The Eyewitness

 

It all changed in a flash, well, more like a flicker. But for a while, a long while, time stopped, the whole world stood still.

Especially since life was like a whirlwind for years, about three years. Every single day while He was with us, He was bigger than life. Nothing could stop Him. Oh, they tried, the religious leaders, the wicked elite; they hated His popularity and power. Driven by a jealous rage they tried everything they could to stop him, stone Him, throw Him off a cliff, trip Him up with words…but nothing worked, they couldn’t touch Him.

He just went about, doing good; when they tried to seize Him, He just walked right through them. He healed the sick, all kinds of sick, folks so sick it’d almost make me sick just to go near them; but He’d walk right up and touch them, hug them, hold them, heal them. He’d multiply a few scraps of food to feed multitudes. Believe it or not, He walked on water. With just a word He silenced storms, critics...and legions of demons. More than once, He actually, raised the dead.

No, they didn’t stand a chance against Him—couldn’t lay a finger on Him. Nothing could stop Him. Ever.

Well, until they did. Until, He let them. He simply, let them, catch Him. There’s no doubt about it…just like that, He willingly laid down His own life.

Everything went black.

The clock stopped. We were in shock, and hiding, for three…

I still tremble remembering it.

On the third, on the glorious third day, just like He’d said—but we couldn’t, or wouldn’t, believe it, or receive it, or hear it—but nevertheless, just as He said, not even death could hold Him. Not the great stone rolled over the hole, not Pilate’s seal, not the soldiers, nothing could hold Him.

How could it? He is Life. He clearly told us before raising Lazarus from the grave, “I AM the Resurrection and The Life.”

We know it’s True. We all saw Him. Multiple times. We touched Him, ate with Him, talked with Him. For forty days He came and went. It was more real than me and you talking here.

But then, the last time we saw Him, that was different. We walked and talked as we’d always done, but then, we watched, as He defied gravity. Not by walking on the water, but by rising, not just from the grave…but from the ground. Right before our very eyes, He rose. We watched Him ascend, and ascend, and He kept right on going higher and higher until we could see Him no longer.

While we stood there gawking, with our mouths hanging open, two men in white appeared and asked what we were doing, just standing there, staring. I guess they must’ve figured we couldn’t answer with our mouths hanging open like that, so, one of them continued; “This same Jesus, you just watched go up into heaven, He will return, in like manner just as you saw Him go.”

Then we remembered Jesus’ words to wait in Jerusalem until we were endued with Power. Maybe He’ll meet us there. So, we went. And waited. We waited and waited…and waited. We’d jump in hope that it’d be Him whenever someone would walk in. But, He didn’t show. We talked and prayed, and discussed and prayed, and argued and prayed. About 120 of us remained. Finally, after about ten days, of not doing much more than watching and praying, a peace settled over us. Finally, we weren’t agitated and impatient.

We were…in one accord.

And that’s when it happened.

A sound of a mighty rushing wind filled the place. It was like tongues of fire hovered over each one of us, like we were candles or something. Then, we were filled. Oh, it was awesome, one moment we were a group of people filled with grief, uncertainty and fear and the next we were filled with joy, purpose and courage.

We were so full it just bubbled right out our mouths. We knew we were praising God, but didn’t understand the words we were saying…but others did. You see, the whole town was filled with folks from all over to celebrate Pentecost. They spoke all kinds of different languages, and they said, they heard us praising God, in their language, and even with their accent. It was awesome.

While we were talking and smiling and raising our hands toward heaven, we looked at each other with the same question in our eyes. Have you seen Him? Where is He? We’d nod and shrug and keep on talking. We’d look around—because He had to be there. We could feel Him. That exact same feeling as when He was with us. The atmosphere was filled with His presence. Or, was that feeling, could it be, could it possibly be… coming from inside of us. Jesus’ words echoed to us. Out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water.

This was the starting point for the answer to Jesus’ prayer, “Father, make them one, as we are one.”

Others, however, scoffed, “They’re just drunk.”

But Peter spoke up, of course—which wasn’t always a good thing—but this time it was great.  He said, “These are not drunk as you suppose—it’s too early for that, it’s only 9:00 in the morning” (that wasn’t exactly the smartest thing he could’ve said, since I’ve seen drunks—oh, never mind, that’s another story).

Then, my favorite part, Peter waxed prophetically poetic and said, “This is that, which is spoken of by the prophet Joel, And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.” (Joel 2:28).

Before Pete even finished his very first sermon around 3,000 folks were asking, “What must we do to be saved?”  

Everything went white.

The waiting was over, the days were like whirlwinds again.

Everywhere we went, the place was packed. There was not one among us who lacked. We were like one big, noisy, messy, happy, family. We were having the time of our lives. The Lord was actually working with us, through us, with signs and wonders, miracles, just like when He was with us. Because, well, because, He was, with us…is with us, still. Right here. Right now. In us. I’ll never forget how He told us, “I’ll never leave you or forsake you.” He meant what He said.

It’s real; Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27).

Oh, and when that joy filled us, a revelation hit us. We realized… we’re dead. I know, it may sound funny, or strange, morbid or sad, but it’s not, it’s awesomely life-giving. Jesus tried to teach us, but we were too dull of hearing. Thankfully, His seeds finally took root. We’re dead.

To experience His Life, we had to take our cross and follow Him…to death. Through death. To Life. The only way we could experience Life, real Life, was to willingly lay down our own life, like Him, so He could raise us up, new, like Him.

We’re crucified with Christ, nevertheless, we live; yet it’s not us, but Him, Christ Jesus, who lives and abides, and breathes in and through us. That old man, that old self? Crucified with Christ. Our sin, our ugly past. Dead. Our doubts. Our fears. Gone. Our weakness. Sickness. Disease. Nailed to a tree.

 You can’t scare or offend or intimidate or manipulate or infuriate, a dead man.

In Him we live and move and have our being. (Acts 17:28).

I remember the day Peter and John were walking to church and there was a man sitting by the gate called Beautiful; he’d been lame from birth. He’d never stood or taken on single step, his entire life. He was about 40 years old. But, that day, everything changed. Peter looked at him and the man held out his hand, expecting a handout, a coin or two. Peter stretched out his hand too, and told the man, “Silver and gold have I none—” and before the man could draw back his hand, Peter grabbed it and said “—but what I do have, I give you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Peter pulled and immediately the man’s feet and ankles received strength and he didn’t just stand up, he jumped up and went walking and leaping and praising God.

That day, we felt the smiles of heaven. Remembered how David danced, uninhibited, unashamed, before the Lord…

Nothing could stop us.

Now, that’s where I wish I could say, the story ends, and we live happily ever after.

Eventually. But, not yet.

Because, just like in the beginning, in the beautiful garden, the very next scene, the serpent…