So very long ago, Jesus’ disciples had self-quarantined themselves because of fear.

Three days prior Jesus had suffered a torturous, violent death, and they, being followers of Jesus, feared the same mis-fortune for themselves.  So, there they were. shut away from the rest of the world, not knowing what would happen next.

Sound familiar?

Here we are some 2000 years later, huddled in our houses no knowing what’s going to happen next.  Who will suffer?  Who will be the next to die?  What about those we love…those that are vulnerable.  When we go out, we must be careful for the enemy is out there seeking whom it may devour, so we hide behind masks hoping our life will be spared.  Hoping we won’t lead the enemy to someone we love.  And so, today just as the disciples, we sit in our places of safety quarantined from something that threatens our life.

But there is hope!  Look up, for there is good news to be heard!

On the day of resurrection, that very first Easter, Jesus met those he loved where they were, and He will do the same for us today!

The gospel of John records it as such:

Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.

 The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you…

My friends, Jesus meets you right where you are…wherever that may be.  There is no place, whether it be physical, spiritual, or emotional…no wall…no creature…no virus that can keep Jesus away from us.

David wrote a beautiful song proclaiming this…

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid your Spirit?
    to be out of your sight?
If I climb to the sky, you’re there!
    If I go underground, you’re there!
If I flew on morning’s wings
    to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
    you’re already there waiting!
Then I said to myself, “Oh, he even sees me in the dark!
    At night I’m immersed in the light!”
It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to you;
    night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to you.

In one of my favorite passages of scripture, Romans 8:34-39, Paul puts it like this:

 It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen…

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

…For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Friends, the good news is Jesus is risen!

And because of that He comes to us today, just as he came to his self-quarantined disciples years ago!

He comes to us, where we are, within our homes, this Easter Sunday and He says, “Peace be unto you…Peace be unto you.”

Friends, because He lives we have hope…because He lives we have peace.

My you receive His Peace today.

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(The Disciples Soiree)