Second Easter 4-11-21

 Message given to Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal in Covington, GA 

https://www.youtube.com/live/Z2T4__x_I-E?feature=share&t=812

In this scripture we have two major events. Most of the time we focus on doubting Thomas. But my favorite part of the story is not necessarily about Thomas, and yet Thomas missed it because he wasn’t with them in the first scene.

Can you imagine being in a house behind locked doors when someone you believe is dead appears in the living room?!Honestly, I have asked Jesus to please never freak me out that way –I just don’t think I could handle it.

I think Jesus knew that too, and the disciples were probably freaking out just like I would have which is why he said, “Peace be with you.” Not like we do in church now. We hug, and smile, and look at each other – before the pandemic and masks – with smiles, composed and sometimes austere - “Peace.” “Peace of the Lord be with you.” “Peace.” “God’s Peace.”

No. I believe Jesus entered that room and the fear and trembling that seized them was like the night they were on the ship together in the storm. The boat is tossing and turning, heaving and rocking – and Jesus is asleep in the corner - probably exhausted from feeding 5000 people!

The disciples are freaking out in the storm. Jesus casually wakes up, rebukes them for their lack of faith, says “Peace be still” to the storm, and then probably rolled over and went back to sleep.

But it wasn’t “Peace” - like hey, how are you old storm my friend. Great to see you. It was probably more like “Peace be still! You are disturbing my nap! Get ahold of yourself! Can’t you see I’m exhausted!” Like a mother hen worn out from chasing chicks all day. Mother’s, you know what I mean.

And here he just shows up in the living room behind locked doors. I would have fainted. Honestly, I would have freaked out. By nature I’m a chicken. I’m a real scaredy cat. Me and my cat would be under the bed together.

What did Jesus do? He said, “Peace be with you.” He had to calm them down. It wasn’t the nice, “Hi, how are you? Great to see you” – kind of peace. It was a “Peace be still!” kind of peace. A “sit down, Peter, and pull yourself together” kind of peace.

The kind of peace we need that penetrates our soul in our darkest most terrifying moments. They were terrified.

The scripture says the doors were locked for fear of the Jews – well, they were all Jews, so it probably means the ones who were not too happy about Jesus being missing from his tomb. By now they had found out he was gone, and they were freaking out. The ones who had hoped that they had put an end to his message by crucifying him. Those Jews who were not his friends – who were also Jews – let's not lose sight of the fact that they were all Jews here.

They knew from the reports of the women that he was no longer dead in his tomb but out walking around and meeting his disciples in various places. The other Jews had probably heard about it too – and they were hiding and freaking out – and here comes Jesus – the source of their joy and terror all in one – like “Jesus – could you please keep a lower profile – we saw what they did to you, and we are terrified.”

“Peace,” he says – the words were not enough to calm them down – seeing his hands and side – the remnants of the crucifixion did not make them feel any better. He says again, “Peace be with you.” He gets their attention.

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you...”

The commission. He has affirmed in his resurrection that not only is he alive, but they all still have responsibilities. Even though they had witnessed Jesus up from the grave, having fulfilled what he said by rising again in three days – they were in hiding. They were locked behind closed doors hoping no one would find them.

They had the greatest story on earth to tell – to share with the world, but in sheer terror they had shut themselves away.

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” Really Jesus. You just got up out of that tomb and here we are only a week later and you want us to go out there and tell your story? They were terrified.

Peace is not just a casual greeting, my friends. It is not a casual hello. The Peace of God is the assurance from one person to another that whatever is your current terror, God’s peace is sufficient to calm you … But the peace was not all he gave them.

When he said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “receive the Holy Spirit.”

“Receive the Holy Spirit.”

The promise of the Comforter, the Counselor, the Spirit of Truth. He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

The Father sent him, and the Son came and spoke the Word “peace,” and he breathed on them to receive the Holy Spirit.

I wonder if you have received the breath of Christ and have the Holy Spirit resting on you.

When you are terrified or challenged, or despondent, or depressed, feeling forsaken and forgotten, do you call on Jesus to receive his “peace” with the Power of the Holy Spirit breathed over you to calm you?

The Holy Spirit is a gift and a promise so that we will never be alone. A promise of comfort and counsel and wisdom and peace.

 

 

The “baptism” of the Holy Spirit … the receiving of the Holy Spirit … our promise, our gift... to comfort and encourage us. To prepare us to come out of hiding from behind locked doors to meet the world with the greatest story on earth.

We’ve been hiding and terrified long enough. Wringing our hands and saying to ourselves – what will people say? Or think? Or do? If I tell them Jesus rose from the grave? Will they think I’m crazy? Or ostracize me? Will I lose my job?

People even today lose jobs, and family, and their lives for sharing the gospel. Their terror is real.

You have a seed. A God given seed and direction from God to go out.

So when we say “Peace” to each other, lets breathe in the presence of the Holy Spirit, breath out our peace into the world, and feel the gift that has been given to us – the power of the Holy Spirit that makes bold our faith.

And if you have yet to receive this gift, I pray that right now, where ever you are, you ask Jesus to send the Holy Spirit – and may you receive the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, the Counselor, the Spirit of Truth. Breath in the Spirit of Life and know that God is with you. God is with you today, and tomorrow and always. And like the disciples, God’s peace and God’s Spirit are meant to accompany you on your journey for Christ.

To plant your seed, and water it. To attend to your calling. To go forth as disciples.

 

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you . Receive the Holy Spirit.”