During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. Acts 1:3 (NLT)
I can’t help but wonder when reading this verse what he did to prove to them that he was actually alive. The verse says he proved this to them in many ways. Just in case they didn’t get it the first or second time? Just in case one way convinced one person but another person who saw things differently didn’t notice? Maybe they were distracted during one proof so he did it again. Did he want to make sure they all got it so he showed them in many different ways? Again. And again.
That is so like Jesus. He shows up to each and every one of us in many different ways. There is not one way to know him. There isn’t a right way or a wrong way. Every time we experience Jesus is a good time. Every glimpse we see that he is alive and well, is a proof.
In my life, what moves me to know that he is alive, may not move you. And what you see as concrete evidence may not even be on my radar. Each of our relationships with Jesus is unique. Every time he speaks to us, shares with us, moves us forward is personal. It is a gift that he gives us every single day. Again. And again.
And I bet, just like he talked to the disciples about the Kingdom of God during those 40 days….I bet he’s talking to us about the same thing. Question is, are we listening?