. Be attentive. Listen, Watch, be receptive to Him.