Peace Be With You - Friday 23 June 2006

John 20:19-21 “On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors 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 side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

 

I have really come to love this passage. I wonder about what it must have been like to have been there. I enjoy the contrast, the change from overpowering fear to the disciples being overjoyed because they had seen Jesus. I’m struck at how it is that when we focus on the world we become fearful and can isolate ourselves, but when we encounter Jesus we are released and sent out.

 

Perhaps the closest experience I have had was when Rosie was in labour with Peter our eldest. Things hadn’t been going that quickly, the machine monitoring the baby’s heartbeat couldn’t get a clear reading and whilst Peter was clearly fine it was insisted that Rosie remained in a position that was very uncomfortable. 

 

The midwife was highly discouraging and the whole thing seemed to be becoming the opposite of what we’d envisaged. And so we prayed for God to intervene in some way.

 

Shortly after that the hospital shifts changed and when the new midwife came into the room she immediately dimmed the lights (it was late) and spoke words of encouragement and peace.   I don’t know if she was a Christian but it was like Jesus had walked in (given our prayers, we at least saw his hand in it.)

 

It may not be always as dramatic but I think it is true that in the most difficult of situations, we can experience Jesus bringing peace to us. Sometimes we need to be reminded or be encouraged to take those steps to come and ask him. 

 

In today’s passage the disciples were gathered on the first day of the week. They were worshipping and praying. Perhaps when we feel least at peace – the moment when we are least likely to ask - that’s the time we need to ask God to break in and change our perspective.