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April 4 Daily Devotional

Christ Appeared

Frans Bakker

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven. —Mark 16:14

Bible Reading

Mark 16:14–16

Devotional

Take notice of who Christ appeared to after His resurrection. He did not appear to those who would easily believe. No, He appeared to His disciples who had forsaken Him, to trembling women, to wavering disciples going to Emmaus, to a weeping Mary, and to an unbelieving Thomas. He appeared to people who had no expectations left and to those who thought it to be too great that He would also come to them. But it was not too much for this King to stoop so low. He appeared to people who had lost hope. He brought comfort and love.

The dying Savior returned as Shepherd of His sheep and held on to them, for ultimately their salvation was not their cause but His cause. He held on to those He loved even though they let go of Him. He watched while they slept. He did not deny them when they denied Him. They could run away from Him as far as they wanted but they could not flee from His heart. Jesus is High Priest of the New Covenant. The twelve tribes of Israel were written on the breastplate of Aaron, high priest of the old covenant, and he carried it on his heart. And thus Aaron took the entire nation with him when he entered into the sanctuary to sacrifice and to pray for the people. But this was only a shadow of Christ, the High Priest. When He entered into the sanctuary of His suffering to sacrifice Himself, Jesus carried His own with Him in His heart. He took them with Him into His death. He was one with them in His humiliation. He descended as deep as the most deeply fallen sinner and He united Himself so closely with them that He appeared to be the one who deserved the hellish pains of death.

And when Jesus arose, He also took His own with Him. His death was their death and therefore His life also became their life. Salvation is possible for unworthy sinners because Jesus took His people with Him in His exaltation. Therefore salvation is possible, precisely for unworthy ones, and only for unworthy ones, but also for all unworthy ones.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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