[This reflection by Michael Goble was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 07/Apr/2024]
The granddaughter of our next door neighbours is a trainee film director and she arranged to make a film at her grandparent’s home just before Easter. As that would be the film set, we were happy to agree to her request for two days to use two rooms in our house, the conservatory and the dining room. It was a surprise when we discovered how much was involved.
The days were 12 hours long each, our dining room became a dressing room with a large illuminated mirror, make-up, and a rail of clothes to be worn during the filming and the conservatory used for meals and relaxation. Even more surprising was that the film crew numbered about 30, many of whom were in and out of our home, but the cast was just one actor and one actress! It was very interesting to see what went on behind the scenes in making a film.
This experience made me think at the approach of Easter of the person who made his or her Upper Room available to Jesus and His disciples for the Passover meal. The house owner would not have expected all the events that would take place over the next few days. Here was Jesus having been welcomed into Jerusalem as the coming King, and now into the owner’s home, but instead after the meal Jesus was arrested, put to death in a horrible way after the travesty of a trial and now buried in a tomb.
For a couple of days his or her upper room would be full of dismayed and mourning disciples and other followers of Jesus. There would be all the comings and goings, and the mysterious stories of His missing body. But the most surprising event, which the house owner would surely have been present at, was that Jesus suddenly appeared there in a glorified body having risen from the dead! All those in the house were filled with joy and peace. In fact Jesus was later seen by more than 500 followers at one time after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15 v6). We have been privileged to know what went on behind the scenes.
So far only Jesus has risen from the dead, but the Bible also tells us that a time will come when all the people that ever lived will come back to life. Many of them, who believed in Jesus as their Saviour from the consequences of sin, will rise with a glorious body like His to a new life with Him forever. Sadly there will be many others who will have rejected His gift of new life, and will miss out on the glories to come, and be lost.
“Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when He returns, we can live with Him forever.” (1 Thessalonians 5 v10 NLT). It may come as a surprise when it happens, but we can know now that when the risen Lord Jesus returns we too will rise with new bodies to new life.
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Last week’s reflection: Divine Heartburn by David Makanjuola
Contributed by Michael Goble; © Michael Goble