Friday, April 15, 2011

A simple room


I had the opportunity to visit the Holy Land in January, with the ladies of the Sisterhood and I learnt something special about the “upper room” or “cenacle” which I need to share, since we will be opening the doors of our Cenacle of the Holy Spirit at Park Station.

This room, so “famous” today, was just a simple room in one of the popular residences of that time. It was there that our Lord Jesus asked His disciples to obtain permission from its owner to use for the Last Supper.

What I had not realised before, in relation to this particular venue, was that it was the same place which bore witness to other memorable events, namely:

The Washing of the Feet

The revelation of the betrayer

The appearances of Jesus after His resurrection

The gathering of the disciples after the Ascension of Jesus

The election of Matthias as an apostle

The beginnings of the first Christian church, since this was where the apostles usually stayed in Jerusalem

The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost

Today, that simple room is one of the most important Christian sites in the world and also the inspiration for our Cenacle in Johannesburg.

But, I wondered, what has made it so important? Then I understood that its essence was in the sacrifice that Jesus made for us.

It was in this room that He, knowing of all the suffering that would lie ahead from that hour onward, surrendered Himself to carry out God’s plan of salvation for mankind.

It reminded me a precious lesson: sacrifice is the element that changes the very nature of our existence. We go from total insignificance and separation from God’s plan and purpose to become living testimonies of His power.

Living in full expectation of the pouring of God’s Spirit upon His church and of the privilege of going into our own Cenacle in Park Station, one point is clear, if there is no surrendering of my own will to the Will of God, my life will only resemble a simple room.

4 comments:

Ayanda said...

A great blessing to step in the upper room, God is amazing and yes OH WHAT A DAY, this day is marked in the History because- something that has never happened and i got to know God in a deeper sense. I thank the Holy Spirit for this journer of 21 days.

Puleng Ngoato (Bxt UK) said...

I agree with you, I also saw the upper room thinking I would see a very beautifully decorated room but instead I saw a simple room and for me it was a reminder that I should remain simple and pure towards God.

Puleng Ngoat Brixton UK

SURAYA DOS SANTOS said...

I myself never been to the holy land but would like to one day go there myself, reading from this post it so amazing to learn that our God is very simple and he doesn't need much to work in our life and instead of me trying so hard to be someone I am not I should so be simple and follow his foot step.

SURAYA DOS SANTOS ( BRIXTON

SURAYA DOS SANTOS said...

I myself never been to the holy land but would like to one day go there myself, reading from this post it so amazing to learn that our God is very simple and he doesn't need much to work in our life and instead of me trying so hard to be someone I am not I should so be simple and follow his foot step.
SURAYA DOS SANTOS ( BRIXTON UK)