Disciple Smack Down

You know that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach before something huge is about to happen? Like before speaking in front of a large crowd or having to have a confrontation with someone you really love. I wonder if Jesus had that during the day on Thursday. I wonder if He woke up that morning and just momentarily, in that dreamy spot between asleep and awake, He didn't remember what was coming. He thought maybe He was building a chair with Joseph that day or playing ball with some buddies. And then the reality hits...I have give the speech today or I have to talk to her. In Jesus' case it was: today my friends leave me.

To be alone is the worst. The Hebrew word for alone is the same as the word "bad". I honestly believe there could be no worse punishment for anyone than solitary confinement. And Jesus knew that's what was coming.

The disciples had a rough day from performance standpoint. The obvious is Judas and his pathetic betrayal. But it goes beyond Judas. They all arrive for the Last Supper and James and John are arguing about who gets to sit at Jesus' right hand in the Kingdom. Peter, James and John can't even stay awake with Jesus during His painful prayer time in the Garden. Peter denies Jesus three times after swearing He won't. When Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested, all eleven scatter. Only John is at the foot of the cross.

I've heard a lot of preachers/teachers rail on the disciples for these things. And as much as I'd like to think I wouldn't have done the same things, I probably would have.

You see, we're not them. The resurrection hadn't happened yet. Their eyes were still blinded to the truths that Jesus had been drilling into them. But rather than rail on them, I prefer to think of their transformation.

Read Acts. Read history. Look at what the resurrection can do when you let it. These same "losers" who bailed on Jesus in His darkest hour turned the world upside-down. Hear Peter preaching at Pentecost. Watch Peter and John stand before the Sanhedrin and refuse to obey them. Feel the nails in Philip's wrists as he is crucified with his family in Hierapolis. Watch Thomas journey to India with the Gospel and die there for it. See John in exile on Patmos writing Revelation.

The resurrection and the Holy Spirit is what the disciples were missing on this dark Thursday night. On this night, those hundreds of years ago, they were defeated.

But on this same night, hundreds of years later, we stand with them in victory because Jesus is risen.