TRANSFORMING GRACE

John 20:19-21 (KJV)
"Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you."
     Although Jesus had been seen by a selected few after His resurrection, this was the first time He pays a corporate visit to His disciples (apostles of the Lamb).  Before he had been taken from them to be crucified; He had spoken these words to them as a corporate group before His re-appearance to them:  “…Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone…” (John 16:32), and that they did.
     How would we respond to a group of folks we have spent time with, and in that time, we have opened ourselves to them and them to us, only to have them disband and go their own way when troubles come?  What would we say to them after we were reunited for the first time after the troubles had come and gone?  Perhaps we might scold them, or maybe we would expect that they own up to the reasons to why they separated themselves from us. Perhaps we might cite each one’s offense.  At least, we might shame them for their lack of faithfulness and courage.
     These are the first words Jesus spoke to the men He had spent much time with, “Peace be with you”  The word grace means “unmerited favor.”  When someone loves us unconditionally, without regard to our behavior in return, it becomes a powerful force in their lives.  Such was the case for the disciples when Jesus appeared to them.  They could have expected reprimand.  Instead they received unconditional love and acceptance.  He was overjoyed to see them.  They were equally overjoyed to see Him.
     Jesus with grace understood the disciples needed to fail Him as a part of their training.  He also understood that it would be this failure that became their greatest motivation for service.  Therefore, failure in the relationship allowed them to experience incredible grace for the very first time.  Grace transformed them as human beings, and grace is still transforming humans today.