The Moment of 'Aha'

~~~ Acts of the Apostles19:1-8 ~~~ Psalm 68 ~~~ John 16:29-33 ~~~

 

'...when Paul laid his hands on them,
the Holy Spirit came upon them,
and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.'

 

John baptized with water, but now it is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

It is common for one to leave behind a wonderful keepsake for their loved ones.

You certainly have pictures keeping their memory alive

for future generations even.

 

Jesus goes much farther.

He leaves behind the Holy Spirit for his loved ones.

Jesus leaves behind the living Spirit.

A Spirit that is actually part of himself.

This is truly a gift that keeps on giving.

The gift of the Holy Spirit is with us now.

The gift of the Spirit will be with us until the end of time.

 

Finally the followers of Jesus get it...

Now we realize that you know everything

I wonder how Jesus felt and thought hearing these words

 from those closest to him.

Did he say to himself...

 

'Finally, they get what I have been telling them' ?

Yes, Jesus does know the depths of our heart and soul.

He knows everything about who we are; we are his.

He shares and is one with the Father;

who is all knowing.

 

 

Their eyes and ears have been opened with understanding.

Oddly though they believe that Jesus had changed,

when in reality it was they who had changed.

 

When Jesus ascended into heaven leaving this world behind;

it may have appeared that he was all alone.

 

He assures us all that he was never alone and neither are we

or will we ever be without his presence.

 

"...But I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
I have told you this so that you might have peace in me.
In the world you will have trouble,
but take courage, I have conquered the world."

 

Jesus was here as one of us.

He understands all of our emotional needs and our physical wants.

He knows that life can be difficult to accept at times.

He wants us to trust in his triumphs over the world.

He endured pain and suffering for us.

 

He now wants us to have peace in him.

He wants us to draw courage from him.

Every time we hear the scriptures

taking us to the place where Jesus was physically present,

it is another invitation to believe.

 

We are invited to believe that Jesus was never

alone and neither are we.

He is never farther than your next heart beat or your next breath of air.

No one else can be that intimate with your essence.

 

Jesus not only conquered the world he also conquered death.

This world is not where we will ever find our peace;

perfect peace is only found in him.

 

The Easter Blessing of never being left alone or abandoned.

He is with us now and forever.