From Despair to Overjoyed

Three empty crosses lay grotesquely across Golgotha’s barren and desolate knoll. The sun-dried blood, the convulsed earth, the litter of a mob all told the gruesome story of crucifixion. They had deserted Him, later found His tomb empty, and were now cowering in a house with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. In this house Jesus appeared to them.

Think what these disciples had been going through before He showed up. They suffered from despair—the absence of hope. Peter, James, and John may have been remembering that they had left a thriving fishing business to follow Him—and now…nothing. Matthew had been involved in the lucrative business of tax collecting. He left all to follow Jesus, even had a feast in Jesus’ honor. And now…? Had they been so gullible that they would believe Him and leave all to follow Him?

Men and women today are also struggling and feeling hopeless. That was where the disciples were when Jesus came into the house. When the disciples realized it was Jesus, they became overjoyed. The answer to their dilemma was with them. He is also the answer to our dilemma. He is the solution to the problems of human hearts!