The Gospel accounts end almost abruptly after the Resurrection. We want to know more. What happened in the forty days that Jesus was with his disciples until His Ascension? Who did Jesus meet? What other miracles happened? Matthew’s Gospel ends with Jesus commissioning His disciples to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matthew 28: 19-20), while Mark very briefly notes how Jesus appears to two disciples, and ends his Gospel with the Commissioning and finally with the Ascension of the Lord (Mark 16: 12 -20).
There is a sense that there was an urgency about things – the Jewish people were still persecuting the disciples of Jesus, and with a sense of haste, the disciples could not linger too long in one place, but commissioned by Christ had to embark on their mission as quickly as they could. However, the ending of John’s Gospel gives a clue about the extent and depth of the works of Jesus before He ascended: “But there are also many other things which Jesus did; were every one of them be written, I suppose the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25) What Jesus did before He ascended and after His Resurrection were important and would number too many to count. At the same time, John correctly grasped the magnitude of Jesus as God – He who made all things is greater than the world, and cannot possibly be contained. Nonetheless, what was highlighted, were the salient conversations that Jesus had with selected persons after His Resurrection, and also some brief historical, and contextual notes about what happened following.
Matthew highlights the conversation with Mary Magdalene and the other Mary: “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Matthew 28: 10). This part of the conversation is important as it highlights for the first time in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus referring to His disciples as his brothers – indicating the filial relationship of the faithful as adopted sons of God the Father, and telling us that the redemption merited the sanctifying grace by which we can become children of God (CCC. 641, 645, 654). Matthew’s Gospel also speaks of the difficulty of evangelisation that loomed before the disciples due to the false report of the guard (Matthew 28: 11-15) Words are powerful, and can have the potential to build up or to destroy.
Luke’s Gospel gives a humourous account of how Jesus joins in the deep and serious conversation that Cleopas and the other person are having: “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” (Luke 24: 17) Notice that the Lord does not engage with a fierce apologetic attack or debate, but speaks so gently and tenderly with the disciples that their “hearts burn[ed] within [them]” (Luke 24: 32) in this difficult conversation, truth was spoken to dispel any doubt of Christ. The disciples needed to hear the truth, and Jesus patiently unpacked the prophetic words of the Scripture and to explain how the breaking of the Covenant with God by sin left humanity subject to death and in need of purification. Only by Christ’s passion, death, and Resurrection could this redemption and purification be achieved. (CCC. 601 – 602, 643, 112-113, 554-555, 572 -573, 645, 710).
John takes some time in his Gospel to detail the conversations post-Resurrection. One can only imagine the unsaid thoughts of Simon Peter as he picked up the linen cloth that was rolled up in the tomb – what a wondrous joy, can it be? And uh-oh, I’m in trouble. Jesus is going to say, “I told you so, about that rooster crowing.” So it is significant that Jesus meets Peter and the other disciples, repeats the miraculous catch of fish, and has fellowship and breakfast with the disciples – we cannot know someone unless we take the effort to do so. Relationships, trust, community, and rapport need time to establish. The Lord meets Peter in his unsaid thoughts, and as Peter first betrayed Jesus around a charcoal fire, as he warmed himself in the courtyard, Jesus reclaims that moment by having Peter affirm three times around this new fire of love, fraternity, and companionship that he loves Jesus. This was a difficult conversation that Peter was having trouble to come to terms with, but the Lord met him where he was and ransomed his shame, by facilitating this conversation. Difficult conversations are healing conversations, but one has to engage with the intention to listen, even when the natural tendency to get defensive kicks in. We need to hold space for authentic conversations that reaffirm the identity and the dignity of the other person. Important to note that Jesus also does not ask Simon Peter if he knows Him. He asks, “Simon, do you love me?” We can only know a person if we love the person.
The Gospels remind us of the importance of having honest and authentic conversations with God, with ourselves, with our loved ones, our community, our bosses, our ministry members, with those who have hurt us. Would things have been different if Adam and Eve immediately ran to God upon encountering the serpent, and had that difficult conversation with God, rather than trying to take things into their own hands? Would things have been different for Judas Iscariot if he brought his stealing and dark thoughts to the light? Definitely. He could have been a saint rather than a betrayer. Peter had that difficult but reconciling conversation with Jesus. Judas did not. The invitation is always to spend time with God, inquire upon his thoughts and to to have those difficult conversations with Him. Especially in the areas where we are most ashamed of, especially in our areas of struggle.
Are we being honest with God? Are we having the difficult Resurrection conversations?
By the Grace of God,
Brian Bartholomew Tan