In the course of preaching the story of the risen Jesus' appearance to his disciples from John 20:19-31, I found what was for me a new interpretation.
The text begins with the disciples' fear. They have locked themselves inside the house "for fear of the Jews."
Suddenly, however, Jesus--not one of the Jewish authorities whom they fear--comes and stands among them. At this same point in Luke's gospel, we read that it was indeed the sight of Jesus that caused them to fear, thinking that they were seeing a ghost (Lk 24:37). John, however, while not including this editorial note, implies the same with the use of Jesus' greeting to the disciples, "Peace be with you."
Until he comes, the disciples are at enmity with their teacher. One, now dead, had betrayed him. Another, Peter, had denied him--three times. All had deserted him.
Now he comes to them, a ghost perhaps, bent on vengeance.
"Peace be with you," he says.
They thought they were seeing a ghost; they touched a flesh and blood human being (Lk 24:39).
They were expecting an enemy; they received a friend.
They feared wrath; they got peace.
As if the words of Jesus were too good to be true, he proceeds to show them his hands and his side, the marks of his crucifixion--and the bitter reminder of their having abandoned him to his enemies. If this is not cause for fear for the disciples--and in truth now they "rejoiced when they saw the Lord"--might it be a rallying cry to vengeance against the enemies of Israel?
Yet again they hear, a second time, "Peace be with you."
Having received his "peace" in his word, they now receive his Spirit through his breath, by which the disciples in turn become agents of peace to all the world: "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Having been forgiven much, they forgive. Their sin having been canceled, will they hold on to the sins of others?
"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe" the gospel of peace.
-Joe
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