After - Day 23
John 20:19
19 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
The disciples were very human in their responses to what was happening around them. They were deeply nervous about what would happen to them. Afterall, their leader had been crucified as an enemy of the state and as an enemy of their faith. Needless to say, they were scared, anxious, and probably had every right to be.
So they did what most of us would have done, they hid.
You have to remember that they had gone “all in” on the message and leadership of Jesus. When a rebellion is put down, when a mutiny happens and fails, then the powers that be usually go to extreme measures in order to root out those who were being defiant, seditious, or rebellious. We have seen it time after time in history, and even in our modern society. It is literally happening in many countries in the world today. When revolutions fail, it is usually accompanied by significant bloodshed.
So their decision to hide out is not out of line, nor is it surprising. What is surprising in this story is that Jesus found his way into a locked room, and he confronted them all. Of course, the first thing he does is wish them peace, but that is also a way of saying “don’t be afraid,” as I am sure they were.
Have you ever met someone out of context when you normally speak or interact with them? I always find it disconcerting when I am used to seeing someone in a certain situation and context, and then see them in a different context.
The last time that they had seen Jesus, he was hanging on a cross, so this must have been disconcerting to see him standing there talking to them. It must have been not only disconcerting but incredibly uncomfortable to figure out how to interact and know what to do and say. Jesus giving them a greeting with the word “peace” makes a great deal of sense.
Have you ever thought about what you would do if you were in that room that Sunday evening? Would you have run to him, would you have shied away in a corner of the room? Would you have gone and “told it on the mountain” or would you have slowed down a bit to try and understand what is really going on?
So they did what most of us would have done, they hid.
You have to remember that they had gone “all in” on the message and leadership of Jesus. When a rebellion is put down, when a mutiny happens and fails, then the powers that be usually go to extreme measures in order to root out those who were being defiant, seditious, or rebellious. We have seen it time after time in history, and even in our modern society. It is literally happening in many countries in the world today. When revolutions fail, it is usually accompanied by significant bloodshed.
So their decision to hide out is not out of line, nor is it surprising. What is surprising in this story is that Jesus found his way into a locked room, and he confronted them all. Of course, the first thing he does is wish them peace, but that is also a way of saying “don’t be afraid,” as I am sure they were.
Have you ever met someone out of context when you normally speak or interact with them? I always find it disconcerting when I am used to seeing someone in a certain situation and context, and then see them in a different context.
The last time that they had seen Jesus, he was hanging on a cross, so this must have been disconcerting to see him standing there talking to them. It must have been not only disconcerting but incredibly uncomfortable to figure out how to interact and know what to do and say. Jesus giving them a greeting with the word “peace” makes a great deal of sense.
Have you ever thought about what you would do if you were in that room that Sunday evening? Would you have run to him, would you have shied away in a corner of the room? Would you have gone and “told it on the mountain” or would you have slowed down a bit to try and understand what is really going on?
- What would you have done in the room that night?
- Do you think you would have believed what was happening?
- How much do you have to believe in something to be willing to die for that thing?
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