What Jesus Did : John 20:21 - Peace from Passion
by Phil Ware
Peace from Passion - John 20:21
Then Jesus said again, "Peace be with you! The Father sent me. In the same way, I now send you." (ERV) Full Text
Key Thought
So often in our world, peace is a selfish retreat from the world. For Jesus, peace was something he received from his times of rest with his Father so he could go back and minister to the world. Jesus calls us to find our peace in him -- a peace rooted in his defeat of death and his presence in us through his Holy Spirit. That peace, however, should restore our passion to do the work of Jesus and to be sent by him into the world to bless it with his grace.
Today's Prayer
Father, please restore my passion to touch the lost and broken around me with the grace of Jesus. Give me the peace of your dear Son so that I, too, can be sent to bless a fractured world. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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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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