Jesus had much that He wanted to tell the Apostles before the Crucifixion, but He didn’t want to overwhelm them. He saw his closest friends already grieving as they realized that Jesus would soon depart. On the bright side, the Lord said that they would see Him again soon and, not only that, but would receive the Holy Spirit to guide them. Whatever they needed, the Father would give them. After the Ascension of the Lord, the Acts of the Apostles relate mixed reactions to their preaching. In Athens, for instance, Saint Paul talked about Jesus

Jesus compared Himself to a vine, the heavenly Father to a vine grower, and His followers to the branches. A vine grower faithfully does some cutting back during the dormant season, allowing for new growth in the spring. Jesus would soon ascend to heaven, beginning a new season for the Disciples. The Lord prepared them for the upcoming experiences of joyful acceptance of their preaching by some but menacing persecution by others. He showed them that love would enable them to handle whatever cropped up. When we find our faith withering, do we pr

People accused Jesus of leaving them in suspense, even though He had already said that He was the Christ. Like the gate of a sheepfold, Jesus provides the way to salvation through all of the in’s and out’s of life. He came to save, not to condemn. Disobedience and disbelief get in the way of the gate to salvation. On the other hand, the Lord said that anyone—absolutely anyone—who believes can do the work He began and much more. The Lord told the Disciples that He would go head of them to prepare their places in the Father’s house. He

People had seen the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish. Soon afterward, Jesus advised them to work for food that does not perish. He realized that it would take work to believe in Him as the Bread of Life. The Lord promised not to reject anyone who comes to Him, explaining that no one comes without the heavenly Father’s prompting. The Apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, showed that God calls the faithful to Him but also sends them forth. Philip, for example, explained Scripture in light of the Lord to an inquiring royal court of

Even Jesus’ friends and followers failed to recognize the Resurrected Lord. After an angelic message and the sight of an empty tomb with the stone rolled away, Mary Magdalene mistook Jesus for a gardener until He said her name. The Lord explained Scripture as He walked with two travelers on the Road to Emmaus, but only after He blessed and broke bread did they realize that Jesus had Risen. When the Lord appeared to the Disciples in a locked room, they feared that He was a ghost. Despite prior appearances, it took a miraculous haul of fish for

Much can happen in a week. Jerusalem welcomed travelers arriving for the annual Passover festival. On His way there, the Lord visited his friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, allowing Mary to anoint His feet with costly ointment and dry them with her hair. Riding on a colt through an enthusiastic crowd the next day, Jesus alone knew that He neared Crucifixion. On the evening of the Last Supper with His Disciples, the Lord washed their feet—a task for a servant. When Peter said that He would lay down his life for Jesus, the Lord interjected that