Homilist Acts 1:3 To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days… I. JESUS HAD COME BACK FROM THE MYSTERIOUS CHANGE, BUT HE HAD FORGOTTEN NOTHING — neither the places, the dear familiar shores, the roads, the mountain paths, the lake, and the hills, the hallowed spots of His life-work. Now, as to the persons, Martha and Mary, and Peter, and the other disciples, were not only still remembered, but still loved. It will be so with us when we also come back from the mysterious regions of the grave. The present life will he something more than a dream. It will be a living reality. II. JESUS HAD COME BACK FROM THE MYSTERIOUS CHANGE, BUT HIS LOVE REMAINED THE SAME. It will be the same with us. When we have crossed to the other side, we shall still bear with us the fond remembrances of past love. The affections will not be destroyed. III. JESUS HAD COME BACK FROM THE MYSTERIOUS CHANGE, BUT HIS PHYSICAL NATURE REMAINED. And His human nature was visible, tangible, capable of taking food. Our physical powers will, in a certain manner, remain with us after death. There will be conversation and action in the same way as at present. Wherein, then, will be the change? Our human bodies will not be destroyed, but they will be changed. We may gather some particulars from the resurrection of our Lord. 1. It will be the same body fully developed. It is evident to all that our human bodies are cramped and dwarfed by circumstances. They are but elementary, imperfect organisations. If they were perfect they would not change. If they were perfect they could not deteriorate. If perfect they could not die. That they are undeveloped is observable from the capacities which they possess. How strong and mighty the body may become! What we call maturity of character is in reality only its commencement. With regard to the body, take its power of progression, limited to, say, four miles an hour — a rate which would require millions of years to reach the nearest star. The same body will have all its powers fully developed to their utmost capacity. 2. It will be the same body rendered immaterial. (Homilist.) Parallel Verses KJV: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: |
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