In the Bible we read that not all of Jesus’ followers recognized the risen Christ. When first encountering Jesus, Mary thought that He was the gardener (John 20:15). Two unnamed disciples did not recognize Jesus even during a long walk and conversation (Luke 24:16). Because we no longer have Jesus with us bodily, do we sometimes fail to recognize Him working in and through our lives?
Miguel is a student at Los Angeles Christian School, where I serve as administrative assistant. He is a very talented young man, but he struggles with perfectionism. If he does not do well on a test or a project, he becomes very upset. Lots of tears, excuses, and blame for others. However, he is not alone in his struggle. His teachers and other staff walk with him as he processes what he sees as failures. They pray with him and challenge Miguel to ask the Holy Spirit to show him the lie of perfectionism and the truth of who he is as a child of God, much loved and treasured. Miguel is learning to recognize Jesus in the midst of his struggle and to rely on His grace to overcome.
Manuel is an inmate at the L.A. County jail who faithfully attends the chapels that we lead. When I recently asked the men to share how they’ve seen the Lord working in their lives, Manuel told of the shake down that awakened him the night before. Deputies searched him and his cellmate for weapons, confiscating their blankets, threatening to taze them if they resisted. Those listening to his testimony knew Manuel’s typical reaction would be violent. But he testified to the Lord’s calming presence with him and recalled from our previous week’s study King David’s refusal to “raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed” (1 Samuel 26:11). Meekness, we had discussed, is power under control. To the astonishment of himself and his fellow inmates, Manuel had responded with meekness. “The Lord was with me,” he testified, “right there in the cell!”
We have seen the risen Christ working His power in these men’s lives. It is a joy to see their lives changed!
