Hearing Yet Not Knowing. Until

by Emme Gannon @GannonEmme

It had been the worst of days and the darkest of nights. 

Peter paced back and forth in the poorly-lit room, hiding from real and imaginary sounds. His racing heart and constant trembling had robbed him of sleep. His world had fallen away, drained of all meaning.

The Voice that had called him three years ago had touched a place in his soul that had been unknown to him—a place that existed only for Him to bring to life. The Voice of Him who called had a profound, tender warmth that drew Peter, and he followed. For to not go would be running from his very existence.

He and the other disciples had left everything and followed Him. This Jesus would one day be Israel’s promised Messiah. The One who would break the Roman yoke and rule Israel with justice and peace. The day the prophets foretold had arrived and He had called them to be in His inner circle.

Except, last night their hopes and dreams shattered, like small pieces of broken pottery. The image of themselves that He had formed in them died with His crucifixion. 

The Jewish leaders had convinced Rome to crucify Jesus as a common criminal. He and the others heard that Jesus even allowed the soldiers to mock and torture Him before they made Him carry His cross outside the city.

His heart heavy, Peter wondered. Whoreallywas this Jesus? Why did He allow this shame to come upon Him? What would happen to him and the others now that their Leader was dead, buried in a tomb, a heavy stone blocking the entrance?

By the third day, Peter would know. He and the others would see the Risen Christ, hear that Voice that had drawn them to Him and quickened their souls. Jesus would walk with them, eat with them, and talk with them for forty days. The reason for His sacrifice would, at last, be clear. This Jesus had overcome death and the devil by bearing all the sins of the world, past and present, so that whosoever believes in Him will have life eternal (John 11:25,26.)

After His forty days on earth, the disciples watched as Jesus ascended to His Father in heaven. True to His Word, He sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who would dwell in them and all believers. This Holy Spirit would guide and empower once weak men and women to carry the message of Jesus’ atoning work to all the world. A message they believed by faith in His Word and the deeds they witnessed by their own eyes. 

That same Holy Spirit still dwells in the hearts of those of us who believe in Him. That same Spirit who enabled Peter and the other disciples and apostles to go out and preach the Good News to the then known world. Cowards turned into mighty men and women of God, by the Spirit of Jesus residing in their hearts.

During Jesus’ trial, Pilate asked, “What is truth?” Prior to Jesus’ resurrection, while in the throes of despair, Peter no doubt asked himself that same question. How we answer determines our view of reality. When we perceive truth from the vantage point of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, the desperate confusion of life is transformed to hope. 

At the very moment Peter thought all was lost, Jesus was accomplishing His saving work—the redemption of mankind. During the silence, Satan was being defeated.

Tomorrow we celebrate the resurrection of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Which side of the cross do we live and write and make choices? The dark day of death and crucifixion? Or, do we hear Him speak our name? Embrace the victory He won for us so that we can be called the children of the Living God? 

On that first Easter morning, when Mary Magdalene journeyed to the empty tomb, she thought Jesus was the gardener. Until He spoke her name. “Mary.” All the power of the Godhead poured into her name, offering comfort, peace, reassurance.

If we listen, we will hear Him speak our name. What will be our response? When we reach out our hearts to Him, our soul becomes alive and we know for whom we live. We know for whom we write. Our world changes.

We rejoice that He lives, and because He lives, through His Spirit we become living letters from Him to the world. For that is our calling. That is our destiny. As He sent Peter and the disciples into the world to bring the Good News, so He sends us. Rejoice! He is risen!  

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Hearing Yet Not Knowing. Until - thoughts on Easter from @GannonEmme on @EdieMelson (Click to Tweet)

Emme Gannon is a wife, mother, and grandmother who loves to write stories that stir the heart. Her award-winning writing has appeared in Focus on the Family magazine, several anthologies, and numerous newsletters. She just completed her first novel.