His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.
(John 12.16
NRSV)
This world holds many surprises. When someone hits the movie character with a fist, he dutifully falls down, as he was taught to do on-screen. This time, however, it hurts. He rubs his jaw with amazement. When he and Mia kiss, he pauses, waiting for the fadeout. And when someone tries to explain the concept of God-- "He's the one in control of everything. He's what the whole world is about"--the actor nods, "Oh, you mean Mr. Mayer, the owner of the movie company." His perceptions are confined to the world of the movie.
Eventually, the movie character climbs back onto the two- dimensional movie screen and tries to explain the real world to the cast of the movie. They stare at him as if he belongs in a mental asylum. He's talking nonsense. There is no "other" world out there. Only the world of the movie is real for them.
Those first followers of Jesus must have felt something like that. They had entered a new dimension of reality. They had contact with the very Son of God. Here was a man unlike any man who had ever lived. How do they communicate who Christ really is to people who never heard him speak, never felt his touch, never saw his footsteps by the Sea of Galilee?
That is also our challenge. Will you give and show Christ’s love?
God of love, help me to pass it on. Amen.