NO MORE LOCKED ROOMS
SCRIPTURE
Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
-John 13:17 (NLT)
Jesus appeared to his disciples several times after his resurrection. At least two of those times, the disciples locked themselves in a room for protection. They knew that the Jewish leaders wanted them dead. They had been marked as subversives who were threats to Jewish tradition just as Jesus had been. They still lived more afraid of what was outside instead of more confident in who had called them.
Where do we cower behind our own version of locked doors on this day after Easter Sunday? The climate in our communities isn't always kind to Christians. Like the disciples, we are also afraid to speak up, for fear of retribution. So what does the resurrection of Christ mean to people who live afraid of put-downs and rejection?
First, it means that nothing keeps Jesus away from his disciples. Can you imagine the disciples' surprise when Jesus appeared inside their locked room? Isn't that a bold reminder we need in these days of cultural chaos. Jesus is present. No angry mob, threat, or locked doors can keep him away. He knows how to come to where we are sitting in fear.
The second reminder is what Jesus brings when he comes. He brings peace. He brings his recognizable, saturating, present peace. This peace is a person, not a feeling. This peace is our victor, our defense, and our security. This peace goes with us wherever we go. Christ himself woos us out of our locked rooms to be representatives and spreaders of his peace. His peace shares forgiveness, reconciliation, and compassion. It shares strength, commitment, and perseverance as we live in resurrection power, not locked-room fear.
Are we bolder because of our journey to the cross? Is there an unquenchable fire in our hearts to live and share who Jesus is as we talk, connect, question, and love? As we transition into living the lessons we have learned from this journey, may we live them with the humility we learn from Jesus, who grabbed the towel and basin but never traded on his right to be served. May we live so closely connected to his peace that it becomes the first quality people notice about our lives. May we never confuse protest with proclamation. May we become the people of the resurrection because too many people around us are living dead, and Jesus wants to raise them to life too.
It is a bold and humbling mission. But people who follow the resurrected Christ will always find the empowerment they need to meet the challenge. Then none of us will need to cower behind locked doors.
PRAYER FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
SCRIPTURE
Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
-John 13:17 (NLT)
Jesus appeared to his disciples several times after his resurrection. At least two of those times, the disciples locked themselves in a room for protection. They knew that the Jewish leaders wanted them dead. They had been marked as subversives who were threats to Jewish tradition just as Jesus had been. They still lived more afraid of what was outside instead of more confident in who had called them.
Where do we cower behind our own version of locked doors on this day after Easter Sunday? The climate in our communities isn't always kind to Christians. Like the disciples, we are also afraid to speak up, for fear of retribution. So what does the resurrection of Christ mean to people who live afraid of put-downs and rejection?
First, it means that nothing keeps Jesus away from his disciples. Can you imagine the disciples' surprise when Jesus appeared inside their locked room? Isn't that a bold reminder we need in these days of cultural chaos. Jesus is present. No angry mob, threat, or locked doors can keep him away. He knows how to come to where we are sitting in fear.
The second reminder is what Jesus brings when he comes. He brings peace. He brings his recognizable, saturating, present peace. This peace is a person, not a feeling. This peace is our victor, our defense, and our security. This peace goes with us wherever we go. Christ himself woos us out of our locked rooms to be representatives and spreaders of his peace. His peace shares forgiveness, reconciliation, and compassion. It shares strength, commitment, and perseverance as we live in resurrection power, not locked-room fear.
Are we bolder because of our journey to the cross? Is there an unquenchable fire in our hearts to live and share who Jesus is as we talk, connect, question, and love? As we transition into living the lessons we have learned from this journey, may we live them with the humility we learn from Jesus, who grabbed the towel and basin but never traded on his right to be served. May we live so closely connected to his peace that it becomes the first quality people notice about our lives. May we never confuse protest with proclamation. May we become the people of the resurrection because too many people around us are living dead, and Jesus wants to raise them to life too.
It is a bold and humbling mission. But people who follow the resurrected Christ will always find the empowerment they need to meet the challenge. Then none of us will need to cower behind locked doors.
PRAYER FOR THE YEAR AHEAD
Resurrected Lord,
Make me resurrection strong,
Empowered to live the fleshed-out Word of God.
I want to be your salt and light
Spreading forgiveness as generously as you did.
I want my life to burn into a flame for you
That turns to ash whatever I do not need
To live as your servant.
With this new look into the empty tomb
I face my broken world
To share this consuming fire in my heart
with whoever you bring my way.
Show me where to start
And how to keep burning for you.
Amen!
Make me resurrection strong,
Empowered to live the fleshed-out Word of God.
I want to be your salt and light
Spreading forgiveness as generously as you did.
I want my life to burn into a flame for you
That turns to ash whatever I do not need
To live as your servant.
With this new look into the empty tomb
I face my broken world
To share this consuming fire in my heart
with whoever you bring my way.
Show me where to start
And how to keep burning for you.
Amen!
Posted in Lent