You have probably heard it said, “Hindsight is twenty-twenty.” In other words, it’s easy to know the right thing to do after an event has occurred.
I imagine the disciples meeting with Jesus after his resurrection. I can see them smacking their foreheads as Jesus points out from the Old Testament Scriptures that everything he endured – his suffering, death, and resurrection – was foretold centuries ago. I can envision the disciples saying, “Now we understand. Everything you predicted makes sense as we look back.”
The light bulb that went on in the minds of the disciples was Jesus’ doing. The Lord opened their minds by the power of the Holy Spirit so that they could string together everything that the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms had foretold about Jesus’ Passion and Easter.
However, it wasn’t only the purpose of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection that had been clarified. The disciples now understood what they were being called to do. Jesus enlightened them in order
“that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in [Jesus’] name to all nations” (v. 47).
The disciples graciously were given foresight into what apostolic ministry would be about. They were to be witnesses of everything Jesus had just explained to them from the Holy Scriptures, in addition to all they had personally experienced following Jesus throughout Judea and Galilee for three years.
In hindsight, we know we are beneficiaries of the apostles’ ministry. They have laid the foundation of what we believe, with Jesus as the Cornerstone. We look back and rejoice that, beginning with our baptism, we were included in the One Holy Christian Church.
With foresight granted to us by the Holy Spirit, we continue in the footprints of these forefathers in the faith. Because we have received Christ’s forgiveness for our many sins, our witness to the world is a life of repentance. We confess our sins, trust Jesus for having taken our transgressions away, and live in obedience to the Lord’s commands as the Holy Spirit leads. We join with the apostles in boldly proclaiming to the entire world that Jesus is Lord and the Messiah whom the Scriptures foretold! Thanks be to God for the opportunity to share such Good News at a time in our world when there is much bad news.
Rev. Alan Struckmeyer, Pastor
Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, Gainesville, FL
