Message: Peace Be with You / John 20:19-31

It was the evening of the day Jesus Christ was risen. His followers heard about the risen Christ from Mary Magdalene, but they could not believe her. Instead, they were overwhelmed with painful emotions. They were mourning because Jesus, their teacher and friend, had been crucified. They felt guilty because they had left Jesus alone when he needed them the most. They felt disappointed because they had thought Jesus would free their people from Roman rule, but he died on Golgotha. They felt helpless because they could do nothing as Jesus was whipped, mocked, and nailed to the cross. They were afraid because the religious and political leaders who had ordered Jesus' crucifixion might come after them too, to arrest or even kill them.

Today’s Gospel reading describes the disciples' state like this: "The doors were locked" (v. 19). When we experience painful emotions, such as grief, guilt, disappointment, helplessness, and fear, we tend to close our doors. We avoid communicating with others and retreat into our own caves. Of course, it is important to take time to reflect and deal with the tough feelings we go through. However, if we keep our doors locked for too long, it becomes harder to emerge from the shadows of despair. Unhealed wounds can lead us to addiction, make us quick to anger, or keep us stuck in depression.

In this situation, when the disciples felt like they were walking through the darkest valley, Jesus came to them and said, "Peace be with you." These were the first words Jesus spoke to them after his resurrection. He did not rebuke them. He did not scold them for leaving him alone and running away. He did not get mad at them for not believing in him. He did not criticize them for being so weak and incompetent. Instead, Jesus blessed them, saying, "Peace be with you."

Jesus already knew that they were just ordinary people; they were not the richest, smartest, or most famous. Jesus understood all their weaknesses, vulnerabilities, and limitations. He did not call them because they were perfect, brave, or better than others. Rather, because they were easily hurt and made mistakes, Jesus kept them close and walked the journey with them as his disciples, his friends, and his family. Because he loved them as they were, he forgave them and said, "Peace be with you."

When the disciples saw the risen Christ, they rejoiced. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you," and "Just as God sent me, I am sending you" (v. 21) Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (v. 22) In the Bible, some Hebrew words (ex. נְשִׁימָה (neshimah) and רוּחַ (ruach)) have the meaning of breath and the Spirit together. This indicates that the Holy Spirit, who protects and guides us, is always with us, like our breath. When we are with the Holy Spirit, we can see beyond locked doors. Looking at our pain and sadness through the eyes of God, who is beyond time and space, we realize tough times will not last forever. Also, we understand that difficulties and hardships help us grow and become stronger inside.

And Jesus kept saying, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (v. 23). This statement should not be misunderstood as Jesus giving his disciples the authority to judge and punish sins. During his ministry, Jesus never held onto anyone's sins. He always emphasized the gospel of forgiveness. He proclaimed that God forgives and accepts anyone who returns to Him. On the cross, Jesus even asked God to forgive those who whipped, mocked, and nailed him, saying, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34).

"Peace (εἰρήνη)" is not simply the absence of war. Peace is like harmony. It is not silence, but like when lots of different instruments play together, making beautiful music. To have this peace, we need to open our locked doors through forgiveness.

When South African President Nelson Mandela (1918-2013) walked out of his 27-year imprisonment, he thought, "As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew that if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison." Despite suffering from severe racial discrimination under apartheid and spending decades in prison, he tried to revive his dying country through forgiveness. With the wisdom and help of Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1931-2021), he created the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and worked hard to build a vision of peace, freedom, and democracy based on forgiveness. Peace cannot exist without forgiveness; forgiveness opens the door to peace.

However, some people cannot easily accept the gospel of forgiveness and peace, just like Thomas who was deeply hurt when Jesus was crucified. He was actually a very active and passionate disciple. When the other disciples were scared to go to Judea because they thought people might stone Jesus, Thomas said, "Let us also go, that we may die with him" (11:16). And when Jesus told his followers that he would go to God's house soon, Thomas asked, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" (14:5). This shows that Thomas really believed in Jesus as the Messiah who would save him and his people from imperial oppression, even more than the other disciples. Because of this, Jesus' death must have been an even bigger shock to Thomas. He felt betrayed and abandoned by his Lord. The cross was a tremendous trauma for him.

At that moment, Jesus Christ came to Thomas. Jesus did not tell him his faith was wrong or scold him for doubting. Instead, Jesus showed him his scars. The risen Christ standing before him was not a person with a perfect body. His body still had the marks of his wounds. There were nail marks in his hands, and spear wounds on his side. Jesus did not hide his wounds, and they touched Thomas' heart. Through Jesus’ wounds, Thomas understood that salvation does not mean getting rid of wounds, but rising again with them. Jesus' deep wounds were a sign that God never gave up on his children. They showed that no violence, oppression, hardship, adversity, or disaster could stop God's love for him.

Because of Jesus' wounds, Thomas finally came to believe that Jesus was Christ, the Saviour. Then Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe" (v. 29). This verse has often been misunderstood to mean that those who have blind faith are blessed, and those who doubt are cursed. But when we consider the background and context of this verse, we see that it does not mean that at all. 

Those who easily believe in Christ, without deep wounds, are certainly blessed. But God also loves those whose deep wounds make it difficult for them to trust the gospel. When their wounds drive them into dark caves, Jesus also walks into the places to find them. When their trauma causes them to build high walls around themselves, Jesus breaks down those walls and goes in front of them and says, "Put your finger on the terrible wound here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it on my side. Please come out of the cave and break the wall. And trust me, I will be with you always. The Holy Spirit will be close to you like your breath. Just as God sent me, I am sending you. You don't need to hide your vulnerabilities or wounds. If you live as Easter people with them, they will become the signs of God’s love, forgiveness, and peace for someone else. Peace be with you. Peace be with you. Peace be with you."

Thanks be to God. Amen.

Rev. Min Hwang

South Stormont Pastoral Charge

Second Sunday of Easter