Of Course--All Is Forgiven

Easter began with the sadness of death and on that same day ended with the sadness of shame. The disciples were ashamed of what they had done, they were ashamed of what their cowardice revealed about who they simply were as men. So they locked the door, telling themselves they were keeping the Jews out when really they were maybe keeping themselves locked in. But then Jesus did what he always does for anyone locked up in his own shame: he comes in anyway. He enters the room, he enters the heart, he breaks into the shame.

Jesus leaves no room for fear because he no sooner pops in on them and he says, "Peace to you!" He says it immediately the way he always does. He says "Peace." He says "Shalom." He says it's all right. He speaks a word that is the opposite of fear and so squelches shame, puts away and banishes any thoughts the disciples may have had about Jesus' bearing a grudge. He was not out to settle any old scores but to create a whole new situation.

Jesus never says a word about their past actions, their betrayals and denials. He does not even overtly say, "Forget about it" or "I forgive you." Instead he gives them a Spirit that tells them, in a way more compelling than words alone, that of course all is forgiven.

One of the more famous images of Scripture comes from that line in Revelation when Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Ordinarily when someone knocks at a locked door at your house, you know that it's up to you to get up and unlock the door and open it. The good news of Easter is that even if you are too afraid to do that, too ashamed or too paralyzed by this or that feature of your own life, the lock won't stop Jesus. He will appear right in the middle of your locked-up heart and before you even have the chance to say or do a blessed thing, he will say "Peace to you!" When he does, all I can plead is that you will take him seriously.

Given what he went through to secure that shalom for you, all you can say in response is what Thomas said a week later, "My Lord and my God!"

Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends who would confess that we're not quite there yet. Help us to realize this holy day is all about, a restoration of shalom. We still fretting that what is inside there is so bad that even Jesus can't deal with it; still fretting that we would be ashamed and embarrassed if anyone else looked into our closets. Jesus always comes looking for us, starting in those locked-up places of our hearts. My sisters and brothers, peace to you. There is no better a parting word for Easter than that. Peace. It's all right. You are all right. Peace. Shalom. Amen.