By: Deacon Jim Brandmueller
Despite having followed Jesus for quite some time, it is apparent that the Apostles still weren’t able to understand the totality of the situation which they found themselves. There continued to be great doubt and fear. Jesus said: “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father.’”
The purpose of Jesus’ appearance to these Apostles was not to relieve their immediate concerns. Instead, His appearance assured assuring not just those present, but rather all mankind, that in His death we are cleansed and that He has gone ahead to prepare the way for all of us. He is that way. Through our faith and knowledge in Him we are saved.
These are simple instructions. Yet they are very difficult for mankind to grasp. Jesus and His message are the purest simplicity. A clear direction is lit for us, yet we cannot easily follow. The bottom line is that being a Christian and disciple of Jesus is hard work for us. Yet it is, in reality, a simple blessing which man chooses to make complex. Simply put, we need to accept Christ and His message, and seek to follow Him in all that we do throughout our lives.