This appearance of Jesus to the apostles builds upon his self-revelation to the two disciples at Emmaus (vv 13-35). First he appeared to them bodily, but they did not recognize him. Then he explained the Scriptures to them (v 27). Finally, they recognized him in the breaking of the bread (v 30), and only then did they begin to understand what they had experienced (v 32) and rush to share it with the others (vv 33-35).

When Jesus appears to this assembled body of apostles, they are at first incredulous about the fact of the resurrection (a "ghost," v 37). He proves the bodily nature of his presence by touch and by eating food (vv 39-43), but that is only the beginning. He opens their minds to an understanding of the meaning of the resurrection through the Jewish Scriptures (vv 45-46), and then sends them forth to preach and witness to this new life ("forgiveness of sins," vv 47-49).

The prophecies of the Jewish Scriptures are not merely predictions of future events, but events themselves which point to their completion in Christ. "Understanding the Scriptures" does not mean looking to them for a detailed plan of future happenings, but instead allowing them to give the light in which the event they look forward to can be understood. In Jewish history as embodied in the Scriptures, God reveals a pattern of the way he works. He perfected that pattern and gave it a new and universal dimension in Christ — and his work in and through us now follows that same pattern. The pattern is one of passage through freely accepted death (death to the old life, to sin, to darkness, to the slavery of selfishness and unconcern) to new life (free, loving, self-giving, divine, eternal).

This reading gives us an example of Peter preaching according to the pattern given in the final verses of the Gospel: he explains the events of the Jewish Scriptures in the light of their fulfillment in Jesus (vv 13-15, 17-18), and then calls on the people to reform their lives in order to be able to accept God’s forgiveness (v 19).

V 16 focuses the whole meaning of Christ on the present event — the cure of the crippled beggar (vv 1-10). Thus the message is this: (1) look what God has just done (cure this man); (2) look what God has done in the past (save his people, raise Christ from the dead — we are witnesses of this); (3) look what God can do for you (forgive your sins).

This psalm is a confident prayer that God will make himself and his saving power known to us. Response: "Lord, let your face shine on us."

A right attitude toward sin is important. We must realize that sin cuts us off from union with God. But religious systems or purifying rites in themselves cannot restore that contact. Nor can we take refuge in a denial of sinfulness. Our only salvation is to recognize our completely helpless sinfulness, but also to accept the fact that God pardons us and receives us into his grace. Confession of sin must in some way be outward and public —an acknowledgment that communion with God the Father means also communion with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Observing the commandments shows that our love is genuine, but also enables God’s love to enter freely and without hindrance into our hearts.

1. What would you consider the most convincing evidence that Jesus was raised from the dead?

2. "Jesus has been raised from the dead, and is enthroned as Lord for ever!" What does this acclamation mean to you?