The Upper Room Is Where You Are
In celebration of this 75th anniversary year of The Upper Room, I invite you to explore the "upper room" in the Bible. The upper room first shows up described as "a large room upstairs" (Mark 14:12-15, NRSV) where Jesus shared a last supper with his disciples. This meal would forever symbolize our shared life with God in Christ.
The same upper room plays a role on Easter. The "house where the disciples had met" (John 20:19) on Easter evening was that familiar room. As the disciples huddled there in grief and fear, the risen Christ came among them. He spoke peace to their hearts and gave them power to forgive (20:19-23). A week later, Christ returned there and overcame Thomas’ doubt with convincing grace (20:24-29).
According to the account in Acts 1-2, the familiar "room upstairs" became the birthplace of the church. Following Jesus' ascension (Acts 1:9-11), the disciples "went to the room upstairs ... constantly devoting themselves to prayer" for many days (Acts 1:13, 14). They prepared for spiritual transformation while actively waiting for the "promise of the Father" (Acts 1:4). On the Day of Pentecost all those together in prayer "were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages" the good news of Jesus Christ (Acts 2:4). Having been made one with Christ and one with each other, they became the body of Christ.
Why does the Bible never again mention the upper room? Because the place of new birth is not Jerusalem but any place people gather to seek Christ's transforming presence. So day by day as you read The Upper Room, pause to enter into Christ's presence right where you are. Make room in your heart for God's transforming love, and resolve to go where the Spirit sends you to be Christ's good news.
Stephen D. Bryant
From The Upper Room daily devotional guide, March/April 2010. Copyright © 2010 The Upper Room. All Rights Reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
To order copies of the current issue, call 1-800-972-0433 or 615-340-7284. To subscribe to The Upper Room, click here.
