Marking the End of the Easter Season

Today is the official end of the Easter season for this year; it is the celebration of Pentecost, a holy day commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus. In observing it, I am reminded of what happened in the lives of those first believers in the days following the resurrection of Jesus, concluding with Pentecost. Days which present some of the most compelling reasons why I've chosen to be a follower of Christ.

After Jesus was crucified, a transformation took place in those who were closest to him which changed them forever. Prior to the crucifixion, we see a group of followers -- especially the twelve disciples, who had been learning daily from him for three years -- who consistently demonstrated a lack of understanding of his message. There were constant questions. Doubt and confusion were common. They never seemed to "get it."

For example, John and James (the "sons of thunder" who wanted to call down death from above on the Samaritans) argued about wanting to be seated in a place of honor in Heaven, even though Jesus said his followers were to be humble servants, not concerned with power. And, as we see from the story of how Peter denied Jesus three times after his arrest, the disciples were, initially, timid, to say the least, about stepping forward in defense of Jesus. But something happened to change that.

There was no compelling reason for the disciples to perpetuate the story of a risen savior unless they believed it was true. They had not been living in luxury or occupying a place of power or influence as followers of Jesus, so there was no worldly reason to want to continue teaching the Way which he proclaimed. In fact, what happened to Jesus would suggest, that for their own safety, they should just go back to their day jobs and be quiet. But they didn't. They left behind their old lives and carried the words of Jesus to faraway places, planting seeds of faith which would eventually take the message around the world.

Something happened to those early followers which can only be explained if they believed Jesus is who he says he is. A ragtag bunch of misfits don't change the course of history unless they are transformed by a power much greater than themselves. For me, their witness provides overwhelming evidence to believe in the power which changed them.