David Bahn – Reflections

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” ³⁷ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate before them.

⁴⁴ Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

⁵⁰ And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³ and were continually in the temple blessing God.

And God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light. And God saw that it was good (Genesis 1:3-4). It’s my email signature. I latched onto that as my signature verse because it gives testimony to people of God’s creative work, and it nods the head to my love of photography. I even heard once from a worker at the Ansel Adams gallery that it was a great Bible verse for a photographer.

But the message of that verse goes beyond creative work, or even the possibility of photography. It makes a point: When God speaks, things happen. And not just “things” but the things of which he speaks happen. The story of Genesis one is of God’s creative work being done through his Word. I’ve capitalized “Word” here to give witness to John 1, “In the beginning was the Word… All things were created through him…and the Word became flesh.” The Word – the Second Person of the Trinity – was at the beginning and through him God created all things.

Of course, the Word and all his work is testified of through the words of the prophets and writers of the Old Testament. That’s the point Jesus is making here. The writings of the Old Testament scriptures carry a message that is fulfilled only in Jesus: the Word made flesh.

When Jesus speaks of “everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms” being fulfilled he is covering the entire breadth of the Hebrew Scriptures. The Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms was a common way of referring to the whole of Scripture, and Jesus’ teachings resonate with the themes and concerns of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Above all, these words affirm that Scripture cannot be broken (cf. John 10:35). If God says it, it’s gonna happen. He does not speak frivolously or unnecessarily.

That should be a comfort to us. God’s promises are sure to be fulfilled. Our prayers in Jesus’ name will be answered. Our sins have been forgiven. We have an eternal hope stored up for us. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus has also said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matthew 12:36). Words matter. Our words can wound or heal. God’s words will never fail. His Word to us is the embodiment of grace and truth.

God’s Word has created light where there was darkness, hope where there was despair, and life where there was death. Now, through His living Word—Jesus Christ—He calls us to reflect His light into the world.

“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” – 2 Corinthians 4:6