Up and down the stairs, round and round the house Kezia padded.
‘Do get out from under my feet’ said Mum as Kezia once more almost tripped her up.
‘But I want to see Jesus when He comes’ Kezia explained.
‘I know, we all do.’ Mum understood how Kezia felt, but pointed out that it could be many weeks before Jesus came again, and then it may be somewhere far away from the upper room.
But Kezia was sure He would come soon, and right here in their house, and she was determined not to miss Him. So her padding up and down and round and round continued.
Her friends came every day, too, running up to the disciples asking to be picked up and taken into their Upper Room.
Some days they were allowed in, but on other days they were told to play in the garden as the disciples had much on their minds. Only Kezia refused to leave the house.
‘Tomorrow we shall have a party’ her Mum decided. ‘You have been indoors a whole week now, I think you need cheering up’ and she smiled as her daughter’s face brightened and lost its sad look.
Rhoda and their friends were delighted. A Party! The very thing to take their minds off their long wait.
But, as it happened, they didn’t have to wait much longer! That evening Mum, Kezia and Rhoda had a great time preparing the food and games for the party, and looked forward to it with much excitement.
The following afternoon their four friends arrived early, and it was whilst they were playing their third game that they heard the disciples arrive.
‘Hello!’ they said. ‘Having a party?’
‘Yes’ the kittens answered. ‘Would you like to join in?’
‘Not at the moment’ the disciples laughed. ‘But would you like to join us in the Upper Room - or are you too busy enjoying yourselves?’
‘Oh, we would love to come with you’ and they dashed upstairs well ahead of the men.
When they were all in, the doors were securely locked and bolted. Kezia understood now why it was necessary. The disciples did not want the Jewish leaders to burst in and arrest them. They knew they had work to do for their Master.
Kezia listened carefully as the disciples began to talk about Jesus. His wonderful miracles, His love for everyone, and His mission in life - to die for the sins of the world. They sat silently for a while as they remembered the crucifixion. It had been a sad time, but not for long, as Jesus had risen from the dead, and was now alive - they had seen Him. And their faces shone with happiness.
Kezia looked at Thomas. ‘Oh! I wish Jesus would come today’ she thought. ‘Especially as Thomas is here - and me, too, of course! How I would love to see Him again.’
The disciples began to pray, and Mum and the kittens sat quietly beside them.
Then SUDDENLY without any warning, Jesus was there!! The suddenness took their breath away. No knock at the door. No locks opened - just there!
Thomas looked at His Lord, the One who had been crucified, and he was stunned. Jesus was here, alive! Oh, why had he ever doubted. He was so ashamed.
‘Thomas’ said Jesus. ‘Put your fingers into my hands, touch my side.’
Thomas’s heart then overflowed with love as he looked at Jesus - ‘My Lord, and my God’ was all he could manage to say.
Jesus smiled at him. ‘Have faith in me’ He said, ‘And believe.’
Kezia looked around her. The disciples were over joyed to see their Master, tears of happiness were in their eyes, even the walls of the room seemed to glow in the Presence of the Lord, and she gazed at Jesus in wonder and love.
‘You believe because you have seen me, Thomas’ said Jesus ‘But blessed are those who haven’t seen me, and will believe in me in the years to come.’
‘The people in future years’ thought Mum. ‘People hundreds of years from now, they, too, will be blessed when they love and believe in Jesus. He hasn’t forgotten anyone, even those in the future. He loves them all, how wonderful!’
And as Kezia gave a great leap into the arms of Jesus, and purred her loudest to say how much she loved Him, Mum smiled contentedly as she thought of God’s love for the whole world for all of time.
Elizabeth Aynsley ©

John 20 vs. 24-29.