A Work in Progress….

John 20:21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Nelson Mandela is attributed as saying, “Resentment is like taking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” When we are consumed by anger over a person, a situation, an act, whatever, we cannot connect with Christ’s peace. It’s possible that my anger has no impact on the other person, but it can destroy me from the inside out if I’m not careful.

John 20:23a If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; 

And as much as I would love to lay out for you exactly how to go about forgiving things that feel unforgivable, I cannot because it is something that I struggle with myself. But I understand the intense negative feelings that come with bitterness and resentment. When those feelings are boiling through my heart and veins, Christ’s peace is nowhere to be found. If I am not filled with His peace, it is going to be hard for me to accomplish the tasks He has set for me.

John 20:23b if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Lord, Thank You for understanding that we need You, we need Your peace, in order to do Your kingdom work. Thank You for the knowledge that when I hold on to the sins and transgressions of others, I allow anger and bitterness to grow, which keeps me from experiencing Your peace. Help me, Lord, to lay those burdens at Your feet so that I may be lavished with Your peace. Amen.

John 20:24-25 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

Have a blessed day. I love you.

John 20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

Three times in the span of ten verses, Jesus tells the disciples, “Peace be with you.” Why? This is shortly after His death and resurrection. He hasn’t yet ascended into Heaven. There is still so much confusion and fear for Jesus’s disciples and loved ones. They meet in secret, behind locked doors. They whisper and fret. And yet–three separate times–Jesus transcends locked doors and says, “Peace be with you.”

John 20:21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

This repetition feels really important. There are so many things going on in this life, in our personal lives, that cause fear and anxiety, doubts, grief. These people who loved Jesus so mightily are dealing with His death, the disappearance of His body, the loss of a Savior whom they thought would save them from Roman rule. They don’t yet understand how He is making a way in their wilderness, and Jesus is concerned first and foremost with restoring to them a sense of peace that can only come from Him. “Peace be with you.”

John 20:26  A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 

Lord, You have important kingdom work for all of us, but until we are calm, focused, centered in You, covered in Your peace, our ability to serve is limited. There is so much causing fear, doubt, grief, Lord. Help us to center ourselves on You, to breathe in Your grace, to hear, to listen, to believe when You whisper, “Peace be with you.” Amen.

John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”

Have a blessed day. I love you.

John 20:26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 

Today, I want to focus on verse 29: Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Sunday’s message enlightened me that Jesus was blessing me when He said those words, but I don’t feel I earned that blessing. I am Doubting Thomas in so many ways.

John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”

I fret and fear, worry and wonder. I have endured crises of faith where, like Thomas, I have demanded, angry, bitter, grief-stricken, that “Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in His side, I will not believe.” I have been that obdurate, yet Jesus still loves me fiercely enough to reassure me that He’s there in my wilderness, that it’s really Him, despite my fears.

John 20:28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 

Lord, I have always seen the first part of verse 29 as an accusation to Thomas, but that’s not who You are. You show Thomas Your scars because You love him and want Him to experience Your peace. Thank you for responding to my doubts, my fears, in love and compassion, not censure. Thank You that we are all deeply blessed because we are Your fiercely loved children. Amen.

John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Have a blessed day. I love you.

John 20:26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 

A week has passed since the last verse, but it seems that not much has changed: the disciples are still sequestered, the door is still shut (presumably locked), there is still fear, doubt, disbelief. Jesus again appears, he again declares peace to all His disciples.

John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”

But this time Thomas is present. Jesus invites him to touch His scars, to put his hand in His side. He doesn’t belittle him immediately for needing proof. He understands the fear, doubt, and disbelief. He has a role for Thomas to play in His ministry, but first he must believe, so Jesus invites him to touch and see, to believe.

John 20:28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 

Lord, You know us intimately because You created every fiber of our being. You know our doubts and fears, our anger and bitterness, our love and compassion, our strength and joy. Thank You for always meeting us where we are, for giving us what we need–not always what we want or hope for–so that we can accomplish the tasks You set before us. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief. Amen.

John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

Have a blessed day.

John 20:24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 

I really feel for Thomas being dubbed “Doubting Thomas” because of this scene. After all, scripture since the Resurrection has been littered with folks who at first did not believe, were confused, were afraid. Even before the crucifixion, folks flocked to Jesus to see a miracle, to see proof of what they had been hearing about Jesus’s abilities.

John 20:25a So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord…” 

With the crowds during His ministry, sometimes He gave them miraculous signs, sometimes He didn’t. It depended on what He was trying to accomplish at that moment. With the Roman officials, He gave no proof, only saying of His identity, “You say that I am.” He was utterly unconcerned with who they thought He was. But with the disciples, His beloved disciples, He wants them to know He is still with them. He wants to bring them peace and comfort.

John 20:25b …But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side… 

Lord, In so many ways, I am Doubting Thomas, hurting, bereft, in doubt. Thank You for Your love, even in my doubt. Thank You for the many little ways You show You are with me every single day. Help me to show Your love to others, especially those who doubt and fear. Help me to comfort Your people. Amen.

John 20:25c …I will not believe.”

Have a blessed day. I love you.

John 20:19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 

The disciples were afraid. The doors were locked. Fear was palpable. And then Jesus entered and said, “Peace be with you.” Jesus, who had been crucified, buried, and resurrected, says these words immediately. He doesn’t chastise them: “Foolish disciples. Even death has no power over me. Why are you still afraid?!?” He comforts them because He loves them and He knows they are afraid.

John 20:20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Even typing the words “Peace be with you” brings me a sense of peace. Knowing that Jesus’s first concern here was to banish the fear in the room and replace it with His peace is such a gift. Jesus doesn’t extort the emotion of fear. He doesn’t use it to get certain reactions. He loves His disciples. He wants to blanket them with His peace.

John 20:21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

Lord, There are so many things in this world that cause fear. So many things in my head that cause me to doubt and worry. Help me to root myself in Your peace, to breathe in Your peace, to know that you are with me always, whispering to my heart, “Peace be with you.” Amen.

John 20:22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Have a blessed day. I love you.