After that day, everything was different. The first disciples witnessed a dead man walking. Their lives would be forever changed, defined by “life before Easter” and life “life after Easter.” On numerous occasions, Jesus showed up in resurrected form before he ascended. In the season of Easter we will examine six “after Easter” encounters with Jesus. What did he say and do? In what practical ways does resurrection change my daily life? Nothing will ever be the same.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation
“You have made us for Yourself. And our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” (Augustine)
Creator of all things, hear my voice, for you have made it. You who live in heaven, hear my prayer from earth. I am one person in one little town in one corner of your vast creation. Of all the people on the planet, hear me also. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Confession
O God, in the beginning you made us good, even “very good.” I admit the many things in my life that are far from your good intent. I try to change, and then find myself in the same place once again. Lord, you know me. Have mercy. Make me right. Forgive my wickedness. Bring me back to good, as you intended from the beginning. Amen.
Word
“Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’” John 20:19
Meditation
Today’s meditation is by Julianna Shults.
Unprecedented. Exhausting. Chaotic. All words that we have overused to describe the last year. Vocabulary is limited when describing how a pandemic, politics, racial tension and so much more feel fit into such a short time frame. In this year I anxiously overbought hand sanitizer and boxed mac and cheese. My heart broke not getting to hug, celebrate, and eat with my friends and family. Instead, I’ve filled my time alternating between diving deep into the news or disconnecting into Netflix.
After a year of quarantine and difficult questions, we all are looking for some peace.
After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the disciples were locked away in a room (something we can empathize with after this year). While they had heard stories of an empty tomb, they doubted what it meant. They had given up their lives to follow Jesus, and now they were left hiding and afraid.
Suddenly, Jesus appears in the room with them. He has risen just like he promised. His first words are “Peace be with you.”
Peace was exactly what the disciples needed right then. In their unprecedented, chaotic moment, God’s peace brought assurance, comfort, rest. After all they had experienced with Jesus, I’m sure they wouldn’t have minded some down time and a nap.
Except Jesus didn’t stop there. Jesus didn’t come simply to give us peace, but to offer us so much more.
In verse 21 we read, “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.’”
Belief in the resurrected Jesus brings us peace, but it also moves us to action. Jesus sent the disciples out with his Holy Spirit to share the good news of Salvation. Just like the disciples, we are sent to the people around us who need God’s grace and forgiveness. In the midst of an exhausting year, we read of Jesus in appearing to the disciples and are reminded of our belief that God is present and continuing to fulfill his promises to us.
Jesus has given us peace through his death and resurrection, but we cannot simply sit and hold it for ourselves. Like the disciples, we move from doubt to belief, fear to peace, and out into the open where we care for our neighbor by sharing the Gospel.
Dear Heavenly Father, step into our moment now just as you stepped into the room with the disciples. Bring us peace. Send your Holy Spirit so our belief in you can move us towards love for others. Help us to share the faith and forgiveness you offer with others and bring them from doubt to belief. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Benediction
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
(Rom. 11:33,36))