Tuesday of Lent 3 - The Resurrection
Read: John 20:19-31
Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you.” (Jn.
20:19b)
What are the disciples to do? It's Sunday evening, and they're huddled in a
locked room for fear of the Jews. The fear is legitimate: Jesus was scourged,
crucified, killed just three days back, and those who led the charge are known to
be thorough in dealing with problems. Not only that, but the Roman authorities
cooperated, even carried out Jesus' unjust death; so the disciples can't count on
protection from them, either. Now, some of the women have come with a crazy
story that they've seen an angel who told them Jesus is alive again; and Peter and
John have even seen the empty tomb. It's tough to believe.
But even if it's true, is it good news for the disciples? Their last memories of
Jesus before His arrest are these: they pledged loyalty to Him, no matter what,
even to death; and then they kept falling asleep in the Garden while He prayed
His agonized prayer. Even in the last hours that Jesus was with them, the
disciples were trusting in their own bravado on the one hand, then demonstrating
an inability even to keep their eyes open on the other. Then they ran away. So
even if Jesus is risen, is this good news for the disciples? The One who has
even defeated death could well appear and say, “In My hour of greatest need,
you abandoned Me. That was strike three, and you're out for eternity.”
So, as far as the disciples know (aided by Old Adam), the Jews are out to get
them. The Romans are out to get them. And Jesus, if He really is alive, may
well be out to get them, too.
Whatever the torturous thoughts of the disciples, Jesus is suddenly standing
in their midst. The doors are locked, but there He is—body and all. A ghost?
No. He shows them His hands and His side. There He is, fully risen from the
dead.
And what are His first words to His wayward disciples? Not, “I'm gonna get
you now.” Not, “You're fired.” His first words are “Peace be with you.” Jesus
went to the cross precisely because of sins like trusting oneself, doubt, worry
and every other transgression. Having died to take all those sins away, He isn't
risen to hold them against the disciples. Instead, He announces that all of their
sins are removed. As the angels announced “Peace on earth” at the Savior's
birth, Jesus assures the disciples that they now have peace with God. Their sins
are taken away.
Thomas isn't there, and he doesn't believe the disciples; a week later, Jesus
will appear to gather Thomas back in. We still speak of “doubting Thomas”
today, but don't miss what Jesus says to him: “Blessed are those who have not
seen and yet have believed” (Jn. 20:29). That would be you. You haven't seen
the Savior, but He is still with you. He is as near to you as His Word, so that
you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you
may have life in His name (Jn. 20:31).