The Cowards in the Upper Room

As I was thinking about what to write for Easter, I thought about the Disciples. These men, who followed Christ for three years watching all his miracles, speaking to the God-Man about things we would sell our eyes to hear, and seeing miracles that were to great to be mentioned in the scriptures.

These guys knew more about Christ then we will ever know here on earth. They were willing to follow him for the rest of their lives.

But everything changed when Christ died.

When Christ was the one being mocked, Peter betrayed.
When Christ was placed on public display, the disciples hid.
When Christ was killed, they fled for their lives.

All the disciples hid in a upper room. They were fearful of their lives. Suddenly all the moments with Christ seemed to be a blur as their entire life suddenly became a very dark path with no direction.

These men were average guys from all walks of life. Tax collectors and fisherman. Brothers and sons. They no doubt have heard horror stories of other men who claimed to be the messiah and the consequences for those that followed false prophets.

I don't know what was going on in their minds. I can imagine them sitting around talking trying to figure out he conned them into actually believing that Lazurus really rose from the dead. I can see Thomas trying to explain everything away, while Peter, the outspoken one sat in silence, grieving the death of his best friend.

If the story ended there, these men would be lost in history. They would not so much be a blot on the history of Israel, yet alone the world.

But the story did not end there.

Christ Arose.

The God who died for the Wicked, rose again on the third day, defeating death and giving men a reason to live.

Because Christ arose, these cowards in the room became bold. Not only did this resurrection event change their life, it made them willing to die for it. To be martyred, tortured, persecuted just as Christ was.

Because Christ is alive, we have no reason, nor excuse to coward in the upper room.

He is Alive, and because he is alive we have no excuse to sit around, we have no excuse to not be willing to die for the Gospel should God allow us such an honor.

We are called to take up our cross and follow Him even to the point of death.

It reminds me of the faith of Abraham.

"He considered that God was able even to raise him (Issac) from the dead:"

The belief that God can raise men from the dead should give us the courage to do anything for the sake of the Gospel, not coward in the room.

However, many people today live as if Christ died, cowarding in a room, as if their "faith is futile and they are still in their sins." They have forgotten that Christ can not only raise men from the dead, but he raised himself. 

Your faith is not futile because of the resurrection. You faith is not in vain. Your faith is rooted and strengthened in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of the resurrection, we should be more bold for our faith, we should be more active in the furthering of the Gospel.

God can raise men from the dead.

So get out there and do as God commanded you. Proclaim the Gospel to all men, in all nations.

You have no reason to fear, your God rules over death.