Telling the Beads Bead 16 - Episode 3 I am with you

B16 - E3 I am with you

The couple made their way back to the house where the apostles and their companions were still gathered together in the upper room. Before they had a chance to say a word, the others said excitedly, “Everything the women told us is true. Our Lord really has risen from the dead; he has already appeared to Peter.” Cleopas and Mary began to tell their story about what had happened on the road to Emmaus and how they had only recognised Jesus when he broke the bread and shared it with them as they were about to eat.

Everyone was listening to them intently when, all of a sudden, Jesus himself stood amongst them, despite the door being securely locked and bolted. They gasped in a mixture of shock, fear and disbelief, some of them even thinking they must be seeing a ghost, until Jesus began to speak to them, calming their fears, telling them to be at peace because he really was there with them. “I have come back to you,” he said. “Don’t be frightened anymore. 

“Look,” he said, “here are my hands and my feet. Look at my side,” stretching out his arms and moving his robe aside to show them the wounds that had been made by the nails and the spear. “Come and touch me and you’ll see I'm no ghost. Ghosts don’t have flesh and bones, do they.” They were still so shocked and astonished that he asked them if they had anything to eat and sat down with them to share the fish they had cooked. Then he began to explain everything to them as he had to Cleopas and Mary.

He chided them for doubting the women that morning and reminded them that, in the months leading up to his death, he had warned them many times about what lay ahead and what was going to happen to him. Gradually they began to see that the events of the past few days had been exactly as he had told them they would be. Their fears and disbelief were dispelled and replaced by utter joy and thanksgiving.

As they sat around the table, Jesus began to explain to them that they were to be witnesses to everything that had happened to him. They were to go out into the world to spread his message of love and forgiveness everywhere, beginning right there in Jerusalem.  He prayed for them to be filled with God’s Spirit so that they could bring forgiveness to all who were truly repentant but those who were unrepentant would be unable to receive that forgiveness.” Finally, he told them to be at peace and to stay in Jerusalem until God sent them the power they would need to fulfil their mission.

At that very moment, he disappeared and they were left alone but now, full of wonder, joy and amazement. He had come back to them alive. There had been no recriminations. He had not blamed them for deserting him, leaving him to face his enemies alone. They realised that their Lord was also their friend and their Saviour. He knew their failings and failures but despite all their weaknesses, he also knew that they truly loved him and with God’s help, were to be the people who would continue his work throughout the world. 

Thomas, one of the chosen apostles, was out of the room that evening. On his return, the others were full of the news and delighted to tell him what had happened but he couldn’t be convinced. He was adamant that they were wrong. “Unless I see the marks of the nails and touch the wound in his side,” he said, “I won’t believe it.” 

A week later, they were all together in the upper room, which was still locked, when Jesus appeared to them again and this time, Thomas was there! Jesus looked at him and smiled. “Here I am, Thomas. Come and touch my wounds. Look, here is my side; come and put your hand there. Stop doubting. Believe me! I am here, alive and well.” Thomas fell at his feet and, gazing up at him, breathed the words; “My Lord and My God!” 

Jesus put his arms down to him and raised him up, still smiling as he said to him, “Ah, Thomas, you believe in me now because you can see me; you can hear and touch me, can’t you. That is so typical of you! Imagine how blessed will all people in the future be who come to believe in me even though they haven’t seen me.” They spent a wonderful evening together, talking, laughing, and sharing so many memories. Then Jesus left them as suddenly as he had appeared, but this time, they were filled with a joy which was to know no end.