April 9, 2023 – Easter Text: John 20:19-23
Dear Friends in Christ,
Have you ever encountered this situation? You are at the grocery store and run into an old acquaintance. You make the proverbial small talk and then ask the question, “So how’s life?” You expect the cliched answer, “Fine.” Or they might say, “living the dream.” You don’t expect to hear this. “Well, I’m separated from Harry. The kids seem to blame me. I’ve hated my job for years and I’m just trying to make it day by day.” She’s scared. She’s angry. Her life has been less than fulfilling. She’d like to leave it all behind, start over, and start really living life.
Sometimes, it’s our youth. Sometimes a midlife redirection. Sometimes its burnout from a 30-year job. Sometimes it’s the energy we put into the kids. We can all go through cycles where we think it’s really time to start living. The ideal is different for all of us, but usually includes a faraway vacation, spending lavishly or putting our time into something we really love. Then we will really live. But people can return from the feel-good trip and still feel empty.
The Bible has something to say about really living, and it’s not found in the Swiss Alps or the gearshift of the BMW. We don’t need middle age or burnout to trigger a life worth living. For us as Christians what we need is Easter. We need the empty tomb and shouts of “He Is Risen!” We need the appearance of Jesus to his disciples, showing them His . . .
“LIFE-GIVING HANDS”
The disciples were acting like the friend who felt her life was a mess. John writes, “the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews.” (v. 19). If the Jews were so corrupt as to orchestrate the crucifixion of an innocent man, what would stop them from coming after his disciples next? Many of these men had abandoned Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Even though Jesus had been preparing them for his death, they still seemed shocked that it happened. They were acting like Jesus was dead. They were afraid and they felt guilty. They were trapped in their own mid-life crisis.
Jesus wanted to calm their nerves. He didn’t start with, “So how’s life?” What he said was, “Peace be with you.” (v. 19). They had heard the reports but hadn’t seen Jesus with their own eyes. “Guys, it’s me! I’m not a ghost. I’m not dead. I am very much alive. “He showed them his hands and his side.” They saw the life-giving hands and knew they were looking at their resurrected Lord. He is risen indeed.
It took them a moment, but they finally grabbed hold of Easter that evening – it’s joy. “Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” (v. 20). No more fear, but Easter joy that makes life really worth living. Have you grabbed hold of that Easter joy?
Jesus was alive but it was not a static thing. His life-giving hands had a life-fulfilling mission. “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (v. 21). Jesus was sent by God to forgive sins. He knows asks us to be His ambassadors. That is real living.
What a big job. The disciples had to be overwhelmed. They go from terror to being commissioned by Christ. He knows what they need, “He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit.” (v. 22). The Holy Spirit worked so powerfully through these men that 50 days later these uneducated Galilean fishermen were apostolic fishers of souls. When people heard Peter’s sermon, 3,000 souls were added to the Christian Church that day.
Christ even gave them the message. “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (v. 23). It is a big day when a child is given the keys to the house, and even bigger milestone when they hand over the keys to the car. With these words, Jesus confidently hands every believer the keys to heaven. We are opening or closing the doors to heaven by forgiving or not forgiving. The keys are the special power and privilege Christ gives only to Christians. Forgiving sins and announcing peace is what Jesus did on Easter when he showed His life-giving hands. What better way to live Easter daily than to use our hands for God’s life-giving purpose – to forgive our brothers and sisters.
What can be more meaningful than forgiving an estranged spouse? Reconciling with a co-worker? Resolving differences with an old friend? Keys are only useful if you use them. God gave them to you to use. Living at peace with God and your neighbor makes life really worth living. Those disciples took that message from the life-giving hands and made it their life-giving mission. Empowered by the Holy Spirit that night, they went. Today more than two billion Christians scattered around the world owe a debt of gratitude to the church’s humble beginnings that Easter evening.
So, how’s life? Are you stuck? Thinking you don’t really have anything to live for? Stop acting like Jesus is dead. He is not. Look at the life-giving hands. Jesus is alive! Let’s act like it. Let’s pray like it. Let’s believe like it. Let’s embrace his call, “I am sending you,” and bring the gospel to the other six billion people in our world one soul at a time. Let’s receive his Holy Spirit and use the keys to proclaim peace. Live life like there is no death, because Easter means there is no death. Easter makes life really worth living.
Amen.