9. Apparition

Spoke they awhile about these many things

For now their minds did plumb new depths of truth

Concerning all that had been spoken of

The Lamb of God by prophets from of old

Whose words did resonate anew within

Their hearts, for even now the very same

Sense of burning and anticipation

Inflamed each one as if to suddenly

Expect new miracles and happenings

The like of which they never had witnessed.

To the companions, the disciples

Spoke of the time when during Passover

The Lamb of God, in anticipation

Of His death did pass bread and wine to them

To show them that His death was near at hand

And they, unable to speak but one word

Between them did partake of elements

By way of acceptance too deep for words

Of sacrifice upon the tree of shame

Which for their souls and for the world would bring

Eternal salvation, and on the shores

Of Paradise unending happiness

In Yahweh’s presence and His only Son

In union with the Holy Spirit blest,

The Trinity sublime whom angels praise

And worship and adore for evermore.

As evening slowly came, the setting sun

Now sinking seemed to pale but not from its

Demise because of darkness falling fast

But now a strange and unfamiliar light

Began to slowly unfold in their midst,

A light so strange yet so magnificent

Unbridled with a splendour radiant

To far outshine the orb of astral rays

Grew stronger still until before their eyes

A dazzling form far more than angels bright

Did stand before them, blinding their poor eyes

And striking terror in their feeble hearts

For here before them stood the Lamb of God

Now with His Godhead fully taken up

That once was laid aside. Then did He speak

The words “Peace be with you”, but they did not

Recognise Him who glorified now stood

Before them who with hearts still terror struck

With notion false of apparition dread

To do them harm. Then said He unto them:

“Why are you troubled? Why do you harbour

Within your human hearts a mind of doubt?

Come see my hands and feet, come unto me

And touch those same hands and feet that were pierced.

For sure a ghost does not have flesh and bones

As you see that I have.” And saying this,

He showed to them His hands and feet and side

That bore the scars of cruel nails and spear

Those instruments of torture and of death

To nail Him to the cross to take His life

And spear thrust to ensure all life was spent.

A second time He said “Peace be with you.”

Yet still confused with unbelief brought on

By joy and amazement, He asked of them:

“Do you have anything that I can eat?”

And they brought unto Him a broiled fish

Which He did take and before them did eat,

To dispel any final thoughts that they

Might have of ghostly apparition still

Within their hearts and minds. He said to them:

“This is what I told you for all the while

That I was with you, that fulfilled must be

All things that are about me that are writ

In the Law of Moses and the Prophets

And Psalmody of David and others

Who of me spoke in melody and rhyme.”

The two companions, having heard all this

Upon the road to Emmaus did now

Recall much of what had been said by Him

To them, and did rejoice within their hearts.

The Lamb of God to all assembled there

Continued thus: “This is what is written.

The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead

On the third day, and in His name will be

Preached repentance and forgiveness of sins

To all nations. Jerusalem will be

The first to hear the good news which will spread

And you will be my witnesses to all

These things. The Holy Spirit now receive.

He is the one as promised by Yahweh

My Father. I tell you, if you forgive

The sins of anyone, they are forgiven.

If you do not forgive, then they remain

Unforgiven. Stay here in the city

Until the Spirit comes when you will be

Clothed from on high with power and with might.

In the same manner that He had appeared

To His disciples, in the same way He

Departed from them, leaving them to speak

With hearts now full of fire. No trace of fear

Could find its way back in, for now the doors

Of their hearts were shut firmly, fear could now

No entrance make, for now the advent of

The birth of Christ’s true church was near at hand

And keen anticipation now was felt

Among those gathered there; the disciples,

The two companions and others who

Would wait to receive that same power on high

To bring the Gospel to all nations and

Bring glory to the blessed Trinity.