Behind Locked Doors

 

by Leonardo Manuel Padua

Scripture Text: John 20:19-23

 

Introduction

            A Blessed morning to all, to the faculty, co students, those who are with us through FB livestream, and to all who are here worshiping with us in this Wednesday Chapel service. Happy easter season and a blessed Christ Resurrection. As we look, last week was the week of reflection in commemorating, the passion of Jesus Christ where Christ Suffered, Died and Resurrected, it was a time for remembrance, from the last supper to the death in the cross, a time to look at ourselves and see how Loved we are by Our God. Indeed Christ Died for us, and we are to celebrate, that in this glorious event we also took the effort in making this celebration a meaningful one even in this challenging times.

            I would like to take this time to thank the Divinity School for this opportunity to preach in this chapel worship service. For years had passed, witnessing previous graduating students preaching in the chapel services i always pictured myself with Excitement doing it, standing in the chapel pulpit in-front of the faculty and the students, bringing the message God and expressing what I have learned. But in our current situation  its kinda difficult. But Even though I am in-front in this Virtual platform, the feeling of excitement still prevail.

Let us Pray

            Dear heavenly God, we thank you for this day, and for giving us hope in this Easter season, be with us in this worship service and may we be blessed through the words that came out from your instrument and from the whole worship. AMEN

 

              Behind locked doors, is a term that is very relatable in this times of pandemic, especially to those places who are affected again and was being forced to stay at home, leading the people to question, what should be done? Deciding to what is essential or not, basing life through social media, and virtual platforms, and affected the church in their ministry and mission. This morning, let us go deep into understanding the meaning and symbol of this significant event when the disciples hid behind locked doors at the time of Christ Resurrection on John 20:19-23.

I

              first, we see locked doors symbolizers “Fear”, the disciples most likely continued to meet in the upper room where the last Supper had been held. But the different thing is  they met feeling afraid. They knew the intense bitterness of the Jews who had brought about the death of Jesus, and they were afraid that their turn would come next. So they were meeting in terror, hiding form the Jews, listening fearfully for every step on the stair and for every knock on the door, and thinking that people will come to arrest them. This linked back were Peter denied Jesus three times in John 18:17,25,26-27  where the disciples at this time were standing outside the gates witnessing Jesus’ Arrests. At that moment the Disciples are afraid to experience what Jesus experienced that led them to hide behind locked doors. This event was not expected To be done by Peter, knowing in Peter’s conversation with Jesus that is written in john 13:36-38 “Simon Peter said to Jesus, Lord, I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, Before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.” Indeed the time came, peter denied Jesus because of the fear he felt.

              Fear really brings a person to do things that are different from what they have been taught, like the disciples, they have been told of the future crucifixion of Jesus,  being aware of the sacrifices in carrying the cross in following Christ, and the risk of offering oneself to God’s ministry and mission. But they chose to hide in locked doors  overcome by fear rather than commitment. We ted to hide ourselves in doors that only one can enter, to hide from others, afraid of being Judged specially being Judged in doing Good, wanting to be accepted even we know it is wrong. Which sometimes Leading us to talk bad, making us look good of the risk of others. We are constantly worrying about what people are thinking about us. So this fear causes us to put on our little masks and seek refuge behind the locked door of our heart. Which creates barriers that separating us from what is the Mission and Love of God is all about as what Christ taught us to do.

II

              second, this Locked doors symbolized things that Hinders, hindering us in doing what is good, hinders us in doing Christ ministry. When the disciples hid in locked doors they also stop going out and be with people, afraid of being captured and arrested and will go through what Christ went. As they sat there in their comforts of the room, Jesus was suddenly in their midst and Christ greeted them “Peace be with you”, In his farewell discourse Jesus had given them peace and charged them not to fear (14:27), This may be a common greeting (Peace be with you), but in this context the full significance of the word peace is present it is here, it is now. In the Old Testament “peace” is closely associated with the blessing of God, especially the salvation to be brought by the Messiah. Even Christ reviled Himself to the Disciples, but the Disciples continued to “stay” in locked doors, afraid and not know what to do. The disciples, apparently did not receive peace from this greeting, for it is only after Jesus showed them his hands and side that they were filled with joy at the sight of him (v. 20). Jesus had said they would have joy when they saw him again (16:21-22), and now they witnessed christ resurrection, once the wounds have certified it is really Christ. Such joy, like peace, was viewed as a mark of God's salvation, including the expected time of salvation in the future. Both the peace and the joy come from the presence of Jesus himself, the very presence of God came to earth.

              Even witnessing Christ after resurrection, the disciples continued to be afraid, like us, we are constantly afraid and was filled with fear that hinders us to continue what Christ started, with greetings of peace, with the assurance of Christ even from the start the Disciples remained in locked doors. But when they have the dedication and the commitment they were filled with joy specially when Christ showed his wounds to them.

              In doing our ministry in the church or in the community, church workers or church members, we sometimes stick to what is the conformity, and being afraid to listen to the context, to the situation of what is happening, and we just obey what the powerful wants, hindering us to voice out what is the truth, and do God mission to empathize and to listen and making christ the example.

              In doing our wants with others, without listening to their cries and situation, this nowadays is our locked doors, locked doors in hindering us to do an extra mile for God, afraid of what will happened if we go out.

 

III

              This leads us to my last point that in Locked doors we are challenged to go. Jesus immediately speaks of a mission for the disciples, just as he did with Mary Magdalene. He repeats his blessing of peace. If peace prepares them to receive him, they also need it to receive Christ’s commission: “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you (v. 21)”. Over forty times throughout the Gospel, Jesus is said to have been sent by God, and now that will become the characteristic of his disciples also. The Son has a role in the sending of the Paraclete, and he plays a role in the sending of the disciples. The Son, like our God, who also sends. That Mission is at the heart of discipleship. Christ said that as God sent him forth, so Christ sent them forth.

              In sending the Disciples, Jesus breathed on them and said “Receive the Holy Spirit” The word used for “breathed on” (emphysao) is the same word used in the Old Testament in the Genesis account, to describe God's action when he formed the man from the dust of the ground and "breathed into his nostrils the breath of life" and the man became a living being. This allusion implies there is now the new beginning of life, that the disciples will attain in the new creation which came into being in Christ by his incarnation, death, and resurrection, and is actualized in People by the Holy Spirit. The coming of the Holy Spirit is like the wakening of life from the dead.

            Christ came for us to experience Life and spread it to all. We as believers of Christ are encouraged to go out, unlock the doors and spread the Gospel to all people. As Christ being Sent by God, we are sent by Christ through the Holy Spirit, to fight for what is right, “to do what we are taught”, and to be bearers of God’s images here in this world, and be what Christ wanted us to be and that is to be advocate of God’s Gospel, Love and peace. In Adhering the truth of Christ teachings, understanding, in contextualizing and going out of Locked doors for God’s glory.

 

Conclusion

            Brothers and sister in lord following Christ is not an easy task, “but a dedication”.  And as we partake this holy communion may we be reminded of the grace Christ showed us in his death and resurrection, May Christ encourages us to push open  locked doors to do what christ came here to do, to spread God’s love to all nation, really doing Christ ministry and mission in this world. willing to take the risk, in overcoming fear, fighting against hindrances, and being able to go and do what Christ showed us.

 

With this, I would like to ask in reflection, are we out or are we still behind locked doors?

 

Amen.

(This sermon was delivered during the Virtual Wednesday Chapel Service held April 7, 2021 via ZOOM and Facebook Live)