The Upper room – from betrayal to belief.
John 20:19-end
Introduction
In the local newspaper each week they interview a resident of Ealing asking a standard set of questions. One of these is: “If you were invisible for the day where would you go?” Many interviewees come up with the same answer – to 10 Downing street to see what really goes on there. Where would you go?
Jesus during the time between resurrection and ascension whilst not being invisible seemed to have the ability to appear and disappear. It is interesting to see where He goes and what He does. Interestingly there is no record of Him going to his home in Nazareth or even to the “second home” near Jerusalem of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. In John’s gospel we read of Jesus appearing to Mary by the tomb, to the disciples in the room / house and again on the shore of Galilee. In Luke’s gospel he appears to disciples on the way to Emmaus then to the disciples in Jerusalem, then in Bethany. Mark is similar to Luke, Matthew has Jesus appearing to the disciples on a hill side in Galilee. Lets look at this account in John 20 of two encounters a week apart between Jesus and his disciples. It is obvious from looking at the records we have that Jesus’ priority in post resurrection appearances is to be with his disciples. In his encounters with them he confronts them he comforts them and he commissions them. In so doing the room of betrayal becomes the room of belief.
Whilst it is not explicitly described as such I am taking it that the room where Jesus meets with his disciples in today’s reading is the same “upper” room where only a few days before they had shared that last supper and where they continued to gather for prayer as we move on into Acts. (cf Acts 12:12). At the previous occasion Jesus predicts his betrayal and the disciples wondered who was going to be the betrayer, it could have been any of them and in fact all of them are implicated. Notwithstanding their betrayal, denial and desertion of Jesus he seeks them out.
Confronts them
When Jesus meets and greets these disciples what does he do – he shows them his scars v.20 & 27. These have obviously become a distinguishing feature, a sort of birth / death / rebirth mark! Jesus showed them the wounds to prove that he really was who he said and they thought he was. However there is more to this then authenticating identity. How do you think the disciples felt, in the light of their betrayal, denial and desertion, when being shown these marks of crucifixion? Interestingly John records that they were overjoyed v. 20 but I suspect they were also a bit ashamed. Surely there must have been some sense of responsibility for what had happened? Certainly we too know immeasurable joy when contemplating those scars and the reality of Jesus dying on the cross for us but also that sense of shame as we know we too share in responsibility for his death.
Comforts them
Jesus uses a conventional greeting – peace be with you- but in repeating it and in the actions already considered there is a deeper significance. Earlier Jesus had said: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” Jn.14:27. Having confronted the disciples with the reality that it really was Jesus-the-once-crucified standing there he comforts them with his all-embracing peace.
Commissions them
Having confronted and comforted them Jesus commissions his disciples: “As the Father has sent me I am sending you. With that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”v.21-22 This commissioning is found not only here but also in the personal restoration of Peter in John 21 and at the end of Matthew’s gospel – the great commission. It is clear that in prioritising meeting with his disciples Jesus was keen to launch them into their forthcoming ministries as gospel bearers.
Application
Jesus does the same today. Wherever his disciples gather for prayer and worship He comes into their midst confronting, comforting and commissioning. May we be alive to his presence among us here today and like those early disciples move from betrayal to belief.