Father, I am so grateful for Your work in my life. Today’s sermon was most certainly a gift from You. May it touch innumerable lives with the message with which You have endued it. Amen.
John 20:19-23 (<<click here to read the passage)
I’ve spoken of this before, but Jesus was most certainly a man who experienced and expressed the entire gamut of human emotion. It’s so easy to picture Him as a person of utmost seriousness. We know He wept. (John 11:35) We know He lashed out in (justified and righteous) anger – numerous times actually. (One click on this list will bring them all up at once – Matthew 6:5, Matthew 12:10, Matthew 19:13-14, Matthew 21:12-17, Matthew 23:25-32, Mark 10:13-16, Mark 12:41-44, Luke 6:7, Luke 13:10-17, John 2:13-17, John 9:16)
It is not recorded in Scripture, but don’t you think that Jesus laughed? Surely, He had to have smiled on many occasions. Children were drawn to Him – and what child wants to be around someone who is always serious and stern. There had to be many occasions when silly things happened or funny stories were shared amongst Himself and His disciples.
In reading through today’s text, I saw the footnote on what Jesus said at the end of verse 19 from the Amplified Bible.
First, the scene needs to be set and the first part of verse 19 does that. This incident took place on the same day that Mary (and the other ladies), Peter, and John had paid a visit to Jesus’ empty tomb. And though they had been told specifically by Mary after her personal encounter with the risen Lord, that Jesus was alive, the disciples were [meeting] behind barred doors for fear of the Jews.
Who knows what all was going through their minds, but they weren’t taking any chances! The Jewish leaders could have been coming after them next! And then suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! NLT
He had not sent a messenger ahead to announce His pending arrival. He didn’t even knock. He just appeared in their midst! And what does He say? “Peace to you.”
The footnote in the Amplified Bible says that statement was a normal Hebrew greeting. And in my mind’s eye, I can see Jesus saying it with the biggest smile on His face. And I wouldn’t be surprised if He had to keep Himself from laughing out loud!
There they were hiding in fear and Jesus pops up right in front of their very eyes and gives them a “Hi, guys! How goes it?” Luke’s Gospel tells that they were startled and frightened. Luke 24:37 NLT
And all along it’s like Jesus is saying, “Hey, it’s me! Why in the world are you boys hiding?”
Oh, He knew what was going on, and really what else was He supposed to say? His, “Peace to you” just broke the ice to get things rolling. He loved them more than they could ever have realized – just as He does us. And He was filled with joy. It was finished! The work He come to do was complete! He was jubilant and wanted them to join Him in His joy! And honestly, why wouldn’t He smile!
Lord Jesus, may we share in Your joy! May it and the love You have for us spill out, splashing all those around us throughout each day of our lives. Amen!
Nov 14th, 2021, Sun, 7:11 pm
