In the book of John, we read that the disciples (who were so bold and brave after the Holy Spirit came upon them) were cowering in fear… But who could really blame them? They had just witnessed their Leader - the One they believed was the Messiah – get arrested, beaten, humiliated, and crucified. They were very likely afraid that they were next on the Chief Pharisee’s list. Picking up in John 20:19:
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
Okay, maybe it’s me, but if I’m hiding behind locked doors - scared that I’m going to be arrested, beaten, and killed - having someone suddenly appear literally out of nowhere and say “Peace be with you!” would probably be enough to give me a full-on heart attack. Apparently this is close to the reaction Jesus got, because over in Luke it provides this little additional gem about the disciples reaction:
Luke 24:36 - 37
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.
Ya think? Imagine huddling up with your buds, locked in a room and whispering in fear… Suddenly your BFF materializes in front of you and yells “PEACE!”
They couldn’t call 9-1-1 back then, so they probably just fell down, screaming like tween girls at a haunted house, grabbing their chests…
…and maybe it’s just me, but in my mind’s eye, I see Jesus with a big grin on his face, chuckling under his breath at His friends falling all over themselves in pure unadulterated panic…kind of like I chuckle when I jump into my daughter’s room screaming and make her fall out of her chair…
There truly is no end to the things we can learn from the Master!