God Reveals Himself

After the Resurrection, something incredible happens: 

Jesus just keeps showing up everywhere. 

Right from the very beginning, He appears to Mary. Right there at the tomb. She thinks He's the gardener. 

He walks with some of the disciples on the road to Emmaus; they think He's a fellow traveler. 

He pops into the Upper Room while the disciples are gathered on more than one occasion. Some of them immediately know that it's Him; it takes some others a little bit longer. Some require a little more proof. 

He's hanging out on the seashore, grilling fish, while the disciples are out fishing. They spot Him from the boat and one of them says, "Oh my gosh - it's Him," and another one jumps into the water to get to shore faster. 

John tells us, in the latter chapters of his Gospel, just how often Jesus keeps showing up, appearing, revealing Himself to folks.

It's not the first time...or the last time. 

See, showing up has always been God's way. It was His way in the Garden, when He was strolling by even as Adam and Eve dove for the bushes. It was His Way by the Jabbok River, when He wrestled with Jacob. It was His way in the wilderness, when He dwelled with Israel in cloud and fire. It was His way under the broom plant when the prophet was famished. 

It's been His way from the very beginning, and it's still His way now. 

When you're least expecting it, there He is. Or, rather, here He is. Somewhere right beside you. Somewhere where you most need Him. 

Maybe He looks like the gardener. Or a fellow traveler. Or someone you know. Or someone you can hardly believe. Maybe He's just going about regular business, doing nothing spectacular or even something so plain as making breakfast. Yet, if you keep your eyes open, you see Him. 

You can't help but not see Him. 

Because God reveals Himself. Over and over and over again in the places where His people are living and loving and trying to dwell, where they're seeking grace and hope and faith, where they're trying to figure out what to do next, where to go from here, what just happened...here He is. 

Immanuel. Still. 

God with us. 

Forever.