Devo - Look Closely
Look Closely
Matthew 28:19
As Jesus is preparing you to “GO” make disciples, does that cause fear and doubt in you? This devotion encourages you to look closely at Jesus and get sure. This is taken from “GO!” It's the third message in the “Becoming a Disciple” series.
Our focus is Jesus preparing his Disciples to “go.” That’s all we’re going to look at in this text. Jesus is preparing his Disciples to go and be his witnesses.
So, Jesus suddenly shows up in the room. The whole group freaked out even though they had clearly heard about the Resurrection. And then, in Luke 24, verse 38, Jesus asks, “Why are you frightened?” What is it? What’s going on? “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?”
Remember, the goal here is Jesus preparing his Disciples to “go” to be witnesses. And I wonder if Jesus could say the same to us. Why are you frightened? Why are you filled with doubt? If he’s preparing us to go, let me ask you this question.
Honestly, would Jesus ask you those same two questions about fear and doubt as he’s preparing you to go make disciples?
Does that cause some anxiety? Some fear and doubt in you? If it does, it’s okay. Relax – you’re still going to Heaven. It’s all right. The first Disciples had fear and doubt too. So, you’re right there with them. They had the same response.
Here’s the point. Look closely at how Jesus handled it. Look closely at how Jesus responded to the fear and doubt in his first Disciples because he responds the same way to you and I as we become disciples. Look carefully at what Jesus says.
Luke 24:39-40 (NLT)
39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”
40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
Now, just look really carefully at those two verses because Jesus is saying, “Look. If you Disciples are unsure – get sure. Look. Look at me. Look at my life. Look closely at my life. Study my life, study my body. You can see it’s me. You can tell I’m not a ghost. You can see me. I’ll show you who I am.”
The first response from Jesus to Disciples who have some fear and doubt about going is, “Look. Look at me closely. Study my life. See who I really am and know me so that you can be sure.”
Our focus is Jesus preparing his Disciples to “go.” That’s all we’re going to look at in this text. Jesus is preparing his Disciples to go and be his witnesses.
So, Jesus suddenly shows up in the room. The whole group freaked out even though they had clearly heard about the Resurrection. And then, in Luke 24, verse 38, Jesus asks, “Why are you frightened?” What is it? What’s going on? “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt?”
Remember, the goal here is Jesus preparing his Disciples to “go” to be witnesses. And I wonder if Jesus could say the same to us. Why are you frightened? Why are you filled with doubt? If he’s preparing us to go, let me ask you this question.
Honestly, would Jesus ask you those same two questions about fear and doubt as he’s preparing you to go make disciples?
Does that cause some anxiety? Some fear and doubt in you? If it does, it’s okay. Relax – you’re still going to Heaven. It’s all right. The first Disciples had fear and doubt too. So, you’re right there with them. They had the same response.
Here’s the point. Look closely at how Jesus handled it. Look closely at how Jesus responded to the fear and doubt in his first Disciples because he responds the same way to you and I as we become disciples. Look carefully at what Jesus says.
Luke 24:39-40 (NLT)
39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”
40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.
Now, just look really carefully at those two verses because Jesus is saying, “Look. If you Disciples are unsure – get sure. Look. Look at me. Look at my life. Look closely at my life. Study my life, study my body. You can see it’s me. You can tell I’m not a ghost. You can see me. I’ll show you who I am.”
The first response from Jesus to Disciples who have some fear and doubt about going is, “Look. Look at me closely. Study my life. See who I really am and know me so that you can be sure.”