Peace Be With You

Scripture: Luke 24:35-43

35 Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! 38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he ate it as they watched. (Luke 24:35-43 NLT)

It was Easter evening. The disciples were still stuck in that awful limbo between discouragement and joy, between tragedy and triumph, between despair and hope. Peter and John had seen the empty tomb, but only the Marys had seen Jesus alive (And Cleopas and his friend walking to Emmaus).

The disciples were gathered behind locked doors because they were afraid. They were afraid of the Jewish leaders. They were accustomed to Jesus leading them and it was a big adjustment to be on their own! Some of them had last seen Jesus in the Garden as the mob took him away. Some had seen from a distance as Jesus was nailed to the cross on Skull Hill. Some had seen Jesus cry out and breathe his last breath. Some had seen the soldier pierce Jesus’ side with his spear point. Some had seen Joseph and Nicodemus take him down from the cross and carry his dead body to Joseph’s tomb nearby. But none of them had yet seen him alive!

Suddenly Jesus appeared in the room and said, “Peace be with you!” John tells us “…he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:22-23 (NLT)  Then he ate a piece of broiled fish to prove that he wasn’t a ghost!

But don’t miss his words: “Receive the Holy Spirit! Forgive People!” Breathe in – Receive the Holy Spirit. Breathe out – Forgive as you have been forgiven. Don’t underestimate the Grace and the Power of Forgiving!

Prayer:

Father, I think we don’t really get this yet! Please open our hearts and minds to the work of the Holy Spirit and the power of forgiveness! May we truly forgive as we have been forgiven—freely and unconditionally! For Jesus’ sake! Amen.