The Risen Jesus - Pt 3

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:19-23 ESV).

Today we will look at the second of these things we learn in this reading: the disciples are afraid. Look at verse 19 again: “The doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews . . .” Their leader had just been crucified as a threat to Caesar. Their fear is totally understandable. And into that fear Jesus comes. I suppose I want to draw your attention to this because this is the way we most feel the need of risen, living Jesus. It is when we are afraid. It may be as simple as a fear that we won’t be prepared for what we’re expected to do; or, it may be as gripping as the fear that our children or grandchildren will make shipwreck of their faith. Sometimes I fear that I won’t have the faith to die well. Or I fear that I might drift into uselessness as my capacity diminishes with age or illness. To all of these fears, and hundreds more, the little meme has an answer for us. “F-E-A-R has two meanings: Forget Everything And Run; or, Face Everything And Rise. The Choice is yours.” Well, this first appearance of Jesus is a declaration that Jesus will indeed come in to our midst, locked doors and all. He declares: I come to my own when they are afraid. I don’t wait for them to get their act together. I don’t wait for them to have enough faith to overcome fear. Jesus comes to help us have enough faith to overcome fear. And I can unequivocally say that after fifty years of being a Christian, this is still true in my life. The risen, living Jesus is still doing this. He comes when we cry out to him in our fear. He helps us. I have called to him a thousand times: “Jesus please help me.” And he has come near with the promise: “Fear not I am with you, be not dismayed, I am your God, I will help you” (Isaiah 41:10). He will do this for you too! What are you afraid of today? Is it really a match for the risen Christ? Don’t run in hiding. Rise in the face of your darkest enemy!