Visible to Invisible Jesus
How Jesus helped his first disciples make this shift
The unique challenge for the first generation of disciples was making the shift from being with Jesus physically to being with Jesus spiritually.
But we can see God helping this process in some of the post resurrection experiences:
Mary Magdalene crying at Jesus’ tomb. (John 20:11-18)
She turned and saw Jesus but didn’t realize it was Him. Probably looking in a different direction to hide her tears, she didn’t even recognise Him when he first spoke.
This is not surprising as dealing with a death is draining. You can get very tunnel focused. It is easy to miss things.
But when Jesus said her name ‘Mary’ most likely in the tone she had heard hundreds of times before, the stunning recognition came.
The Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)
The two walking to Emmaus met Jesus on the road but they were deliberately kept from recognizing him. It seems strange that they were kept in the dark all through a lengthy conversation on the road and through the beginning stages of the meal.
But if they had recognized Jesus immediately, they would have missed their ‘burning heart’ experience:
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
They had been given the experience of recognising the presence of Jesus purely through what they experienced in their hearts. And it had been confirmed by the physical recognition in the breaking of bread. This would serve them well in the future.
This is a bit like Eli helping Samuel realise that what he was actually hearing was God not Eli (1 Sam 3:1-14).
Jesus Prepared His Small Group
We have seen in a previous post that Jesus’ Small Group was central to how he formed His disciples. It is no surprise then that he went to great lengths to prepare them for the shift from visible to invisible Jesus. This is seen most clearly in two passages in the Gospel of John:
The Farewell Discourse in John 13-17
A Post-Resurrection Appearance in John 20:19-23
The Farewell Discourse
Jesus knew that he was leaving (13:1). He told them he was leaving (13:33). He told them in advance so that they would believe when it happens (14:28-29). He said it was in fact good that he was going away so the Advocate could come (16:7).
Jesus explained that the Spirit of truth who was currently with them through his physical presence would actually be in them (14:15-21). He said that the Spirit would teach them all things (14:26) and there would be two markers that would help them be sure that it was the Spirit:
They would find themselves remembering words that Jesus had spoken to them physically (14:26)
They would experience Jesus’ peace (14:27). I think they would recognise that ‘invisible Jesus’ peace because they of the ‘physical Jesus’ peace they had experienced the many times Jesus had said ‘don’t be afraid’ eg when he calmed the storm)
Later in the discourse he reiterated the important role of the Advocate/Spirit of Truth (15:26 - 16:15). And he reinforced that the Spirit would make know to them things from Jesus that previously Jesus would have given them physically (16:14-15).
Surprising Continuity from Visible to Invisible Jesus
A careful reading of this farewell discourse reveals that Jesus expected all of the aspects of their small group life together would continue, with his ‘invisible’ rather than ‘visible’ presence.
Loving each other as Jesus had loved them (13:1-17 foot-washing, 13:34-35 new command)
Abiding with Jesus (15:16)
Being hated by the world (15:18)
Doing the works Jesus has been doing (14:12)
Being taught by Jesus through the Spirit (14:26, 16:14-15)
John 20:19-23 Post Resurrection Appearance
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
Here we see Jesus affirming continuity - As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. One of the ways the Father had sent Jesus was in a small group!
We also see Jesus is helping them connect with the Holy Spirit - either foreshadowing the wind of pentecost, or them having an inner experience of the Spirit that would be confirmed at Pentecost.
A Jesus-Shaped Small Group with the Invisible Presence of Jesus is possible today
While we might look on with envy at the first disciples small group experience with Jesus, two passages confirm that it is possible for us to experience similar Jesus-Shaped Small groups with His invisible presence today:
Matthew 18:20 ‘For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them’
John 17:20-21 ‘20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.’
This possibility inspires me to intentionally pray for us to be aware of Jesus at the beginning of small group meetings:
Jesus, thank you that you that you are with us all the time. Today as we gather in your name, help us to be especially aware of your loving presence. Bring to our mind words you want us to remember. Guide our thoughts, conversation, prayers and decisions that we might become more like you and live more fully for you. Amen.
And it inspires me to carefully study how Jesus led his small group as recorded in the gospels so I can seek to include similar processes and practices in my small group.