05032020 – John 20. 19-23 Pentecost
That Jesus he was a “CRAFTY ONE.” But it really-truly-depended upon WHO you talked to…
Some said he was “as FOXY” as they come, SLY, CUNNING, SLICK, he could talk his way OUT OF anything. And he always saw to it, that he WON every-single-argument or confrontation.
He had “the gift of GAB,” he did.
He was a MASTER with language, it flowed from his tongue. There was a SMOOTHNESS about him. And at the very same time, a GENTEELNESS. COMMON. ORDINARY. The kid next door. Likable, he was. He “not only could” – “BUT WOULD” engage in conversation with anyone.
It seemingly did not matter.
He was FRIENDS with everybody…even with those WHO DID NOT LIKE HIM.
He was NEVER shaken.
NEVER rattled.
Always in control. He was SOPHISTICATED and CLEVER. Some might say he was SHREWD or even DEVIOUS, but always in a good way.
He was BEGUILING and MYSTERIOUS.
He could DO and PULL-OFF the INCOMPREHENSIBLE without raising any questions or SUSPICIONS. It was just to be expected – FROM HIM.
There was definitely something about him. He was STRANGE, PUZZLING, MYSTIFYING, and BAFFLING.
Some thought of him as being BEWILDERING. You quite never knew what to expect from him. He would just DO and SAY things that you would NEVER EXPECT. And yet, from him, it was all perfectly NATURAL, NORMAL, ROUTINE.
So, you heard about his “COMING TO US,” did you? Talk about beguiling.
It was the first day of the week. Just days earlier he had been CRUCIFIED by a Roman detachment of soldiers, led by LONGINUS. He was the soldier who “pierced the Lord’s side with his spear.” He was ALSO among those who guarded his garden-tomb.
It has been said of him, that the “EYE-AFFLICTION” that he once had is no more. When he pierced the Lord’s side and water and blood splashed out, his sight was restored like that of a youth.
Earlier this morning, even STRANGER STORIES began to surface. The tomb was EMPTY, and Jesus was RAISED. Some of the women even related that they SAW him and SPOKE with him. “Idle talk,” we said.
We were holed up at Mary’s house, the mother of John-Mark. The doors were LOCKED, and the windows BARRED and there we sat. PACING, WALKING the floors, AFRAID, out of our minds. SCARED beyond all belief. FRIGHTENED.
We awaited our fate.
And believe it or not. The doors WERE secured. The windows WERE shut tight. NO ONE could get in without first, breaking down the door and ripping apart the windows.
And yet, there JESUS was. Standing in the midst of us. All ten of us, saw him. It was no ILLUSION, no HALLUCINATION, no APPARITION, no DECEPTION, no FANTASY, no DREAM. It was Jesus, standing before us…as REAL, as you or I.
And yet, HOW did he get in? The door remained bolted; the windows still secure. And THERE HE STOOD.
He SPOKE to us, he BREATHED on us, he SENT us out, he COMMISSIONED us, he gave us HIS Shalom.
We had THOUGHT we were in hiding, in seclusion. We had thought NO ONE could ever find us. And yet, Jesus KNEW exactly where we were, and HE came to us.
He did not bless us IN OUR FEARS and in our HUDDLING together like frightened children. He blessed us FOR service. He blessed us with a newfound COURAGE. He blessed us and gave to us HIS STRENGTH.
Honest, that is the way it went down. The way it happened. EXACTLY. He came to us behind LOCKED DOORS. He was THERE, blessing us. We all SAW him, HEARD him, FELT his presence among us. And then, he was GONE.
It did raise the question. When you lock yourself in (as we did,) JUST WHO are you shutting OUT?
Were we attempting to SHUT HIM OUT, too?