On tha evening of tha first day of tha week, when tha disciples be ter gather, with tha doors locked fer fear of tha Jewish leaders, tha Son came and stood among ’em. Tha fellers be startled and frightened. They be thinking they seen a ghost. This be tha forth time since tha break of dawn tha Son appeared ter folks.

First he showed himself ter Mary Magdalene outside tha empty tomb. He looked right at her, locked eyes they did, and called Mary by name.

Second, he met Old Pete, though we know not whar. Tha Apostle Paul writes, “He appeared to Peter and then to the Twelve (1 Corinthians 15:5).” We do know that when tha Eleven got ter gather in that room they be saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and appeared to Peter! (Luke 24:33)” Most likely tha Son caught Old Pete’s eye after he stepped from tha tomb.

Third he met Cleopas and his mate on tha road ter Emmaus.

Then, late in tha day, he mysteriously appeared in thar midst even with tha doors lock, saying ter ’em, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Peace be with you! Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”

Still, because of thar joy and amazement, they would not believe, so he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in thar presence.

Again he said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” With that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Now some time earlier tha Son told Old Pete:

I tell you, Peter, on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:18-20)

What a responsibility. When tha Son gives us his Holy Ghost of Truth, we kin fer give folks thar sin. And if we refuse ter fer give ’em, they be bound as if in chains—least ways that be what tha Son said. Such power hain’t even been given ter angels. But doth it mean ter fergive tha sins of others? Kin we fergive and still keep a ledger of thar grievances?

Think on this a wee little bit: If we ‘ave Skipper’s Holy Ghost of Truth in us then we ‘ave his character, his inclination ter fergive as he fergives. So how doth Skip fergive?

I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. – Isaiah 43:25

I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.– Hebrews 8:12

I will remember their sins and lawless deeds no more. – Hebrews 10:17

I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. – Jeremiah 31:34

Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out. – Acts 3:19

You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. – Micah 7:19

You have cast all my sins behind your back. – Isaiah 38:17

As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. – Psalm 103:11-12

⁠Ya may see things different, but if tha choice be ter act as Skip acts, then ter fergive and ferget seems ter be tha course ter sail. On our own we might not be able ter ferget. Could be we kin only do this through tha Holy Spirit’s power. So ask ter ferget and fergive.

Four times on that first day tha Son appeared ter folks. And still he needed ter ask:
“Why are you troubled?”
“Why do doubts rise in your minds?”

Might this also be tha question he asks us most ever day: “What be bothering ya? How come ya be doubting my love fer ya?”

Be odd fer us ter ‘ave tha power ter bind and loosen chains of guilt fer folks and yet we kin not take captive our thoughts of fears and disbelief.

Ter day make it yer task ter bind yer worries and doubts in tha Holy name of tha Son. Make such idears and fears obey his voice. With tha Son and his Holy Ghost of Truth we ‘ave such power. Use it.

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