I think we all have an idea now about what it
means to wait, ‘cause goodness gracious we are waitin’ something fierce to get
out of our homes and around our friends and family again. Can I get a witness?
This particular weekend gives us a unique
perspective on a similar day thousands of years ago where a group of disciples
were in a room sequestering themselves away from other individuals. They didn’t
fear the Coronavirus, rather they feared how they were going to continue on as
a group of followers whose leader was gone. John 20:19a says, "On the evening of that
first day of the week…the disciples were together, with the doors locked for
fear of the Jewish leaders.” They were in fear because of how the Jewish
leaders might retaliate against them for being followers of this man who had
claimed to be the Son of God, aka guilt by association. They had to be feeling
terrified, confused, and devastated – how would life ever be back to normal
with all that had gone on? Sound familiar? Sure sounds like some of the emotions
I’ve had and seen others have through this pandemic ordeal.
Having already arose, however, Jesus was about to
breathe His calming Spirit into His disciple’s faces with words that permeate
even to our hearts today. “Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’”
(John 20:19b). Peace – shalom – spoken from
the Risen Christ Himself had to be an incredible, amazing sight and sound to
behold! Here they faced a moment where they were isolated from the entire
world, terrifyingly unaware at what the future held for them, and their Leader,
Teacher, Master, and now Risen Savior was speaking the words that their
trembling hearts needed to hear, “PEACE be with you.”
Waiting
for the next step isn’t just something that we see from the disciples if we
look at this time of history. Even Jesus knew what it was like to wait. A few
weeks ago, my pastor Chris Brooks preached about waiting and pointed out to us
that Jesus Himself lived a life of waiting. He waited 30 years before His
ministry fully began, He waited 40 days in the wilderness, and He waited three
days in a tomb before rising again. So why this pandemic, why now? God has a
reason. I don’t claim to know what it is and it might not even ever make sense
to us, but everything He does has a purpose (Job 42:2). God sent Jesus to earth
for a time and a purpose. Jesus didn’t just come and then die on the cross for
our sins. He waited for God’s perfect timing. Eventually, the time and the
purpose for Him were set into motion (John 12:23) and it’s because He fulfilled
His purpose – that in fact was ordained before He as even born – that He is
able to offer salvation to us and why we rejoice on Easter (and every day for
that matter).
Do
you have the feelings the disciples did – are you scared, confused, or sad?
Jesus’ words to His disciples thousands of years ago are for His disciples
today – us, “Peace be with you.” In your fear, anxiety, sadness, joy, hurt,
pain, waiting, or any other emotion that you might be feeling today and during the
continued time of quarantine and self-isolating, may the Risen Christ’s peace guard
your heart, your soul, and your mind (Philippians 4:7).
Peace be with you this Easter!
