Jesus at half-time

When the disciples gathered in the upper room after Jesus' crucifixion, fearful and beaten, it was like a football team gathering in the locker-room at half-time when they have received a real beating in the first half. In John 20:19-31, when Jesus appears to the disciples, he might have taken the approach of a football coach and ranted about how the disciples have messed up, how they abandoned him. Pastor Phil Kniss said that this was not the approach that Jesus took. Rather, Jesus said, "Peace be with you." In fact, Jesus repeated this phrase a number of times. Yes, the disciples messed up. They knew it! Jesus came to give them peace, to offer grace. We are in no less need of those words "Peace be with you." As individuals and as an institutional church we have messed up. The good news is that Jesus does offer that grace to us, allowing us to regroup and prepare ourselves to move forward, into the second half, ready to turn and play a different game.