Behind closed doors

Pastor Eduardo preached:

Behind closed doors!

The Bible tells us that the disciples were still locked up and in hiding three days after the murder of Jesus. They were afraid of being arrested and killed; they feared to suffer the same fate as their master. It is precisely when they were behind closed doors that the risen Christ appears to them in vision. Jesus knew that the testimony of women would not be enough. He knew that his disciples needed to have a personal experience with the Holy Spirit in order to be transformed. After all, Jewish culture despised the testimony of women, and history indicated that he had died just a few days ago. For all these reasons, the one before crucified appears now risen to lead his beloved disciples to the path of faith. John 20.19-23 Then, in the evening of that day, the first of the week, and the doors of the place where the disciples were closed for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said * : Peace to you. 20 And saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced to see the Lord. 21 Jesus then said to them again: Peace be with you; as the Father has sent me, so I also send you. 22 After saying this, he breathed on them and said * to them: Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 Whosoever sins you forgive, they are [a] forgiven; whose sins you retain, they are [b] retained.

1- They were locked up; paralyzed by fear; and convinced of their own weakness. Let us therefore thank God that the Risen One overcame every obstacle to be able to reach his unbelieving disciples with the liberating message of the gospel. In this hour, we must ask ourselves what our place is in this story. That is, we must ask ourselves with which character we identify ourselves; which of them represents us.

2- A week later they were still locked up

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas with them. And when the doors were closed, Jesus came * and stood in their midst, and said: Peace be with you. 27 Then he * said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and look at my hands; stretch out your hand here and put it in my side; and don't be an unbeliever, but a believer. 28 Thomas answered and said to him, My Lord and my God! 29 Jesus * said to him, "Because you have seen me, have you believed? Blessed are those who did not see, and yet believed.

God continues to speak to humanity, He also continues to speak to his Christian church. For those who dare to walk to the empty tomb - surrounded by the military who defend the interests of this world - the vision is clear. God calls his church to: -Heal, Bless, Help, Transform, Take the character of God before our world

Yes, some of us have the same missionary zeal as the disciples, the Magdalene, Peter and John. However, we must recognize that most of us, like the rest of the disciples, are locked in by our own fears. They have taught us that we do not have the intelligence, the ability, the financial resources, in short, that we cannot. That is why it is easy to shut yourself up; stay behind closed doors; frightened by the immense task ahead.

But today God calls us to cast out all fear and accommodation. The Risen Christ passes through the doors that isolate and separate us. Jesus makes himself present even in the midst of pain, fear, and suffering, saying: "Peace."