Many Christians live as if Jesus is dead. The story of the resurrection has become so numb to many that it’s as if we were separated from him when he ascended to the Father. Many treat his ascension as a second death. Jesus is alive now and today. He’s walking on the earth through his Spirit. Embrace the mystery of his presence. When we try to understand it is when we lose understanding of it. We don’t know where he is, when he’ll show up, or what his plan is but he is here. Most live not believing that he is alive. Few are born with the gift of full belief and always walk with the living Jesus. What a great blessing. Then there are a few who previously lived serving a dead Jesus until they were shown the truth in the only way that it is to be shown, just as Jesus revealed himself in the upper room. Some of you have felt desperate suffering and had no one to turn to. Alone on your knees in loneliness and desperation you cried out. That is where Jesus showed up in a way that can only be explained by him being alive. He let you touch the scars on his hands and feet. When no one else would or could, Jesus met you in your suffering and whispered “I love you” into your ear. You had heard it a million times from hundreds of people but this one was inexplicably different. It was more than a feeling. It was a knowing. It was as real as if you could hear and him and see him. He told you he loved you and then he stayed to tell you secrets about himself. This isn’t a salvation story or conversion story; this is a story of revelation through grace. Many of you don’t understand what I am saying but the few of you who do need to 1) praise God that he blessed you with the presence of Jesus through suffering and 2) share your experience with others. Those who don’t understand what I am saying but want to, all you have to do is ask God to show you. It’s a blessing that he absolutely loves to share with his children but know that it will only come with the hardest season you’ve ever been through.

Everything I write are the secrets that Jesus whispered to me.

³⁶ While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 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. ⁴⁴ He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  -Luke 24:36-45

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. -Matthew 7:7