April 9, 2026 - Good Morning! It’s Thursday, April 9.
With thoughts of Easter still fresh in our minds, we remember this morning that Resurrection Sunday wasn’t Christ’s last day on earth - there were 40 more. The Bible mentions at least ten encounters that Jesus had during that period before His ascension back to heaven. Time with His disciples, with His family, and once with over 500 followers. God knew that the truth of the Resurrection would be the foundation of our faith, and so He wanted to give us plenty of confidence in that truth.
And then there’s that number - the number 40. It appears in Scripture more than 150 times. And at some pretty important moments too. Here’s just a few.
- God sent the rain for 40 days and 40 nights before the Flood
- The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years
- Moses stayed on Mt. Sinai for 40 days, and then God gave Him the Ten Commandments
- King Saul, King David, and King Solomon all reigned for 40 years
- Before His ministry began, Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness
Events in the Bible that involve the number 40 are often times of trial and testing. As we move forward from Easter, we can be certain that there will be days of trial and testing in our lives. But a wise man once said, “A faith that hasn’t been tested is a faith that can’t be trusted”. The Book of James was written by the brother of Christ, and James was one of those that Jesus encountered after the Resurrection. It is thought that that encounter transformed James from a skeptic into a believer, and into a leader in the early Church. In James 1:2 we read these words -
“Consider it joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces patience.”
Meet you back here tomorrow,
David
cindertex50@yahoo.com
