Gospel

See His Hands and Side

by Roland Crim
01/09/17
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On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And 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.” John 20:19-23 NIV

The Disciples of Christ were behind locked doors, as they feared the Jewish leaders. In the minds of the Jewish leader’s Jesus had been eliminated, so logically next would be to eliminate His followers. The disciples might also have believed the looking for them was now intensified since the body of Jesus was missing from the tomb. The Jewish leaders quite possibly would have believed this was the work of His followers. So, the disciples were definitely fearful of the Jewish leaders.

Jesus’ first action after coming and standing among the disciples was to say “Peace be with you.” With the fear they felt because of the Jewish leaders, and with Jesus just appearing from nowhere to stand before them, the disciples definitely needed the greeting which Jesus gave to them. Next Jesus showed the disciples His hands and His side. He wanted to clear from their minds any doubt that it was truly Him that stood before them, resurrected. At seeing this was truly the Lord, risen as He had foretold, the disciples were overjoyed! Again He says to them “Peace be with you.” Then He commissions them to go out into the world, just as He had been sent from the Father. Those who listened to the disciples and turned to Christ would be forgiven of their sins and receive salvation, while those who chose not to accept Jesus condemned themselves through their very actions.

Today Jesus comes before us to say “Peace be with you.” If we are indwelled by the Holy Trinity, we feel the peace of Christ within us. In our hearts, minds, and souls we “see” the wounded hands and side of our Lord. We understand that our Lord suffered greatly for our redemption. Christ reassures us of the peace we have in Him. The Lord commissions us to go out into the world and share the Good News. We must share about Jesus Christ. All will give an accounting before Christ. Those who turn to Him are forgiven and saved. Those who don’t accept Christ stand condemned because they do not believe.