Put yourself in their shoes. You've followed this guy around for a couple of years, you've seen the things he can do. You know he's different. You know he's the Promised One, the Messiah. You believe it. He's told you he was going to die and that he would rise again, after three days, but you didn't really understand. You know he's coming back, you're just lost as to when. You've been hunkered down with your brothers, in an upper room, hiding. Outside, you're pretty sure there's a manhunt for his followers. They swiftly dispatched him, but it was all under the cover of night. They could be coming after you.
Before they arrested him, you were experiencing life like never before. Jesus was working miracles left and right, he was speaking of a kingdom that was coming, and you just knew it'd be here soon! You knew at some point, he was going to overtake the Romans and Israel would be out from under oppression. You left behind your family and everything dear to you, for him.
They didn't know it, but soon they'd lay everything on the line for Him.
Now, right now, you're looking around into the eyes of your brothers, no doubt seeing the fear and the uncertainty. You'd just had dinner with Jesus and your brothers. He dropped them bombshell that one of the twelve would betray him, and that one of his closest friends would deny his name three times. Then, while praying in the garden, he'd been arrested in the dark of night. He was dragged before different audiences and different leaders. This was your leader and you'd seen all this with your own eyes. He'd been sentenced to death, by Roman crucifixion. This was one of the worst forms of torture in your world. It was bloody, nasty, and brutal. There's weeping in this room, most strongly from those who saw him die with their own eyes.
He told you he would die, but did you really let that sink in? You listened to his words and you may not have thought fully about what he'd said. You were about to have the opportunity to believe him, you just don't know it yet.
(It's easy for us, in modern times, to read our Bibles and see how ignorant these men were to not understand, but we have history on our side. Hindsight is 20/20)
So it's the wee hours of the morning. He died a few days ago, everything has been quiet.
All of a sudden, shouts break through the silence.
"He's Alive! He's Alive!"
You feel like you're hearing things! Can it be? Jesus is alive!
Then you think back, he told you he was going to do this!
You're gathered with your brothers, the doors locked, and Jesus appears in the room. It scares you all at first, then he shows you his scars. You all sit down and have a meal with him.
Over the next forty days, he appears various times to various people, proving he is who he said he was. He teaches you more and speaks with you more. He then ascends into Heaven.
Now, you're tasked with sharing His word throughout the world! The same task that we have! The disciples and followers of Jesus headed out from the Mount of Olives and spread the Gospel!
We have the same task, go throughout the world and spread the Good News of His resurrection!
Use this Easter holiday as a chance to let others know of the great power of our God!
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