Belief Behind Locked Doors

LUKE 24:36-48

The eleven disciples huddle behind a locked door. The city of Jerusalem was in an uproar.  The death of Jesus had only made conversations about him more intense.  Rumors of a body-snatching and resurrection made it worse.  The disciples feared for their lives as they hid in a bottomless pit of grief.

Then, someone spoke, “Peace be with you!” 

The voice was familiar, but their reality-based minds could not connect it to the one they saw die on a cross.

The intruder spoke again:  “Why are you so troubled? Why the doubts?”

The disciples had no rational answer.  There was nothing logical about this moment.

Was it when Jesus raised his arms and exposed his wounded hands?  Were they willing to take one step of belief and ask:  Could this be  . . . Jesus?

“Do you have anything to eat,” Jesus asked.  Someone offered him a piece of broiled fish and he ate it.  At least they knew the figure was not a ghost, a figment of their imagination, but still . . . was this a dream or a vision  . . . or what?

Jesus, the gentle teacher, reminded them, “Remember, I told you this would happen, just as scripture said.”

That was the moment they knew that the resurrected Jesus stood among them. The rumors were true.  The women were right.  The Emmaus men were not lying.  Jesus was alive!

But this was so much more than a reunion.  This was a moment of transformation.  They understood the connection Jesus had prepared them to make.  He had quoted texts from Moses, the Prophets, and David.  Jesus was not sent to eradicate Roman rule.  Jesus was sent to open people's hearts to his Father, and now he was giving that mission to them.

We weren’t in that room, but we have been in other places where the presence of Jesus was rich and undeniable. Sometimes, we relished the experience without taking the message further. That will always stunt the growth of any believer. Jesus always appears to move us forward with a new message of hope and transformation.

Jesus still shows up unannounced in closed rooms and locked hearts.  There is no place he can’t access.  What do we do when he comes close? Savor it for ourselves? Or share it?

Here are the reminders I’m giving myself to move away from the fear of sharing what Jesus has done in my life:

• Ask Jesus for clear opportunities to share his work in my life.

  This isn’t an assumed prayer.  I have to say the words and ask for opportunities.  Be forewarned. This is a prayer Jesus always says “yes” to.

  
  

• Keep simple sentence starters available. 

  Here are two that help me:

  Jesus has helped me see or understand _______________

  I am learning how Jesus wants me to __________________

  
  

• Be humble. 

Pushing your personal growth or ideas won't work. Jesus shared his relationship with his Father while the Pharisees paraded their spiritual activities. Big difference.

Today, if we live and relate as Easter people, we must share the Good News—not always with words, but not always without them, either.