The Upper Rooms

When you think about the upper room you may be whisked to the “Cenacle” or the room within which the Last Supper took place (Matthew 26:1-29, Mark 14:12-25, Luke 22:7-20, & John 13:1-38). We find Jesus and his beloved friends enjoying a meal around a table. Jesus institutes the covenant and ordinance through communion and his blood, he delivers to his disciples their instructions for moving forward, He in loving justice, calls out sin amongst his followers, and He prays his “High priestly prayer” over them.

Maybe you find yourself in the room with Thomas (John 20:24-29) who having just 8 days earlier stated that “Unless [he saw] in his hands the mark of the nails and placed [his] finger into the mark of the nails, and placed [his] hand into his side, [he] would never believe.” Now standing face to face with his risen savior. “Peace be with you” Jesus calls as He ushers you all to touch his hands and side if it would help you believe.

Perhaps you’re in the upper room of Acts 1:13-26 where around 120 people gathered to discuss their heartbreak at having lost their friend Judas who had betrayed Christ and them. Having the difficult conversation regarding who would replace their friend who had hurt them.

I recently took on a position as the Minister to Children and Students at a church about 45 minutes outside of where I live. As I have taken a few days to begin the rigorous process of trying to learn the maze that is the church’s building I have found myself in a series of rooms. Each one of those rooms having so much life lived within them. Various moments of joy and laughter as well as tears and heartache paint the walls of this building. Each and every single one of those moments were all meant for a purpose of growing a people, building a ministry, and completing His will.

I look forward to the stories that will be lived out in these rooms and so many other rooms in this next chapter.

The Upper Rooms.