The Inner Wrestling was not Complete: Luke 24:11-12
“11) But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them. 12) But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he *saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.” Luke 24:11-12
I do not want to skip quickly over these verses. They capture something that the reader must ponder. Peter and the early disciples were wrestling with the fact of the resurrection.
When he first heard the report from the women, he was locked in disbelief. To his credit, yesterday I pointed out how he ran toward his doubts rather than away from them.
But notice, the inner wrestling was not resolved by merely looking into the empty tomb. The text says; “he went away to his home marveling at what had happened.”
Let me make an observation, it is ok to wrestle with the gospel. God can handle our questions, doubts, hurts and disappointments. It is better to wrestle through an issue to a solid conclusion than remain an agnostic.
At this point, Peter was wresting with the third part of the gospel. He had no doubts about the love of Christ, the death of Christ on the cross or His burial. He was wrestling with the resurrection.
Most people accept the death and burial of Christ, the wrestling comes with the resurrection. But it is the resurrection that contains the power for a new life.
That’s why the resurrection became the focal point of the book of Acts and many of the epistles. Apart from the resurrection, Christianity is just another religion. (See 1 Corinthians 15) Apart from the resurrection, Jesus Christ was just another man with a positive philosophy for living.
But the resurrection pushes everything to the next level. The resurrected Christ becomes the basis of new life for the born-again believer. That’s the theme of Roman’s 6-8.
But there is more. Belief in the full gospel sets the believer up to receive the promise of the Father. (Acts 1:3-8) Believing in the gospel without receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is rejecting the Promise of the Father and the baptizing work of Jesus Christ.
I held the promise of the Father at arms length for years. It was mostly because of controversy and confusion between churches. This was part of my inner wrestling. It was a long journey, but it is a necessary step in the Christian life.
Calvary and Pentecost were never intended to be separated. Belief in the resurrection opens the door for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The wrestling within Peter was not complete at the end of the four gospels. The conclusion came forty days later in the book of Acts. Something about Pentecost changed Peter and the others into new people. It transformed them.
What do these two verses in Luke tell us? It’s ok to wrestle with the gospel. It’s ok to wrestle with the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus foretold both before His death.
Take time to read John 14-17. In these chapters He talked at length about both His suffering on the cross and the coming promise of the Father. Do not settle for Calvary at the exclusion of Pentecost.
This is like buying a new car and never putting gas in the tank. It may look good, but it will never perform the way it was designed. It makes no sense buying a new car only to have a tow truck pull you around town. Just stop at a gas station and fill the tank!
So you might be wondering, “Is Terry and evangelical, charismatic or Pentecostal? The answer is: “I am a biblical Christian walking in the fulness of everything Jesus foretold and promised.” My wrestling lasted years, but to the glory of God, Jesus won! Midway through my journey I finally stopped at the gas station.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
“11) But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them. 12) But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he *saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at what had happened.” Luke 24:11-12
I do not want to skip quickly over these verses. They capture something that the reader must ponder. Peter and the early disciples were wrestling with the fact of the resurrection.
When he first heard the report from the women, he was locked in disbelief. To his credit, yesterday I pointed out how he ran toward his doubts rather than away from them.
But notice, the inner wrestling was not resolved by merely looking into the empty tomb. The text says; “he went away to his home marveling at what had happened.”
Let me make an observation, it is ok to wrestle with the gospel. God can handle our questions, doubts, hurts and disappointments. It is better to wrestle through an issue to a solid conclusion than remain an agnostic.
At this point, Peter was wresting with the third part of the gospel. He had no doubts about the love of Christ, the death of Christ on the cross or His burial. He was wrestling with the resurrection.
Most people accept the death and burial of Christ, the wrestling comes with the resurrection. But it is the resurrection that contains the power for a new life.
That’s why the resurrection became the focal point of the book of Acts and many of the epistles. Apart from the resurrection, Christianity is just another religion. (See 1 Corinthians 15) Apart from the resurrection, Jesus Christ was just another man with a positive philosophy for living.
But the resurrection pushes everything to the next level. The resurrected Christ becomes the basis of new life for the born-again believer. That’s the theme of Roman’s 6-8.
But there is more. Belief in the full gospel sets the believer up to receive the promise of the Father. (Acts 1:3-8) Believing in the gospel without receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit is rejecting the Promise of the Father and the baptizing work of Jesus Christ.
I held the promise of the Father at arms length for years. It was mostly because of controversy and confusion between churches. This was part of my inner wrestling. It was a long journey, but it is a necessary step in the Christian life.
Calvary and Pentecost were never intended to be separated. Belief in the resurrection opens the door for the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
The wrestling within Peter was not complete at the end of the four gospels. The conclusion came forty days later in the book of Acts. Something about Pentecost changed Peter and the others into new people. It transformed them.
What do these two verses in Luke tell us? It’s ok to wrestle with the gospel. It’s ok to wrestle with the promise of the Holy Spirit. Jesus foretold both before His death.
Take time to read John 14-17. In these chapters He talked at length about both His suffering on the cross and the coming promise of the Father. Do not settle for Calvary at the exclusion of Pentecost.
This is like buying a new car and never putting gas in the tank. It may look good, but it will never perform the way it was designed. It makes no sense buying a new car only to have a tow truck pull you around town. Just stop at a gas station and fill the tank!
So you might be wondering, “Is Terry and evangelical, charismatic or Pentecostal? The answer is: “I am a biblical Christian walking in the fulness of everything Jesus foretold and promised.” My wrestling lasted years, but to the glory of God, Jesus won! Midway through my journey I finally stopped at the gas station.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
Sent from my iPhone
