John 20:19-22 recounts the evening of Resurrection Sunday when Jesus appeared to His disciples in their locked room. They were all huddled together sharing a common grief and a common guilt. Their Master was dead, and they had failed Him.
When He appeared however, He brought them PEACE that overcame their grief, and by His PRESENCE, He brought them forgiveness that overcame their guilt. But He brought something else to them. “’As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.’ And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.’” [vs 21-23]
Jesus brought them PURPOSE and the POWER to fulfill that PURPOSE. His purpose was simple, “Go.” Go into all the world and make more disciples. Take this encounter you have had with Jesus and tell everyone about it. Remind them of His PEACE and His PRESENCE, His forgiveness, His salvation.
And you won’t have to do it in your own strength. He also gives the POWER needed to be His witnesses. [Acts 1:8]
The glory of that first Resurrection Sunday was not contained in that one Sunday. For those disciples, the realities of that Sunday became their very life’s conviction and mission. They left their room and went into all the known world, preaching “Jesus Christ, Him crucified, and raised from the dead.” [1 Cor 2:2, 2 Tim 2:8]
Isn’t it time we left our locked rooms to share our own encounters with Christ Jesus?
