Years ago, after my closest Indonesian friend died, I pondered the disciples and how they must have felt from Friday to Sunday morning after Jesus died. And I put those thoughts in my journal. A version of this as a liturgy—a written prayer—will appear in my upcoming book, "In Every Moment: Recounting God's Goodness in Overseas Life."
Resurrection
Acts 16–17: The Second Missionary Journey
After the Jerusalem Council recorded in Acts 15, Paul sets out again, taking Timothy with him on his second missionary journey (Acts 16–17). "As they traveled from town to town [in Macedonia and Greece], they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey" (16:4). They witnessed the daily growth of the church as they strengthened them in the faith (16:5).
Exploring Acts 1–3: Insights and Reflections
Acts is a different book from my other studies. Tara-Leigh Cobble in her guide, ACTS: The Spirit and the Bride, describes it like this: "For Christ-followers, studying the book of Acts is like watching a documentary about the establishment of our faith via God’s work through men and women who sacrificed for us to know Jesus."
In That Day No More Tears and a Trumpet Call
Isaiah is replete with promises of a future time—in that day—when God will restore all things to his original design. One beautiful aspect of this future kingdom is the absence of death, mourning, and tears. Another is the trumpet call to signal the return of Jesus for his church.
Healed
No record exists of Jesus showing himself specifically to Mary after his resurrection, but since "he presented himself to [the disciples] and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive" (Acts 1:3), I have no doubt that Mary saw her son in the flesh again!
