Locked doors
Early on the first day of the week… Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to their homes. – John 20:1,3-10
Many things happened in the lives of the disciples in the days before the first day of the week. The disciples were going through a very difficult time. They had just witnessed the death of their teacher. Although Jesus said that he would rise from the dead, they really had not processed that information in their hearts. So it was probably a time of deep sadness and despair, as they were not sure what would happen to them. Two of the disciples went to the tomb, saw it empty, and believed. However, when they returned to their homes, they locked their doors because of fear of the Jews.
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews – John 20:19a
Did their faith fail? Sometimes problems cloud our understanding. Lets be honest: we can go through a great spiritual experience in the morning, and then act as if there was no hope a few hours later. I guess it is human nature. In the midst of a problem we all lock our “doors”.
when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. – John 20:19b-20a
The good news is that if you have a relationship with Jesus, he will show up even if your doors are locked. He knows how we feel, and he knows our weaknesses, so he will not show up to ask us why we locked our doors. He will show up to bring his peace to our troubled hearts.
What would have been your reaction if you were in that locked room when Jesus showed up?
The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. – John 20:20b
Overjoyed is a good word to identify the feeling (or maybe any of its synonyms: charmed, delighted, deliriously happy, elated, euphoric, happy as a clam, happy as a lark, joyful, jubilant, on cloud nine, only too happy, over the moon, rapturous, ravished, thrilled, tickled pink, transported). It doesn’t matter the circumstances that we are going through, that same joy is available to us.
Are your doors still locked? Don’t lose your hope. Jesus will show up, and you will be able to experience his peace.
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