This is not what we were expecting!
Often, I have tried to imagine myself as one of those frightened disciples locked up in that upper room. Where not much is said, but simply being together and wanting to be together says it all. What is the next move? What do we do now? Go back to fishing… leave the country? Fly to Port Douglas for the winter? And what of the news from the women at the tomb? Tales and gossip, surely. Did we get it all wrong? Were our loyalty and hopes so misguided?
The doors bolted, hearts pounding, shame and fear swirling after the chaos of the cross. The disciples have every reason to shrink back, unsure if they even belong in the presence of their Lord. And then, suddenly, Jesus is there. Not with words of blame, but with a message that lands like a soft, comforting doona: “Peace be with you.”
This is new and radical. It’s outside the box and boggles our expectations. Anyone else would have visited with an accusing eye, the pointed finger of blame and the question ‘Why? How come you nicked off?
But instead, we simply get ‘Peace be with you. .
And even his being here is not what we expected.
The Master doesn’t ask for explanations or apologies, and what we would say anyway. Ummm, sorry… but you do understand we were fear-filled and you always wanted what was best for us … right? To stay alive.
And He shows them no magic trick, no healing, no stilling of the storm. Instead, he shows them… He shows them his wounds; proof that love has survived hate, retribution and the grave. Our fear melts into joy because in that moment, forgiveness is not just a concept. It’s a person. It’s Jesus, alive and loving them as fiercely as ever.
This is not what we were expecting
This is not just a story for that one locked room. It’s for every single one of us. For there are times when we have all felt ashamed, unworthy, or afraid to stand before God. Jesus says, to you and to me. “Peace be with you,” not as a suggestion, but as a gift. He meets us in our fear, whatever monster that might look like, no matter how ferocious or untamed our fears might be. He calls us beloved. “My son, my daughter, I love you so very much and am always with you. Peace be with you”
This is not what we were expecting.
But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He breathes the Holy Spirit into his followers, not only to comfort them, but to send them out. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” We’ve got work to do. The Church’s mission is born right there, in that space between fear and forgiveness. The Holy Spirit fills that room, and suddenly the disciples are changed. They’re no longer hiding. They go out and speak in every tongue, sharing the Good News with the world.
This is not what we were expecting.
You don’t need to be a perfect person for the Spirit to work wonders through you. The disciples were ordinary people: full of doubts, regrets, and rough edges. They were mucky men. But when the Holy Spirit comes, those locked doors open up wide. The Spirit meets us as just as we are, grubby and hopeful. It gives us the courage, the words, and the love we need to build up the Church and the world around us.
The Spirit’s gifts aren’t just for a chosen few. Each of us receives them in unique ways: through our personalities, our strengths, even our weaknesses. Perhaps especially in our weaknesses. Some of us build up the body of Christ with patience, others with kindness or faithfulness, still others with gentleness or self-control. These are the fruits of the Holy Spirit, growing quietly within us, lighting up our hearts so that we can share God’s love with everyone we meet.
This is not what we were expecting
And what is this love? It’s mercy that knows no end. It’s forgiveness that wipes away every sin. And it’s the invitation to join Jesus; not just in his suffering, but in his resurrection, in the joy and hope of new life.
So as we go out today, let’s remember: Jesus is always with us. The Spirit is alive in our hearts. We are called to forgive, to love, and to serve; not because we are perfect, but because we are loved.
Let’s give glory to our Lord God by living this truth. Let’s love our neighbour, forgive as we have been forgiven, and build a community where the light of the Spirit shines bright. And always remember these words: “I love you, my son, my daughter, and am always with you.” Go out with love, give praise and glory to our Father in Heaven, and love those around you as God loves you.
It is not what the world will be expecting. Maybe it is not what we were expecting, but it is everything that we need so desperately in our wonky broken world today.