Although the day of Easter may be over, the celebration of Easter should continue. Jesus did not rise from the grave to shock and impress a small group of people and excite and delight them for a single morning. Jesus rose from the dead and continues to live even today. We must embrace the living Lord in our lives.
After the resurrection in the morning Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene in the garden near the tomb. Where are the disciples according to this passage? Why are they behind locked doors? What did Jesus show them? What are all the things he told them?
While Mary was probably overjoyed at seeing Jesus and knowing that he had risen from the grave the disciples did not enjoy that same excitement. They were afraid that they might be arrested next for following Jesus. They feared they might also be executed as Christ was.
So, as the day of the resurrection passed the disciples hid in the upper room and kept the door locked so they would be safe. But the locked door did not keep Jesus out any more than the sealed tomb kept Jesus in.
The risen Lord appeared to the disciples and showed them his wounds from the crucifixion. In that moment they were quickly convinced of the reality of Jesus being alive. And in his appearance he blessed them. He offered his peace to them, not once but twice.
From there he gave them authority to be the foundation of the Christian church we know now. He gave them the authority to forgive sins. He gave them the presence of the Holy Spirit. And he commissioned them to go out into the world and preach as he had done.
Regardless of the troubles and challenges we may face in life we cannot spend our time hiding away from life. We must allow Jesus to enter in to be with us. When we accept and completely believe in the risen Christ we are blessed with the Lord’s peace. But we also join in with the disciples and receive the authority to live out Jesus in the world. We are given the ability to forgive. We are given the commission to preach and teach about the love of God.
DAILY CHALLENGE: How can you keep the door of your faith open to Jesus?
