Through the doors
The "doors" mentioned here are, obviously, literal, but the physical status of the disciples was indicative of their emotional and spiritual status. In this encounter Jesus walks through the doors and deals with their fear and confusion. By bring to them three elements - peace, the Holy Spirit and forgiveness - the doors are opened.
It is too easy to approach this text with their role as future Church leaders in mind and to ignore that at that moment they were in need of personal ministry to become the leaders they would eventually become. They could be dispensers of peace, the Spirit and forgiveness only as they had received it themselves.
Created almost 3 years ago
