What Jesus Did : John 20:19-20 - From Fear to Joy!
by Phil Ware
From Fear to Joy! - John 20:19-20
The day was Sunday. That same evening the followers were together. The doors were locked, because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Then Jesus came and stood among them. Jesus said, "Peace be with you!" After Jesus said this, he showed the followers his hands and his side. The followers were very happy when they saw the Lord. (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
What a roller coaster weekend it had been for Jesus' disciples. He was arrested, tried, and executed. They had eaten Passover with him and then abandoned him in his hour of need. They had been marked as wanted men; associates of a crucified criminal rebel, they were huddled in a locked room in fear for their lives. They have heard rumors that Jesus was alive, but couldn't quite grasp it with solid faith because it was outside their experience or even hope. Then suddenly, he was among them. They heard his voice and were both comforted and thrilled with his familiar greeting, "Shalom!" They saw the marks on his body of his crucifixion and yet there he was among them. Suddenly, joy rushed in and forced out every other emotion. The Lord is alive! I see him with my eyes! He lives! And so do we!
Today's Prayer
O God, my Father, thank you for the assurance of life I have as your child. Thank you for my Savior and Lord, who also claims me as my older brother. I look forward so much to the day when I will see him and you, dear Father, face to face. Until that day, please know that I will build my life on the power of my risen Lord, Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
The day was Sunday. That same evening the followers were together. The doors were locked, because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Then Jesus came and stood among them. Jesus said, "Peace be with you!" After Jesus said this, he showed the followers his hands and his side. The followers were very happy when they saw the Lord. Then Jesus said again, "Peace be with you! The Father sent me. In the same way, I now send you." After Jesus said that, he breathed {on the followers}. Jesus said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive people's sins, then their sins are forgiven. If you don't forgive people's sins, then their sins are not forgiven." Thomas (called Didymus) was not with the followers when Jesus came. Thomas was one of the twelve. The other followers told Thomas, "We saw the Lord." Thomas said, "I will not believe it until I see the nail holes in his hands. And I will not believe until I put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side." A week later the followers were in the house again. Thomas was with them. The doors were locked, but Jesus came and stood among them. Jesus said, "Peace be with you!" Then Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Stop doubting and start believing." Thomas said to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to Thomas, "You believe because you see me. Those people that believe without seeing me will be truly blessed." Jesus did many other miracles that his followers saw. Those miracles are not written in this book. But these things are written so that you can believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Then, by believing, you can have life through his name.-- John 20:19-31 (ERV)
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