The Disciples Were Within
After His resurrection Jesus appeared unto Mary Magdalene and told her to tell the disciples, "Behold I go before you into Galilee." When Mary told the disciples these things, they doubted. Even while they discussed these things, they doubted. Even while they discussed these things, the Bible says that they were within, and the doors were shut. Jesus found His disciples gathered together. We don't know where Thomas was during the first meeting, but they were all there on the second Lord's Day (John 20:26). In Acts 2 the account continues that "They were all with one accord in one place..." (Acts 2:42), "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, in fellowship..."
What do you suppose Jesus would have found that Sunday night if today's demonstration were transferred to those days? Let me share with you a fantasy of what might have been as experience with today's disciples indicate.
ANDREW was absent because his living was made by fishing. He had to mend his nets. Surely the Lord would understand that he had to do this now so he could be ready to work the next day, Monday. After all, a man has to provide for his family!
JAMES AND JOHN refused to attend because they had their feelings hurt. They had wanted a place at the right and left hand of Jesus and they had been refused - right in front of the others. Why, Jesus had even refused their mother's request. So they refused to meet with the rest of the saints.
PETER was absent because his mother-in-law was sick with a fever again. He knew Jesus would understand since He had already healed her once. Even though Peter's wife could have stayed, Peter felt that the whole family should stay home with her.
PHILIP AND BARTHOLOMEW had gotten together and discussed Peter's denial of the Lord. Peter was a hypocrite; one couldn't deny that! He had said he would be more faithful than any, but he had denied Jesus! So they refused to go where hypocrites went. They wouldn't have anything to do with a hypocrite. Therefore, they stayed home.
JAMES OF ALPHEUS AND SIMON ZELOTES refused to attend with the likes of James and John, the sons of Zebedee. Why, they had the gall to ask for a special place. They refused to attend with James and John because they always wanted things their own way. They were hot tempered also. Why, they had wanted to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans. No telling how they would act now that Jesus was gone. One thing they knew, they didn't want anything to do with that kind.
THOMAS wasn't there. You see, Thomas was known as a doubter. He was always confused by the discussions of the apostles. He demanded that everything to cut-and-dried. He doubted that anything good would come out of another assembling of that bunch. And after all, there was only eleven of them now. They didn't amount to much.
THADDEUS wasn't there because he had searched his manuscripts of scriptures through and through and he couldn't find any scripture that said that one had to be present at every assembly. No only could show him where it said that you HAD to go! So he didn't go.
MATTHEW LEVI wasn't there because the rest of the apostles resented him. Oh, they hadn't said so; they hadn't expressed it, but the feeling was there. He "felt sure" they still resented him for being a tax collector. He didn't have to take their snobbery! And, they all knew that he was richer than most and they would always be expecting him to GIVE to something.
So Jesus stood in an empty room looking at the nail scars in His hands and feet. The wound in His side, the stripes on His back, and the thorn marks on His forehead all began to smart unusually so. There seemed to be no love to soothe the pain, and the pain in His heart at the faithlessness of His chosen became unbearable. He gathered up His candlesticks and left, and the world was left in darkness. Outer darkness filled the earth and there began to be weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. The church never came to be because people behaved then, just like people behave today, and there really was no excuse.
Thank the Lord for the statement, "Where two or three are gathered..." because if trends continue, we may be closer to that than many realize.
From Our Archives, 1984
By: Dean Fugett