Each one of us have certain ways about us that make us recognizable–even from a distance.  Maybe it is distinguishable gait in our walk.  Perhaps it is the way we use our hands as we talk that sets us apart from others.  Maybe it’s the particular way we inflect our words as we use our body language to express our ideas or comment on the issues of the day.  Maybe it is how we eat or dress ourselves.  No matter what it might be, everything about us is distinctive with God-created characteristics that are not exactly like anyone else.

I remember waiting breathlessly excited that day for our son to get off the military transport plane with hundreds of other soldiers after a six-month deployment in a faraway land.  The plane had landed to cheers of a huge crowd of family members waiting their arrival.  These men and women had been missed by those who loved them dearly!  We cheered again when the ramp of stairs was put into place.  We cheered louder as the doors opened wide and military persons began making their descent down the steps. 

Then it dawned on us; in this huge crowd of people, how will we recognize our son who is dressed in military garb just like his comrades?  My husband said not to worry—he has that walk—like your dad.  True.

We craned our necks as we held up our welcome home signs as a family.  We searched the crowds for a glimpse of our son (and his walk) when suddenly he appeared in our midst!  “Hello!”  We couldn’t believe it—here he is in the flesh, standing our circle!  He saw us from the top steps, put his eyes on us, and walked right through the crowd and found us before we had our eyes on him.  Tears of joy flowed. Words of thanks said to God for his safe return, followed by tight hugs from everyone.  Our son is home with his family who loves him most.  We see him, feel him, and recognize him as our own who has come home alive and well.  What we longed for finally happened!

Jesus said He would rise from the dead in three days—and He did!  But His beloved still had a hard time believing it!  Jesus appeared to the two broken hearted men who walked on the road to Emmaus; but they did not recognize Jesus until He broke bread with them in their home.  Was it how He twisted the bread in a certain way or how Jesus prayed as He did it that opened their eyes to recognition of Jesus whom they had seen crucified? Or could be it was God’s timing and Jesus’ obedience to His timing. These are human thoughts of wonder, but the Truth is this:  Jesus is alive in the same Body that was beaten and nailed to a cross.  He has the scars to prove it. 

Those who believe, really believe, now see Him for who He is—Savior and Lord!

Luke 24, The Message

A Ghost Doesn’t Have Muscle and Bone

^33-34 They didn’t waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: “It’s really happened! The Master has been raised up—Simon saw him!”

³⁵ Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.

^36-41 While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, “Peace be with you.” They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death. He continued with them, “Don’t be upset, and don’t let all these doubting questions take over. Look at my hands; look at my feet—it’s really me. Touch me. Look me over from head to toe. A ghost doesn’t have muscle and bone like this.” As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. They still couldn’t believe what they were seeing. It was too much; it seemed too good to be true.

^41-43 He asked, “Do you have any food here?” They gave him a piece of leftover fish they had cooked. He took it and ate it right before their eyes.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus, Son of Man/Son of God, has certain characteristics and ways about Him that are like no other human who lived on earth:

• Jesus was without sin but placed all the sins of the world, yours and mine, upon his shoulders and nailed them to the cross—once and for all. 
• Jesus is perfect in love for God is love and they are One. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
• Jesus willingly gave His life for ours.  He had the power to walk away but chose to stay—for you and for me.
• Jesus is the One and Only Way to come to God.  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” –Jesus, John 14:6
• Jesus said and did as God directed with each encounter with people on earth.  “For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.” John 12:49 
• “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed.” John 5:19-20
• Jesus came to serve and who led his followers to serve.  “…just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
• Jesus’ compassion was shown in His healings.  Jesus’ passion was shown as He laid down His life for ours.  Jesus demonstrated the full extent of His love as he knelt down in a servant posture to wash the dirty feet of His followers—even the feet of His betrayer!  John 13
• Jesus has all authority to be God in the flesh and save all who believe in Him.
• Jesus is the Prince of Peace who gives peace to us as a gift.  “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27
• Jesus is greater than our sin, our enemy, and ourselves.  “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  1 John 4:4 Jesus is love, mercy, and grace who forgives our sins and makes us holy before him and reconnects us to God.  We cannot do that for ourselves.

Jesus walked and talked just like His Dad.  This is what makes Jesus distinctive and recognizable from all others who walked the earth.  There is no one like Jesus.  There is no one like our God!

Recognize Jesus for who He really is—Son of God! Believe, repent, and be saved for eternity with Him.

Lord,

I could spend all day listing your characteristics of your love, mercy, and grace!  You are Savior and Lord of those who believe.  I believe!  I really believe what you say is truth.  I am grateful for you.  Thank you for forgiving me and cleansing my heart of all that entangles my thinking and behaving.  Renew my minds, transform my behaviors.  Restore the joy of your salvation at work within me.  Remove all that is not you.  Help me to be more like you and less like me.  Use what you have created in me as distinct  for your glory, honor and praise!

In Jesus Name, Amen