David Bahn – Reflections

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” ³⁷ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. ³⁸ And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹ And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴² They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate before them.

⁴⁴ Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

⁵⁰ And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. ⁵¹ While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵² And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, ⁵³ and were continually in the temple blessing God.

As Jesus speaks to his disciples, explaining how his life, death, and resurrection is the fulfillment of the Hebrew Scriptures, he alludes to the coming event of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out in spectacular fashion on the people gathered there. He says, “And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” During this encounter Jesus’ disciples were turned from cowering and fearful to joyful worshipers of Jesus. Their hearts were changed.

There are several facets to this change of heart. First and foremost is the fact that Jesus had risen from the dead. The resurrection changes everything, and that includes hearts, hopes, and they way we deal with challenges and lay aside disappointments. If Jesus is risen from the dead then our sins are forgiven. He is proved to be the Son of God. His promises and words are validated. A new day is upon us.

There is a vitally important element in Jesus’ teachings as well that changes hearts. There is power (δύναμις, in Greek from which we get the word dynomite) in the message of the gospel – the good news, (εὐαγγέλιον in Greek, from which we get evangelism). It’s not just that Jesus’ words are true. They are truly good words. Cheap imitation happy talk won’t change hearts. Profoundly good news, truly good news, truly good words: these change hearts. A sudden encounter with the fearful news of a dire medical diagnosis, a horrific catastrophe, or a cataclysmic tragic loss can kill our hearts and hopes. Truly good news changes and emboldens our hearts.

All this is the work of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, the Helper, the promise of the Father. The Holy Spirit enlightens us with his gifts. He sets us apart with Jesus in eternal life and hope. He emboldens us to witness to Jesus’ message of the Reign and Rule of Christ.

These three: Jesus’ resurrection, profoundly good news, and the Holy Spirit’s work through the two change hearts, hope, future, purpose, and people.

This is the heart-changing power of God at work—through the risen Christ, the truly good news, and the outpoured Spirit. And just as those first disciples were transformed from fear into joyful witness, so we too are called, equipped, and sent to live boldly in the light of the resurrection, bearing the hope that cannot die and the message that still changes hearts today.