June 1, 2020

John 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear…

This is Easter evening in John’s gospel and, in a few verses, Jesus will tell the disciples to receive the Holy Spirit which he breathes on them. So, in one sense, we go from Easter to Pentecost in a matter of moments. And it all happens as they “were together with the doors locked for fear.” Fear is a good thing sometimes. Fear, when rightly known, helps protect us. Fear also, like the disciples here, can draw us together. In the passage above they were in fear of the authorities that had put Jesus to death. In these last weeks, we have been kept apart by fear of a tiny organism that we have never seen. Yet we have come together across the state and across the states and even across the oceans in many ways to protect ourselves as a whole and fight this fearful thing. Fear can divide and destroy. Fear, in the hands of God, can draw together. In the fearful we can find faith together. Can that be the work of the Spirit in your life this Pentecost?