Still Doubting

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BIBLE PASSAGE – Luke 24.36-43

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 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.’

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

Luke 24.26-43, NIV

Why do you think the disciples thought Jesus was a ghost?

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The 2 disciples walking along the Emmaus Road went back and told the other disciples what had happened. As they were doing this, Jesus appeared right in the middle of them! The thing I find funny is what Jesus said next, ‘Peace be with you!’ So Jesus appears to them, they think it’s a ghost and he says, ‘Peace be with you’! I imagine peace is the last emotion the felt!!

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The disciples were obviously genuinely scared. Why do you think they were so scared. After all, the 2 disciples had just seen Jesus and we know from verse 34 that Jesus had also appeared to Simon..

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The disciples doubted it was Jesus so Jesus offered them physical proof that it was really him. List the 2 significant parts of the body Jesus showed his disciples. Why these parts of the body?

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Are there ways in which people ask you for evidence that Jesus is real or alive? What things and how would you answer them?

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True Stories of Healing and God’s Miraculous Power

I know of a true story (told by the Bible scholar Derek Prince) of a Hindu woman in India raised from the dead by a new Christian who stretched out his hands towards her, prayed and she rose up. When she rose up she said she had seen a man in brilliant white who offered her a free gift – eternal life. To her this was a great offer, she accepted, woke up and found the Christian who’d prayed for her standing in the exact same position the man in brilliant white (Jesus) was in.

One woman in my church was blind. At the New Wine conference, some people from my church prayed for her. She was instantly healed and now has 20/20 (perfect) vision – all evidenced.

Another couple from church were in debt and tried to take their own lives. They went to CAP (Christians Against Poverty) who helped them and prayed. The couple got a £1000 refund from the Inland Revenue out of the blue – exactly enough to pay off their debts and allow the woman to have her front tooth replaced. They were then prayed for at church and the woman’s toes (two of which had been fused together at hospital) were completely healed meaning she could walk properly.

Do you know of any similar miraculous stories of healing? Share these to encourage each other to take courage to pray for God to work through you in miraculous ways to reveal his love and compassion for people.

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Another thing we learn about Jesus is his humanity. Jesus asked for some food. Why do you think he did this, there’s more than 1 reason I think..

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(Hints: he was proving his humanity as he was hungry, he wanted to prove he was real by eating food, it was something he had done with his disciples regularly – eating together)

Jesus should bring a happiness and amazement (see verse 40) in our lives that nothing else compares to. Why I first became a Christian I was evangelizing everywhere, doing everything, reading the Bible all the time. It’s cool to keep this up all the time as a Christian.

We also read that initially the disciples were frightened and startled when Jesus suddenly appeared. I expect we all would have been! But Jesus changed their fear and worries into peace, joy and amazement. Are there areas of your life that God needs to turn around from bad to good? Write these down and receive God’s power to bring change.

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What about asking God to intervene on behalf of someone else? Write that down and a world situation that you’re asking God to change for good.

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How can you keep fired up for Jesus?

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