The Joy of the Disciples

John the Evangelist commented on the entrance of the risen Jesus on His disciples who were assembled in the upper room, for fear of the Jews: “Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20). This is the fruit of Pascha that Jesus offers us to rejoice. We all know that Jesus’ apostles are called disciples by all the Evangelists. Here, after Pascha, it was expected that John would use the attribute that indicates their ministry, that they are witnesses to the Life that emerged from the tomb, namely, the apostles; but he did not. He let us feel that the word (disciples) is about us. He induced us to identify with it also. Am I over-interpreting the word? Those of you who participate in the Orthros on Sundays, know that, after the reading of the Gospel which tells of one of Jesus’ appearances following Pascha, an appointed reader exclaims: “having beheld the Resurrection of Christ…”. He does not say: “having read” or “heard”, but “having beheld”. This is an appropriate request for the Living Christ to give us, after each reading of His Book, what He gave to His disciples.