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What must it have been like for the disciples during the forty days that Jesus walked on earth between His Resurrection and His Ascension into the heavens?
Imagine the emotional rollercoaster these men and women rode during that approximate six week period. Just when things seem to be coming together, Jesus announces that He’s going to Jerusalem and that He’ll be put to death. That alone must have caused quite a stir. How could that happen? He was riding this huge wave of popularity and taking His followers with Him.
Still, true to His word, within one week His closest friends go from accompanying a future King down the streets of Jerusalem, to the cheers of the crowds along the street, to watching Him die a horrific death on the cross. Some stood and watched from a distance. Others boldly stood at the foot of the cross and watched him breathe his last.
Then, just three days later, as they mourned in hiding for fear of their lives, He reappears to them! They can touch Him, eat with him and ask him all those questions they had neglected to ask while he was on earth. I would imagine that every word that Jesus spoke was treasured more than ever before. Questions that had been in the back of their minds were asked. Clarifications sought. This time, they would listen to every word that came from His mouth. He would not be taken for granted.
Luke relates the story of Jesus’ last words in Acts 1:1-11. It was time for Him to leave. This time, He would be gone for a long time. The success or failure of His Church rested on those around Him. During His earthly ministry he taught them along the road side, demonstrated the love of His Father to the prostitutes and healed the hopelessly sick. Now, His attention turned to His faithful followers. To borrow from the sports world, it was GAME TIME! Once the ball is tipped off or kicked, or that first pitch is thrown, learning new skills is over. Now, the effective coach reminds his charges of the things learned in drills and practice.
In the same way, Jesus reminds them of all He had taught them about life’s struggles and about their relationship with the Father, built on His sacrifice and empowered by His Holy Spirit. Now, they gather on a hillside outside Jerusalem. It is here that Jesus gives His final words of blessing before being taken up. As the disciples watched Him grow smaller and smaller as He rose heavenward, two angels appear to them. Their words motivate me. To paraphrase, they ask those gathered, why are you standing here? What do you hope to see? Are you gazing and thinking of the past or contemplating the future? Go back to Jerusalem and wait.
There’s a sense of urgency in this passage that each of us needs to consider. It’s time we stop being bound by our past. It’s time we stop speculating about the future. The past is forgiven under the cross. The future is God’s hands. It is, now, time for each of us to get in the game. It’s time to do Kingdom work under the power of the Holy Spirit.
Excerpt from “Ready, Set, Grow!”
He walked slowly up the stairs. He didn’t really want to go into that room. He didn’t want to face them. But he had nowhere else to go. It was dark, cold and the Jews may be out for more blood. What a difference a few hours had made. It seemed like just minutes ago that he’d left this upper room with his buddies and the Teacher. He could still smell the aroma of the roasted Lamb, he could still see the Teacher’s shadow in the distance as he prayed. How could he have fallen asleep? If only he’d known.
He tried to open the door quietly, but the rusty hinges gave him away. The others in the room looked up when he entered. Not one said a word. The air had been filled with celebration earlier, but now it was heavy, full of grief and sadness.
He found a corner and slid down the wall. He buried his face in his hands. He began to cry again. This time, there were few tears left. He sensed a shape near him and heard John’s voice.
“Did you hear about Judas?” John’s face was full of grief and fear when he looked up.
“They got Judas too?”
“No,” there was a heavy pause, “he hung himself.”
Peter placed his face back in his hands “When will it end?”
He may have slept a bit. If so, it would be the first sleep he’d had in two days. But his rest was shattered by a rattling gate. Instantly everyone was up. They were here. At any moment soldiers could break through.
John looked carefully through the drawn window. “It’s only Mary. Let her in.”
Mary bust through the door. She was breathless from running and could barely speak.
“He’s not there. The tomb. He’s gone. They took his body!”
Peter broke through the crowd. “What are you talking about?” He demanded.
“I went to the tomb to mourn. The stone was rolled away. The tomb was empty Peter!”
Peter hesitated to try to understand. Then he bolted from the room and ran down the steps. He hurried through the streets. ‘It couldn’t be,’ He told himself. When he and John got to the tomb it was just as Mary had told them. The grave clothes lay in a neat pile. The small room smelled of fresh burial spices. But there was no one there.
Peter’s mind was racing. He was angry at the Jews for taking his body. But what if they hadn’t taken it? “What if….NO! I saw him die.” He got back to the room before the others returned. He didn’t know what to make of things. So many questions. What was it he said? The Son of Man must be lifted up? What did he mean? Where was his body?
A thousand other questions went through his mind when suddenly the cool, dark room was warm and full of light. He looked up to see the Teacher. Peter fell to his knees and hung his head. A hand reached down and pulled him to his feet. The Teacher gently lifted Peter’s head so that he could see his eyes.
Peter didn’t understand completely, but looking into Jesus’ eyes he knew everything would be okay.
I am publishing this excerpt from my Built with Grace topic, ‘The Day Peter Learned Love’, to remind all of us on this Resurrection Weekend that it doesn’t matter what you have done. There is nothing in your past, present or future that can keep you from experiencing the life-changing love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Find a house of worship this weekend and make or renew a decision to follow Him completely.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 