May 2 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

During the forty days between Jesus' resurrection and his ascension to heaven, he appeared to his disciples. They could not doubt that he was the same person whom they had known so intimately before his death. They were even allowed to see the scars of his crucifixion to help them believe.

Yet things were different. The blessed closeness they had experienced before had ceased. Jesus did not live with them anymore. Jesus appeared, and they did not know where he came from. He disappeared, and they did not know where he went.

Notice the change in the relationship between Christ and his disciples. True, the familiar tones of tenderness remained. Just think of the way he said "Mary," and "Tell my brothers," and "Peace be with you." But he was majestic. He was transfigured. Christ was at the other side of sorrow and death. And in the disciples we see traces of deeper awe. They say little else but "Master" and "my Lord and my God."

Nevertheless, the disciples became better acquainted with Jesus Christ during these forty days than ever before. During this period he "opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures." For the first time they began to understand the necessity of his death. They could see that Christ's death was an offering to God, and that the resurrection was God's way of saying that the sacrifice was accepted. The disciples were given a clearer vision of Christ during these occasional appearances than when he was with them day and night. As they listened to the Bible, their communion with Jesus was closer than it had been when they saw him and touched him daily.

Knowledge of Jesus is not dependent on walking where Jesus walked in Galilee and in Jerusalem. Our communion with the risen Lord depends on the measure in which the Scriptures have been opened to us.

REFLECTION

Ask the Spirit to "open the Scriptures" for you as you read them this month.

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.