Many Biblical stories touch upon the question of relationships. When people followed Jesus, they entered into a special relationship with Him: they became His disciples. When Jesus chose twelve disciples and called them "Apostles", He established an even deeper relationship with them.

The events leading up to the death of Jesus damaged and even severed those relationships. Judas betrayed Jesus, Peter denied Him, most of the others fled. The death of Jesus itself seemed to have put an end to the relationship: He was no longer there with them. In His resurrection appearances, Jesus set about restoring these relationships. He had meals with His disciples. He restored Peter to friendship.

While it might seem at first sight that Jesus' ascension into heaven put an end to these relationships, the mystery is much deeper. Jesus did not abandon His disciples on earth. He rather changed His relationship with them. If Jesus truly desired to be related to every Christian, He had to establish a relationship which was not mere a historical one, not one marked by the parameters of time and space. This He did by His Ascension and eventually the sending of the Holy Spirit.