Responsively YoursResponsively Yours
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (John 20:19-22)
This is the first meeting of Jesus with his disciples after the resurrection. He has already had conversation with Mary Magdalene outside the tomb, and she has told the disciples she has seen the Lord. Even so, the disciples were afraid and were not sure Jesus had risen. When Jesus came through the locked door into their midst, it took them awhile before they could rejoice in the resurrection.
In this visit, Jesus gave the disciples and each of us three important gifts:
These gifts must work together in our lives. The gift of the Holy Spirit aids in achieving peace and gives guidance to our witness and mission. Let us look at these gifts.
Peace
Consider two images of peace as shared by Bishop Herbert Chilstrom of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. The first is a mountain scene with blue sky, trees, meadows and a small cabin sitting in the midst of the natural beauty. There is smoke coming from the chimney that is going straight up since there is no wind. This is a peaceful scene.
The second scene is different. Imagine a roaring waterfall with trees and rocks in the water and along the banks. In the midst of this noise and tumult, a bird is building her nest on a limb out over the waterfall. Many would not see this as peaceful, but this is the peace of the Gospel -- a peace that is in the midst of the world’s tumult, suffering and pain.
The gift of peace that Jesus gives does not eliminate tension, conflict, suffering or turmoil. Instead, it is a peace that comes through suffering; an inner peace that helps us deal with tension; a peace that makes tension, conflict and turmoil a creative means of change.
The disciples probably didn’t know how to handle this peace. We, too, are not sure how to accept this gift. We often do not get beyond the tensions and thus miss the true peace God has for us.
A sending forth
Jesus gave his disciples another gift -- a commission to do what he had done. He sent them out as God had sent him out into the world with God’s message of love, peace and justice. Jesus came into the world as a servant who endured suffering and death for each of us. He taught, he healed, he challenged authorities. He was primarily concerned about the poor and the marginalized. Jesus gave the disciples, and us as current-day disciples, the same responsibilities -- to teach, to heal, to challenge and to be concerned about justice for all God’s people.
This gift may be harder to accept because it requires our full commitment and unswerving devotion to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus was able to turn his disciples into bold proclaimers of the Gospel, so too this gift can give us the power to be participants in God’s mission and witness in our world.
Holy Spirit
It is the gift of the Holy Spirit that Jesus gave his disciples at this meeting and that was given at Pentecost that makes its possible for us to accept and claim the gifts of peace and a sending forth. The gift of the Holy Spirit created a new group of people; a new community of believers; and at Pentecost, a new church.
The Holy Spirit was and is given to individuals but it is also given to groups dedicated to doing God’s will. The Spirit has been given to each of us, to our local units, to our local churches and to the Church.
The Holy Spirit gives us power to:
May we in these days after Easter receive from Jesus the same gifts he gave his disciples on that day long ago. May we claim the promises of God that come with the gifts. May we be worthy disciples of Jesus the resurrected Savior.
Responsively Yours ,
Joyce D. Sohl
Deputy General
Secretary
Women's Division