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325. Back in the Upper Room

Luke 24:33-50, John 20:19-23
Key Verse: "Look at My hands and feet.  It is I Myself!  Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."
Luke 24:39

While two disciples were walking along the road to Emmaus, there were eight apostles who had been spending an anxious day, locked up with fear of what would happen next. We learn later that Thomas was also not in the group and there is no explanation for his absence. John and Peter had gone out and had discovered that, sure enough, Jesus' body was gone. The tomb was empty. No wonder they were afraid of the Jews. They probably knew that they were the obvious suspects. Just as fear had kept the rest of the apostle’s in the boat when Peter stepped out to walk on water with Jesus, now, fear kept these remaining men huddled together, hearing reports, but they did not comprehend what those reports meant.

When the two from Emmaus arrived and knocked, the door was opened for them and they burst in. The others were talking with Simon about his claim that the Lord has appeared to him. Wouldn't it be wonderful to know what Jesus and Peter talked about in their private conversation? It reminds one of Aslan's private conversation with the traitor Edmund, in the Chronicles of Narnia. As in the story, so in the history, the privacy of the personal conversations is maintained when so much else has been opened to us. As with Edmund, however, it is obvious that Peter was restored and forgiven and renewed. 

Unfortunately, just as Peter couldn't convince any of the others to step out of the boat, he isn't able to convince the others to believe that Jesus has risen. While we know that John believed immediately when he saw the empty tomb, he too was not able to make a dent in the remaining disciples’ doubt and fear.

Then, with the doors relocked, after the travelers were allowed in, Jesus stood among them. There was no denying it now.  They needed tangible proof, so Jesus complied. "Examine Me. Feed Me. Handle Me. Am I real or not?" There was no denying it any more. Christ indeed had risen. They had seen it with their own eyes and touched Him with their own hands. Now, they could be counted upon to be solid witnesses of the truth that Jesus is alive.

Then, Jesus empowers them. "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (John 20:22-23) When He said this, He breathed on them His own breath, His own life, so that they could become like Him.  It wasn't a man's breath that breathed on the disciples, it was Jesus’ resurrected breath, His imperishable breath, from incorruptible seed with the power to cleanse and make holy as He is Holy.

After this moment, we have no more accounts of the disciples acting fearful. There is no more hiding or huddling.  Jesus had said when He entered the room, "Peace be with you!"  (John 20:19) When He left them that evening, His peace remained. "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  (John 14:27) And they obeyed.

Hymn:  "I Stand In Awe of You”  Annie Herring

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