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That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. John 20:19 (NLT)
Imagine what it must have been like for the group huddling in the upper room. Their best friend, Jesus of Nazareth, died on Friday. The Sabbath of course was quiet. The Jewish leaders went about their normal Sabbath Day routine. Some were no doubt gloating a bit. Now that the number one thorn in their side had been removed, now they could get back to worshipping God the way he was supposed to be worshipped.
In the meantime Jesus’ disciples hid and wondered what would happen next. Would the Jewish leadership continue to pursue ‘the way’ or would they dust off their robes and go back to life as normal. Add to that was the startling information that Mary and some of the others brought. Jesus had been seen. Alive!
They huddled in the room afraid, confused and ashamed. Would the Jews be coming after them? Why did things fall apart so quickly? One week they were riding a wave of popularity, the next they were running for their lives…and run they did. How could they leave him at a time like that? Every one of them deserted him. The betrayal of Judas and the denial of Peter weren’t isolated incidents. Their rabbi died alone because of their fear.
Then, suddenly he was there. Right in their midst. No door knock. No request to enter. Just poof! And Jesus stood before them with the same look of love and the same posture of compassion He always had. In the midst of their reeling emotions and searching for words, he spoke first.
“Peace be with you.”
Wasn’t that just like Jesus? He didn’t question their actions or their motives. He didn’t sarcastically thank them for standing by them. He didn’t remind them of all the times he’d stood by them or put up with their silly arguments. He simply offered them his peace, a peace that passes all understanding (and may I add, wisdom?)
He did it with the woman caught in adultery- “Neither do I condemn thee.”
He did it with the woman with an issue of blood-no irritation, only love and understanding.
And remember the woman whose only son had died? He broke away from the crowd to speak directly to her and gave raised her son from the dead!
And so it is to this day. Jesus longs to offer you the one thing that evades us when bills mount, relationships falter, kids rebel, careers end and good health evades us. His peace is offered regardless of our sin, our rebellion or our doubt. His peace not only passes all understanding, it requires nothing on our part except to accept his forgiveness and ask.
Whatever troubles you today, Jesus is knocking at the door and longing to come in and offer you his peace. All you have to do is ask.
PRAYER: Jesus I have so many things that hound me right now. So many things desiring to steal my peace of mind and heart. Empower me with your spirit to find the peace you long to give me. Amen
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. Luke 24:1
Every year about this time I’m drawn, for obvious reasons, to the end of the Gospels to read the account of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. I never want to miss the emotion of that time in the lives of those who knew Jesus personally.
We as Christ-followers must never lose sight of the emotion of that time in the lives of Jesus close personal friends. As I grow older and hopefully wiser and as more and more of my loved ones have gone on before me I get just a glimpse of the pain, the agony, the sorrow and confusion of the days leading up to ‘Resurrection Day.’
I’ve felt the heartache of losing a brother who died ‘too soon’. I stood by the bedside of my mother as she breathed her last. I’ve held a mother as she sobbed over the body of her little boy. I’ve stood by the gurney of a friend who’d been ushered into glory just hours after I’d talked with him.
Painful as those times were, none of my anguish could compare to those who watched Jesus get beaten, humiliated, stripped naked and hung on a piece of wood for all the world to watch his slow, painful death. As I write this I get goose bumps just thinking of it.
In the midst of all that trauma. In the midst of all that pain. What drove the women to the tomb before sunrise on that Sunday morning? They’d watched him be placed in the tomb. They knew there was a huge stone covering any hope of access to the body. Why didn’t they get some men to go with them? Did they try to solicit help or were the guys too broken up and scared to go out so soon after their master was murdered by a power hungry mob?
I may never know the answer. It may not even be important. In reality I have an idea what one of the reasons was for their early morning mission. It was love.
The ‘Mary’s’, and perhaps a few others, couldn’t let Jesus body be cast aside without the proper spices. They couldn’t bear to let the one who never neglected their needs be neglected at his time of biggest need. Dangerous? Perhaps. Futile? Maybe. But this was Jesus. It had to be done.
Then I ask myself this question. Where would I have been that morning? Would I have held the lantern to light the path? Would I be ready to lift the stone or fight off some Roman Guard? Or would I cower on my mat and be afraid at every noise in the night.
I hope I’d do the former. I pray that I’d be leading the way, because like the adulteress I’m not condemned. Like the blind man, I’ve received sight. My hunger is filled, my thirst is quenched. A risky walk in the dawn mist is the least I can do for my Jesus.
PRAYER: Jesus at this season of the year I’m in awe of your love and compassion for me. I’m reminded of how much you’ve given and how little I deserve. I worship you for all you have done for me. I praise you for your grace, your mercy and your forgiveness. Help me to be like the women who set aside everything else to tend to you. In your wonderful, marvelous and most holy name, Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 