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The Story of Jesus
The act of blessing the food, the sound of the now familiar voice,
the prints of the nails in His hands, all proclaimed Him their beloved
Master.
For a moment they sat spellbound; then they arose to fall at His
feet and worship Him; but He suddenly disappeared.
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In their joy they forgot their hunger and weariness. They left
the meal untasted, and hastened back to Jerusalem with the precious
message of a risen Saviour.
As they were relating these things to the disciples, Christ Himself
stood among them, and, with hands uplifted in blessing, said: “Peace
be unto you.”
Luke 24:36
.
At first they were frightened; but when He had shown them the
prints of the nails in His hands and feet, and had eaten before them,
they believed and were comforted. Faith and joy now took the place
of unbelief, and with feelings which no words could express, they
acknowledged their risen Saviour.
At this meeting, Thomas was not with them. He refused to believe
the reports in regard to the resurrection. But after eight days Jesus
appeared to the disciples when Thomas was present.
On this occasion He again showed in His hands and feet the marks
of the crucifixion. Thomas was at once convinced, and cried, “My
Lord and my God.”
John 20:28
.
In the upper chamber, Christ again explained the Scriptures con-
cerning Himself. Then He told His disciples that repentance and
forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name among all nations,
beginning at Jerusalem.
Before His ascension to Heaven, He said to them, “Ye shall receive
power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria,
and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” “And, lo, I am with you alway,
even unto the end of the world.”
Acts 1:8
;
Matthew 28:20
.
You have been witnesses, He said, of My life of self-sacrifice in
behalf of the world. You have seen that all who come to Me, confessing
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their sins, I freely receive. All who will, may be reconciled to God,
and have everlasting life.
To you, My disciples, I commit this message of mercy. It is to be
given to all nations, tongues, and peoples.