04102021 – John 20. 19-31
Fear, uncertainty, and doubt surrounded the disciples. FUD. Yep, that’s a thing! FUD-fear, uncertainty, and doubt. This is critical in our “contextual understanding.” Context is everything.
They were “fearful people” behind locked doors. (Today, there would have been multiple locks, cameras, security systems and probably, guns.)
We are assuming the “safe house” is the home of Mary and John Mark, the location of the Last Supper – The UPPER ROOM.
It almost sounds like “a pandemic experience.” Fearful to go out.
Bored and going crazy staying in. There was no epidemic or pandemic, however!
“Fear” is an emotion induced by “perceived danger or threat,” which causes “physiological changes” and ULTIMATELY “behavioral changes,” such as “mounting an aggressive response” or “fleeing” the threat. The “old fight or flight responses.”
“Uncertainty” refers to epistemic (knowledge or a degree of validation) involving “imperfect or unknown information.”
It applies to predictions of “future events,” to physical measurements that are already “made, or to the unknown.”
“Doubt” is a “mental state” in which the mind remains “suspended” between “two or more contradictory propositions,” unable to be certain of any of them.
Doubt on “an emotional level” is “indecision between belief and disbelief.”
It may involve “uncertainty,” “distrust” or “lack of conviction” on “certain facts, actions, motives, or decisions.”
Doubt can result in “delaying” or “rejecting relevant action” out of concern for mistakes or missed opportunities.
FUD, fear, uncertainty, and doubt.
So, one of the eleven VENTURED OUT…in spite of fear, uncertainty, and doubt.
While “he” was OUT, “SURPRISE!” Jesus came to ten of his fear-filled-disciples. He came to them through “locked doors” and JUST APPEARED in their midst. (To the best of our knowledge he did not SNEAK UP on anyone and say, “BOO!”)
He brought a sense of “PEACE or SHALOM into their FEARFILLED-FRETTING-SCARED-FRIGHTENED world.
He SHOWED them his hands and his side.
What I like, what I APPRECIATE, is the scars in Jesus’ hands and side, were not blotted out by the resurrection. They remain and are VERY visible.
Jesus shows up not as the all “powerful-one,” not as “perfect,” but as the “wounded one.” His WOUNDS speak of his glory. His wounds speak volumes.
He comes to his own in his “brokenness,” and yet, “victorious.” Wounds and all.
He BREATHES on them – bestowing on them the Holy Spirit. Obviously, they are all gathered around him, no social distancing, no masks. They are sticking as close to him as is possible. They feel his breath.
Sorry, there were no “individual or group selfies taken.” That would be, today!
The ecstatic disciples greet “the returning disciple on his return” with the same greeting used earlier by the women.
“We have seen the Lord!” Their excitable words fall on deaf ears. The disciple will have NONE OF IT.
Angered, upset, confused, and missing out. His response is not rational, but totally emotional, based on fear, uncertainty, and doubt. He wants to THRUST his hands, and his fingers…into his side.
ONE WEEK LATER, mirroring exactly the previous encounter, doors locked, Jesus stands in the midst of the NOW eleven disciples.
Jesus is accepting, inviting, welcoming, and forgiving. There is NO SUGGESTION that THE DISCIPLE takes him up on his offer. Again, NO SELFIES…were taken.
TRUSTING, believing, takes practice…and time. I’m thinking, about a lifetime.