While the gathered disciples spoke, Jesus stood among them there,

Peace was given to the room, but terror seized the air.

They supposed a spirit stood before their frightened eyes,

Troubled thoughts rose up within them, disbelief in every side.

He directed them to hands and feet, the marks that could be seen,

Invited touch to test the truth of flesh and bone between.

He showed the wounds before them, yet joy itself delayed belief,

Wonder can be overwhelming even when it answers grief.

Opened their understanding,

Opened Scripture line by line.

Suffering and resurrection

Had been written all the time.

Opened their understanding,

Turned their terror into sight.

Repentance and remission

Would be preached to every nation from this light.

He asked if they had food, and broiled fish was brought to Him,

With honeycomb beside it; He ate there in the midst of them.

No phantom stood before them, no rumor floating free,

The risen Jesus shared the room in bodily reality.

Then He recalled the words already spoken in their days,

How law and prophets, psalms alike had pointed toward these ways.

The Christ must suffer,

The Christ must rise the third day,

And repentance with remission

Must be carried in His name.

Beginning at Jerusalem,

Then outward through the lands,

The witnesses would bear it,

But not by strength of human hands.

The promise of the Father still remained for them ahead,

They were told to stay in city till power clothed them from on high.

Understanding came before the mission, promise before the road,

The risen Lord prepared the witnesses to carry what they knew.

Opened their understanding,

Opened Scripture line by line.

Suffering and resurrection

Had been written all the time.

Opened their understanding,

Turned their terror into sight.

From Jerusalem to nations,

They would carry pardon into night.