The evening meal is set out. The doors have again been
locked. Since that horrific day when Christ was crucified, His
followers are afraid of the wrath of the Jews, so the doors to
their upper-room gathering place are kept locked, opened only
to those who identify themselves as friends of Christ. While
most of the men gathered are rejoicing at the wonderful news
of Christ’s reported resurrection, some are still doubtful.
They have no appetite to enjoy the meal spread out before
them. Why hadn’t Jesus shown Himself to all of them? Why just
to the women, whose stories they scarcely believed, women
being what they are–gossip mongers?
Yes, momentarily the spirits of the doubters are uplifted
as they listen to Peter and John telling their stories of
having seen the empty tomb. For three days Peter had gone
around looking like a thundercloud. His days had been filled
with sorrow and remorse at having let his Friend down, and
even denying Him. He has scarcely spoken to any one. But now
his face is aglow, and he is enjoying the first meal since
that horrible day. He knows his Lord is alive.
As for John--the gentle John whom all the disciples respected
for his closeness to Jesus--his face is as bright as the sun.
He too is enjoying his meal. He had believed all along that
Christ would rise. But now he is sure his Friend
and Leader has risen, as He said He would. Cleopas and his
friend, who had left their own meal to share their good news
with their friends, have accepted the invitation to partake of
the meal.
But as they all discuss the strange happenings which have
taken place, the sorrow at the loss of their Leader once again
settles down on most of them. The doubters of the group are
picking away at their food, without much enthusiasm. They are
too depressed to eat.
Suddenly a light fills the room, and a Presence stands
before them. The talking ceases. The men look around in awe.
One by one those gathered recognize Him. Terror grips them as
they gaze upon the wondrous Form. He is like
their Master, but He is different, too. There is
a radiance about Him which they had not noticed before, a kind
of ethereal light. His face portrays a joy, a
peace. There is no sadness, which had always been on that face
which His followers had so loved. Could this actually be their
Lord? Or was their mood and conversation so intense that they
were imagining some sort of a spirit? And what
of the locked doors? How could He be here without having come
through the door?
Each in the group is standing, gazing in doubt, in hope, in
terror, in amazement at Him. And then He speaks. “Peace be unto you.” It is His
familiar greeting. It is His voice. But it has new meaning.
“Peace” is certainly what they are needing just now.
Jesus looks with love on their terrified faces. He asks,
“Why are ye troubled?” He knows
their hearts. He feels their grief. He wants them to
understand what He has been trying to teach them for the past
three and a half years. His voice is soft, as He says to them.
“Wherefore do questionings arise in your
hearts? See, my hands and my feet that it is I, Myself: handle
Me and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see
Me have. It is really I. Come and touch me.” He
stretches out His hands so that all in the room can see the
nail prints. He shows them His feet and the wound in His
side.... The disciples and friends are stunned with joy. They
are speechless. This is just too much! It is all just too
wonderful to take in.
Seeing that they are still overwhelmed, Jesus turns to the
table spread with food. “Have ye here
anything to eat?” In a flash someone puts some fish
and honey on a plate and hands it to Him. All eyes are on Him
as He eats the food. Surely this was proof that it was their
dear Lord. All the group go to the table, filling their plates
with food. Now their appetites have returned.
The meal finished, the group is silent as they listen to
their Leader once again talking to them, teaching them,
admonishing them. He expounds to them how that the prophecies
had foretold of His suffering and death; how that they had
been fulfilled; how they had to be fulfilled in
order for Christ to have redeemed lost mankind.
Finally the truths of what He had been trying to teach
them, sinks in. They see how the terrible things that have
happened, which they thought was the end of Him, was proof
that He truly is the Messiah which had been promised. Christ
reminds them how He had told them time and again how He must
be betrayed into the hands of the priests and be mocked and
scourged and crucified. He reminds them of how He taught them
that He would rise again. And now that truth has finally come
to all those in the room. The rejoicing is earsplitting.
But now Christ raises His hands to still their jubilation.
He has more to tell them. He has a commission for them: “As My father hath sent Me, even so send I you.
I want you to take My place–to comfort and help people, to
turn people from their evil ways and lead them to Me. I want
you to tell every one that if they repent and believe in Me,
their sins will be forgiven. You are to be My
witnesses.” When He had finished saying this, He
breathed on them saying, “Receive ye the
Holy Ghost.” And then He is gone. Just as
mysteriously as He came into the room, He disappears from
them.
The room once again burst into rejoicing, but this time it
is more subdued, more orderly, more reverent. This time it is
more like a praise meeting. “The Lord is risen. The Lord
is here with us. The Lord will never leave us. He has
commissioned us to be His representatives. Praise God! Christ
our Redeemer liveth!”