2026 Pentecost Devotions III
Monday, October 26
1 John 3:1-3
1 See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 3 And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
“… What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. …”
When Jesus appeared in the upper room after the resurrection, even though the doors were locked, his body had physical form such that he still had the marks of the names and was able to eat. When the two disciples encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus after the resurrection, they did not recognize him until he broke the bread. When Mary first saw Jesus at the tomb on Easter morning, she thought he was the gardener until Jesus spoke her name.
Trying to determine what our resurrected bodies will be like is difficult to say based on these encounters with the Risen Lord. Yet, folks continue to ask the question: “What will life be like after their resurrection? After all, what we confess we believe in our creeds is the resurrection of the body. So, what’s that going to be like.
Sometimes the questions we ask don’t have clear answers. Some just fall into the realm of mystery. Of course, that should not be a surprise. After all, Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. The Triune God we worship is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our faith and our lives are bathed in the mystery who is God. We can still ask the questions. But in reality, all we can really do is believe.
Prayer: Almighty God, your ways and your works are often mysterious. When I doubt, help me to believe and trust in Your Word and Your love. Amen.