Okay, confession: my daughter Amy got me hooked on the whole “Twilight” saga. You know, another book series turned into movie series, about high school girl Bella’s falling in love with a vampire, yet also having strong feelings for a werewolf? Sooo,…in the second-to-last installment, Jacob (wolf boy) imprints on Bella and Edward’s (vampire boy) daughter Renesmae. This means that he will protect her, inhabit her in a mystical, spiritual way.

That’s my roundabout, typically using movies way, of helping us understand the impact (er, imprint) Jesus leaves on his disciples. After his resurrection and ascension, Jesus instills the Holy Spirit upon them. He declares it, and he literally breathes the Spirit into them. Thus empowered, Peter becomes the Comeback Kid. He who denied Jesus, chastised him, stumbled and bumbled his way through a three-year apprenticeship, comes alive in Acts. He gives the first, most powerful testimony to what the first disciples and apostles have heard and seen. And oh, what they have witnessed! A farce of a trial, cruel beating and crucifixion of God’s anointed, then the amazing miracle of resurrection and ascension. As a response to the Pentecost event, Peter simply adds flesh and meat to what this means for the followers-turned-leaders going forward.

The prophecies of Joel come alive. The psalms of David come alive. The whole perfect plan of God comes alive and finally makes some sense. Theology only gives us a fraction of explanation into God’s immense, limitless, cosmic salvation.

God’s imprint on us is in the person of Jesus – the most human expression of Godliness.

“On my heart imprint your image, blessed Jesus, king of grace, that life’s troubles nor its pleasures ever may your work erase. Let the clear inscription be: Jesus crucified for me, is my life, my hope’s foundation, all my glory and salvation!”   (Thomas H. Kingo, 17th Cent.) 

Pastor Art