“Because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts.

But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go.” (John 16:6-7)

Sit with Jesus’ intimate friends and hear with them these farewell words spoken by Jesus.  Feel their grief and bewilderment.   Going away?  How could it possibly be better that Jesus leave us?

The disciples could not imagine the fire of Pentecost which would transform them, sending them out with boldness.  In the same way that the acorn cannot imagine the oak tree and the caterpillar cannot imagine the butterfly, Jesus’ followers gathered that night could not imagine their future.  From their vantage point, all they knew is that their friend and Lord, their source of hope and meaning, was leaving them.   All they could see was loss, and their hearts were filled with grief. Amid their confusion and sadness, they could not envision the promised gift, this Advocate. 

The Acts of the Apostles, from which we read these Easter weeks, describes the fulfillment of this promise and the ensuing rapid growth of the Jesus movement.  The adventuresome accounts of jailbreaks and sea voyages, conversions and healings, show that the once confused and grieving apostles are now filled with hope and zeal, on fire with God’s preaching mission.

Sit with the disciples post-Pentecost and imagine how them speaking among themselves with amazement as they looked back at Jesus’ farewell words.  Do you remember how sad and confused we were?  He said He was leaving, and that we wouldn’t see Him again.  He spoke about the Advocate, but we had no idea what He was talking about or how life could possibly go on.  But now, look at all the wonders that have happened since the fire came upon us.  Alleluia!     

As we seek to live with greater and greater surrender to God, we are often are very clear on what God is calling us to leave behind but much less clear about what we are being called into.  We see our griefs 20/20, but can envision the promised gifts only vaguely.  We live our lives forward but understand them – and recognize God’s Providence – often only in looking back.  Like the disciples, we see how God has been at work in ways we never could have planned or envisioned, how the grief of loss which once seemed crushing has given way to unexpected gifts.  As we celebrate and give thanks for God’s past faithfulness in our personal and communal lives, we grow to trust more in God’s faithfulness for the future. 

In these Easter days as we await the fiery gift of Pentecost, what past griefs can we recall that paved the way for new life in mission? 

How might this practice of remembering God’s past provision open us to the Spirit, transforming us into more authentic preachers, more joyful Christ-followers, more credible witnesses?