Jesus Reveals Himself
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Several years ago, as I was driving to work, I spotted a homeless man digging through a dumpster for food. I stopped and gave the man the two donuts I had just purchased. As I drove away, I realized I could have done more. Instantly I turned around. He was nowhere to be found. I drove to work wishing I had offered more help. My mind drifted to this verse: Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.” Was this man Jesus, I wondered. I invite you to read more.
I’ll never know if this was a real encounter with Jesus, but I do know that God reveals Himself to us in many ways, often times, in ways we miss. God is relentless in pursuing us. God is love and as love, He desires to reveal Himself to His beloved. God wants to make Himself known to us. God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. He wants us to know Him and love Him.
The Old Testament shows us that God slowly, over time, revealed Himself to His chosen people. Throughout our lifetime God, also slowly and sometimes in strange ways, reveals Himself to us.
We are at that time in the liturgical calendar when the Scripture readings are about Jesus revealing Himself after His resurrection. We really don’t know how many times Jesus revealed Himself prior to His ascension. In John 20:30 it states: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book.”
The Bible does record many of Jesus’ appearances.
- Jesus revealed Himself to Mary Magdalene (John 20:16-17).
- Jesus revealed Himself to the other woman (Matthew 28:8-10).
- Jesus revealed Himself to two disciples on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:34).
- Jesus revealed Himself to the Disciples without Thomas (Luke 24:36).
- Jesus revealed Himself to the Disciples with Thomas (John 20:26-29).
- Jesus revealed Himself to the seven Disciples at the sea (John 21:1-2).
- Jesus revealed Himself to the five hundred (1 Corinthians 15:6).
- Jesus revealed Himself to James (1 Corinthians 15:7).
- Jesus revealed Himself at His ascension (Luke 24:50-53).
When Mary Magdalene saw the stone had been rolled away, she ran to tell the Apostles. John and Peter entered the tomb and saw the burial cloths lying where Jesus had been buried. Peter saw and he believed. Do we believe that we encounter Jesus in our daily lives?
Thomas was not with the Apostles the first time Jesus appeared to them. He was unwilling to believe until He could put his fingers in Jesus’ hands and his hand into Jesus’ side. Are we skeptical when Jesus appears to us?
When Jesus revealed Himself to the seven Disciples in John’s Gospel, He not only helped them to catch fish, but He prepared them their breakfast. After His resurrection, as we read in Acts 5:12-16, Jesus continued to reveal Himself through the signs and wonders done by His Apostles. Do we believe in the signs and wonders Jesus is still doing today?
Jesus continues to this very day to reveal Himself to us. Jesus reveals Himself to us in many little things every day. He reveals Himself to us through others that we encounter. He reveals Himself to us through nature. Are we seeing Him in these revelations? Did He, in fact, reveal Himself to me through the homeless man at the dumpster? When He does reveal Himself to us, will we believe like Peter did at the tomb, or will be skeptical like Thomas was and need more proof?
Allow me to close this week’s message with a few questions:
- In what ways did Jesus reveal Himself to you this past week?
- Did you miss some opportunities to see Jesus this past week?
- Did Jesus reveal Himself to someone through you this past week?
- Did you miss some opportunities to reveal Jesus to others this past week?
- What can you do to be more aware of Jesus in your everyday life?
Heavenly Father, thank you for revealing Yourself to me through Your Son Jesus. He continues to reveal Himself to me all the time. Too often Lord I miss Him. Open my eyes Lord to every appearance of Your Son in my life. Amen!
As always, I love to read your comments below as well as hear from you personally by clicking here.
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I believe Jesus reveals himself at different times and brings us closer to God. I was hit by drunk driver, life support, waking to like a reborn baby learning to do everything all over. But during that state of wreck and life support I was in a darkness and a light appeared above and a hand held down to help me and I took it. He lifted me up and asked do you know who I am and I said yes, he asked if I was afraid and said no. he held my hand as we walked and he told me many things, we werent moving lips but like knowing what each said, he was talking ore as I listened. He said it wasnt my time to be there yet and my path would not be easy but they were always by my side and would never leave it and I would know. This path hasnt been easy and yes I can feel them there all the time. I have a Traumatic Brain Injury and this body can be tricky in working with but I am good because God and Jesus have my back 🙂
Beautiful testimony may God continue to bless you richly!
Brian, I love reading your letters, it is always a great way to start my week. Keep them coming. Hope you are doing well. Susan Engelke
Thanks Susan!
It is so nice to hear from you. I will keep them coming for as long as God let’s me keep writing and the Holy Spirit keeps prompting me with something to write about. I hope you are well! God bless.
Brian
Brian
Thanks!
On point!
Michael
Thanks Michael!
Mr Brian would you please keep my husband and daughter in your prayers, they are both into drugs, I just don’t know what to do anymore. Thank you Maria Garcia.
Yes and I will encourage other to pray for you and your family too!
In your list, its 500 not 5000, unless Jesus went to an Orioles game. He’d see about 5k there.
I once wrote my own Stations of the Resurrection, back in the 1990s.
I didnt save it, but ot was fun to write and pray.
I needed 14 stations, so I wrote Mary the MOG as the first, like St. Ignatius and others have assumed. Mystics agree with that, too. For my Scripture, i used the Magnificat, for it seems more a Resurrection prayer than an Annunxiation one. Read it.
My number 3 was a private appearance to Peter, which is menrioned to Cleopas as he comes to report his Emmaus sighting.
My number 9 was privately to Peter again in the 3 fold “Do you love me’s” as a private conversation of the two and Peters re- commisioning
My number 13 was to Paul later, as told in Acts.
My number 14 was to Peter once more, as he sees Jesus on the Appian Way, which convinces Peter to back to Rome for his martyrdom.
My number 15, the last meditation, was the bonus ones that Jesus has given to US by faith, so to know Him, ” blest are those who have not seen and believed” is the Scripture for that.
On the back page I saluted all persons and saints who have got special revelation (e.g. St. Francis, St. Christopher, etc.(.
Fr. John
Thank you for sharing this. I made the correction. I appreciate you catching it.
Brian