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Jesus Appears to His Disciples You might have guessed what I am referring to? I’m talking about the fact that for four days the start of the Challenger Series for the America’s Cup has had to be postponed! And nothing could be done about it! It just had to be accepted.With all the most advanced technology in the world, the Teams just had to cool their heels and wait - what for? – for the Wind to blow! The nautical term they use is “dead in the water”. Without wind – nothing happens. As many of you will know, - in the bible, the word “wind”, (and the term also includes “breath”) – is a symbol used to represent God the Holy Spirit. The term breath is used in Gen.2;7 which describes God “breathing” into the newly formed man of dust, and that man of dust became a living being. God’s breath, or spirit, brings that person alive. And this is what happened also on that first Easter Night, but in different way. The men who previously were paralysed with fear – dead in the water, like those yachts without any wind in their sails - when Jesus breathed His Spirit upon them, were now changed from fearful to fear-less disciples and their lives suddenly took off in a new direction. As I read through this short account of that appearance on the first Easter night, I noticed there are three things that happen: 1/ The Risen Jesus overcomes their Fear of what might be. 2/ The risen Jesus fills them with His Power for what will be, And 3/ The risen Jesus offers them Forgiveness for what has been. So – No.1 The unexplainable presence of the risen Jesus overcomes their fear of what might be. The disciples fear was very real. Probably only those who have seen war service, in front line, and in direct contact with an enemy, will be able to totally identify with these disciples, or their feelings at this point. This is heart-stopping stuff! The threat was absolutely real – that at any moment they could well hear the sound of footsteps on the stairs and find themselves next in line for a cruel and tortuous death. I would imagine that when you are faced with that possibility you don’t take your situation lightly! They were terrified about what might be! Perhaps “paralyzed with fear” would not be too strong. It is into this fear filled room that Jesus suddenly appears. Now we don’t know HOW that happened. It is still a mystery to us. But the historical records make it very clear that it did happen. Our scientific evidence today regarding the nature of matter would make us much more open to perhaps one day understanding that possibility, than it did a generation ago. Jesus suddenly appeared, inside a room where the doors had been locked. Jesus was present, and Jesus was real. The first thing he says to them is “Peace be with you” , and then he showed them his hands and his side. He identified himself to them with the marks of crucifixion as the same Jesus who had been crucified and was now risen and alive. “Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.” Fear turns to rejoicing when the Risen Lord is present. What a transformation! What are the moments which you fear in you life? What are the things which you fear “might - be”? Is it loss of health; loss of independence; loss of financial security; loss of your job? Loss of a family member? What are the things which you lie awake at night fearing? I don’t think any of those would be quite as paralyzing as the fear which those disciples felt that night – and the Risen Lord transformed that fear. If He can do that for them – he can transform your fear as well! Why not invite the risen lord to accompany you through your daily journey of life today. So 1/-The Risen Jesus freed them from fear of what Might-Be. 2/ The Risen Jesus filled them with power for what WILL- be. We can only live this day, today! We cant re-live yesterday and we cant live tomorrow! . We can only live one day at a time. The risen Jesus breathed on the disciples and said “Receive the Holy Spirit.” As God breathed on the man of dust – Adam – in Genesis and he became alive; so Jesus breathes on the disciples, and they are given a whole new life, filled with God’s strength. Each day we need to receive the breath of God to fill us for that days living. One of my favourite old hymns which always moves me quite deeply is the hymn:- Great is thy Faithfulness” - and what moves me most are the words in the last verse:- “Pardon for sin, and a peace that endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow. Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!” - Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow is what the Risen Jesus gave to those disciples as he breathed on them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. That’s what He offers us today too! When we draw deeply on that strength and are filled with the Holy Spirit – we need have no fear of tomorrow. So – the Risen Jesus freed them from fear of what might be; he filled them with power for what will be, and then 3/ He offered forgiveness for what has been. – and he gives the disciples – and through them the church - the same authority to declare that same forgiveness to all who repent. We cant change the past, but because Jesus has died on the cross and there taken our sin upon himself and had it dealt with – we can now be forgiven. In Christ, and because of His death on the cross, our past misdeeds, says St. Paul, are dealt with. God erased the record of our sins which stood against us, with its legal demands. “He set this aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Col.2:14) As Jesus forgave the sins of the penitent, so he declares to the disciples who are filled with his spirit, the same authority to forgive others also. A man, who was telling his friend about an argument he’d had with his wife, commented “I really hate it when we argue – she gets so historical!” The friend replied – “Don’t you mean hysterical?” “No”, he insisted - “I mean historical. Every time we argue she drags up everything from the past and holds it against me.” When we confess our sins – God gets neither historical nor hysterical. He lovingly forgives. That’s how God deals with the past because Jesus has dealt with our sin on the cross. When we bring it to him, and confess our failings – He wipes it clean. As we continue to celebrate this Easter season, we can rejoice in the fact that The Risen Jesus -- offers us Forgiveness for what has Been in the past, fills us with His Power for what Will be in the present, and Overcomes the Fear of what Might be in the future. Yesterday, today and tomorrow are all in His hands. |
