Disciples to Apostles

Reading: John 20:19-29

The disciples’ of Jesus were living in fear that they may get arrested, tortured or crucified. They had witnessed his brutal execution. Jesus had been a dynamic public figure and they had accompanied him on most occasions when he ministered to the people. Many had seen them as his disciples. Peter’s encounters at the trial and how people easily recognized him had probably set off an alarm that they were sitting ducks. Could they have still been recovering from Judas' cold blooded betrayal and death? 

Jesus was the son of a poor carpenter. None of His disciples were scholars or holy men. They were simple ordinary people who were mainly fishermen, one an unethical tax collector, and one a political fanatic who killed himself after betraying Jesus. However Jesus saw them as having the full potential of being strong witnesses for him. Was Jesus looking for disciples who would give up everything and follow Him? Was Jesus looking for disciples who could identify themselves with the poor and needy? The disciples had been with Jesus for three years of his ministry and had learned to live with limited means and in the most unlikely places. Jesus had said, “Foxes have holes and the birds have nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” They had dropped everything to follow him. For three years they had held on to every word that Jesus said and did. They had blindly followed him everywhere he went. 

But this was a time when any association with Jesus could mean imprisonment or maybe even death. They had spent time with Jesus, but had lost all courage after they saw how brutally he had died. They lived in fear and doubt. Threat of death can be paralyzing. Had Jesus’ three years with the disciples all been a waste of time? They were so weak, that without the presence of Jesus they really felt crippled. They could not believe that Christ had risen from the dead. Even when the women came and told them they had seen the Lord they continued to live in fear. They were unwilling to trust anyone. After all one of their own closest comrades had maliciously betrayed their master and friend. 

Then all of a sudden Christ appeared before them! His first words to them were, “Peace be with you.” It must have been such a relief for them to see him again – to see Christ at last right before them, in his newly resurrected body. Their fears had finally found an outlet. Christ had at last brought them peace. He had meant everything to them. He was their leader, teacher and guide. He was their God. To see him was a huge watershed in their lives. Then He proceeded to show where the nails pierced His hands and the spear pierced His side. They saw and believed. 

He breathed his Holy Spirit into them and gave them the power to forgive other peoples sins. He empowered them to go out and to be witnesses to all giving them powers to heal, pray, and preach the good news to everyone everywhere. 

One of the disciples, Thomas, did not believe the disciples when they said that they had seen Jesus. He was full of doubts. He told them that he wouldn’t believe unless he saw and touched the nail-pierced hands and the wound on his side. Eight days later, as the disciples were again bolted in a room, Jesus appeared before them. He spoke directly to Thomas and told him, “Put your fingers on my hands and see the scars of the nail, touch the sides of my body and feel the scars. Now do you believe Thomas? Blessed are those who will never see me, yet will believe.” 

If Jesus had not returned and spent time with his disciples, surely they would have all been scattered. They would have become like lost sheep without a shepherd. Christ had to come back to them. He reassured them that they did not need His physical presence, but that the Holy Spirit would always be with them. 

Did they need this assurance of the resurrected Christ to go on to spread the gospel message? After they met with the resurrected Christ they were not the same men anymore. From Disciples of Christ they later became known as the Apostles of Christ. They had physically and spiritually been touched by Christ and the Holy Spirit. From then on they were not afraid anymore. Like David they were convinced that even if they died they would not rot in their graves. There was another life waiting that was much better than the one they were living. It was a life where they would be reunited with their master, savior and king. Christ had promised them that he was going ahead to prepare a place for them in heaven. To them death had lost its sting. 

The Apostles now knew that with the Spirit of Christ within them, they could go anywhere and be faithful witnesses to the Gospel message. Christ had promised to be with them always. So began the Acts of the Apostles, where they spread Christianity into all the world, built and established churches, and converted countless number of people to become Disciples of Christ. The Apostles were crucified, speared to death, or killed in some other brutal manner; except for John who went into exile for his faith and died of old age. The Gospels and the Letters of the Apostles continue to be a source of inspiration for the millions of Christians all over the world. Generation after generation, century after century Christians read and rejoice in the word of God that was written by these men of faith who lived, and were martyred for, the spread of the gospel. As Christians we await Christ's second coming - not as a suffering servant, but in power and majesty - when he will establish a world of peace.