Good Friday to Pentecost – is the experience of the disciples a godly pattern for our lives as well?

By mmayer

Luke 24:44-53

⁴⁴He said to them, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’

⁴⁵Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶He told them, ‘This is what is written: the Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’

The ascension of Jesus

⁵⁰When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. ⁵²Then they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

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Think of what the disciples experienced over the 50 + days from Good Friday to Pentecost. I believe it is also a pattern for our own lives.

Something comes to an end, or someone dies. The disciples were shattered and had no way to cope. Everything they had expected Jesus to achieve was gone in one horrible day. We have all experienced something coming to an end. Resuscitation, trying to get the old back, just won’t work.
The new life of Easter begins, but we are not ready for it. That is the beautiful way of God. New life, powerful new life, begins without us even being aware. The disciples had no idea that Jesus was alive, and that everything had changed. Even in our worst experiences, God is already at work with something new, without us being ready for it.
Jesus ascends into heaven. We have to let go, to God, the old ways of doing things. The disciples were excited to meet the risen Jesus, and to know that he was there with them. As he ascended into heaven, they had to let go of the idea that he was always going to be physically available to see and touch. That limited Jesus to only being in one place at one time. Now he is with all people at all times. There are times when letting go is vital, if what we are holding on to or insisting has to go our way is actually stopping us grow, or is making it impossible for others to be with us.
The Holy Spirit is poured out into individuals at Pentecost. Now we receive the Holy Spirit (custom made for each one of us in our unique situations) to help us understand and start to live out the new life that God has for us. Come, Holy Spirit, help us all to grow deeper into who we are in Christ: forgiven, loved, useful.