From Ash Wednesday until Easter, I will post from Lent and Easter devotionals offered online. Today's post features excerpts written by Dr. Roger Barrier, retired senior teaching pastor from Casas Church in Tucson, Arizona. In addition to being an author and sought-after conference speaker, Roger has mentored or taught thousands of pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders worldwide.
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Dear Roger,
You have preached almost 50 Easter sermons. What Easter principle means the most to you? Sincerely, Julie
Dear Julie,
Jesus saw people, not as they were, but as what they might become. This is the essence of the resurrection story.
Who the Disciples Were
They were a disappointing disaster. For example, the last week of Jesus’ life was not a good one for Jesus’ disciples. We should not be surprised; they didn’t do all that well during the first three-and-a-half years, either.
Philip is panicking in the upper room and unsure over whom Jesus really was.
As Jesus was sharing the bread and the wine at the Last Supper, Luke tells us that the disciples began to fight over who was the greatest. That must have really hurt Him.
They fell asleep and left Him alone during the time of His agony in the Garden.
Peter denied Him.
Judas betrayed Him.
Thomas doubted.
At the cross, all the disciples deserted Him and fled.
Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem—instead, they all go back to the Sea of Galilee and return to their fishing business.
When He needed their support they constantly disappointed Him.
After preaching his most demanding discipleship sermon (John 6), the entire crowd rejected him and departed en masse, except the Twelve.
There’s no doubt this was the most depressing moment of His ministry...He asked His disciples, “You’re going away too, aren’t you?” Expecting the answer to be, “Yes, we’ve had enough.” This was the low point. From this moment on, everything was downhill straight to the cross.
I’d like for you to consider with me how Jesus must have felt when His closest friends misunderstood, criticized, denied, betrayed Him. and left Him all alone at the cross. If Jesus could transform them, He can transform anyone.
Think of how Jesus felt as He was arrested in the garden and Matthew records one of the saddest verses in the entire Bible: “And they all forsook Him and fled.” Talk about rejection, betrayal, disappointment, and hurt! I guess that we should not be so hard on the disciples; after all, by our sin, many of us have done the same.
What the Disciples Became
Most of the Disciples disappear from the Bible early in the first century. But history records what they did. Frankly, they carried Christianity all over the known world.
The disciples did not start out too well—but they ended strong. Such is the impact and care of the person of Jesus Christ.
James was martyred in the streets of Jerusalem in 45 A.D.
Matthew gave up financial security to follow Jesus Christ. He was slain with a sword in Ethiopia.
Philip was born in a little city called Bethsaida, which means the house of the fisher or the house of the hunter. He went fishing and hunting for men. He was hanged in Phrygia.
Andrew took the gospel to Russia (He is the patron saint of Russia). He was crucified in Greece.
Bartholomew was skinned alive in Armenia, near the modern-day town of Derbend in the old Soviet Union.
Thomas, often criticized for his doubts, left no doubt as to his loyalty to the Savior. He carried the gospel to East India where he was run through with a lance.
Thaddeus was shot to death with arrows in Beirut, Lebanon.
Simon the Zealot, was a member of the Jewish nationalistic party, ready to die for his country against the hated Romans. Instead, he was crucified in modern-day Iran.
Peter got as far as Rome where he, too, was crucified—at his request, upside down. He did not consider himself worthy to die right-side up as did his Lord.
John died in his 90s, exiled on the Isle of Patmos after writing the Gospel of John, three epistles, and Revelation.
How the Disciples Became What Jesus Intended
What happened to Peter can happen with us.
In the presence of Jesus, Peter had great courage. In the Garden of Gethsemane, he drew his sword and cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest.
In the presence of Jesus, Peter did the miraculous. He cast out demons.
In the presence of Jesus, Peter said miraculous things. “You are the Christ, the son of the living God."
Then, sadly, in the presence of a little girl by the fire on Thursday night, frightened and scared, Peter denied three times that he even knew Jesus.
What happened? What made the difference? ...Peter was no longer in the presence of Jesus.
Astoundingly, in the opening pages of the book of Acts, Peter was once again filled with courage. Threatened with death if he kept on preaching, Peter refused to stop.
Astoundingly, Peter was again doing miraculous things. “Pick up your bed and walk.” The cripple got up and walked.
Astoundingly, Peter was again saying the miraculous. “I’ve come to tell about Jesus Christ-whom you crucified!”
He was doing the same miraculous things that he did when he was standing by Jesus.
What made the difference? At Pentecost, Peter was indwelt by the life and presence of the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of Christ.
If Jesus transformed the disciples, He can transform us.
Prayer:
Father,
First, we thank You for the resurrection which proved the validity of Christ. Second, we pray to see ourselves from Your perspective. We know that compared to the perfection of Christ, we all need transformation. Third, help us to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit as we allow Him to live freely in us. When we think of what the disciples were—then what they became in the hands of both Christ and the Holy Spirit, we are filled with hope and courage when we think of what we are—and imagine what we can become in the hands of both Christ and the Holy Spirit. Father, give us the wisdom to fully understand the resurrection power of Jesus Christ and Your strength to receive the transforming work of Christ in us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
