Never the Same Again

Reflections of a Disciple:

“Do you think we’ll ever see Him again?” This was the question we all wanted to ask, but nobody wanted to answer. If the answer was yes, was this too much to wish for? The pain of hopes and dreams being dashed yet again was too much to contemplate. But if we said no, then what had the past three years been all about? Our lives had already been spent on hopes for the future, and here we were, back in the past.

Since we first laid eyes on Him, we knew life was going to be different. There was something irresistible about him, a magnetic personality that drew us towards him. An aura of peace surrounded Him. It wasn’t so much what He did, although that gave us plenty to talk and think about, but what we could understand. Our lives were transformed just by being with him. He said He was the son of God, and we believed Him. We believed everything He said, and we had built up so much hope for our lives and for the future, but it all went wrong. Before we realised what was happening, He had been arrested and sentenced to death.

But He was bigger than that. His was a life that no one could take away, or so we thought. Then they crucified Him. It was like the end of the world, our world and His. All went dark. Where was God, the Father He had talked so much about, who had left him, and us, alone?

We haven’t seen Him since. The women said they saw him near the tomb but were so excited and incoherent we couldn’t make much sense of it. “He is risen,” they said. “The Lord, He is not dead, but alive!” Two of our company said He walked with them on the road to Emmaus. They were burning with joy when they told us. He opened up the Scriptures to them and explained all that had been written about Himself. Fleeting glimpses of Him, comings and goings, we don’t know what to make of it all. We’re so confused and discouraged.

Will we ever see Him again? We don’t know. If it’s only for a moment, then it will be even worse after He’s gone. Anyway, we locked the doors so that no-one could get to us. “Fanatical,” I think was the word they used. And that’s a dangerous thing to be.

Then suddenly He appeared, standing among us. “Peace be with you,” He said. For a moment there was a stunned silence, then our downcast faces lit up in delight. “It’s the Lord!” Jubilant cries rang out as tears trickled down our faces. “As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you.” He breathed on us and an awesome presence fell upon us. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” He said. Now we knew Him, and what was to be our mission. One thing was certain. We would never be the same again.


Once you’ve met Him, your life will be changed too!

Prayer: Lord, I can imagine how it was with those first disciples who lived close to You for three years. But You sent Your Spirit to be with me, always. Please forgive me that I don’t always live in the truth of Your presence. Help me to walk close to You and see things through Your eyes. I receive You afresh today, Lord Jesus, that my joy may be full. Amen.