Bible Studies
John 20:19-31 - Unleashing the Power of Peace
Key Verses: (NRSV)
- 19: "When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house were the disciples had met were locked for the fear…" - The disciples were fearful of persecution.
- 19b: "Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.'" - The locked door had no power, Jesus stood among them in their fear and grief offering peace.
- 20: "He showed them His hand and His side. Then the disciples rejoiced when the saw the LORD." - Like Mary Magdalene at the grave site, the disciples did not recognize Jesus at first.
- 21: "Jesus said to them again, 'Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.'" - The job of teaching and spreading the Good News had now been passed on to the students.
- 22-23: "He breathed on them and said… 23'If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them…'" - Created anew by the living presence of Christ, the disciples were empowered and commissioned to continue Jesus' teaching of love and forgiveness.
- 25: "But Thomas said, 'Unless I see the mark of the nails in His hands…I will not believe." - Thomas the Doubter was simply asking to experience the same event that the other disciples had experienced. They too, did not believe until they had seen.
- 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.'" - Faith is a belief in the unseen, and we are to be blessed by our faith.
- 31: "But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in His name." - John has written a personal letter directly to you.
- Are you huddled in fear?
Promises of the Gospel:
The world in which we live is a dark and fearful place. To protect ourselves, we create walls and barriers behind which we hide and cower. Maybe it is a wall of cynicism or a locked door of escapism that we build to protect ourselves. Perhaps we arm ourselves not only with weapons that kill, but also with the weapons of hate and prejudice. Maybe we wrap ourselves in a flag of patriotism, seeking warmth and comfort from its fibers. Jesus entered the locked Upper Room, bringing peace and the Spirit of Forgiveness. Once we believe, we are empowered not only for protection, but for joyful action. The action we are called to do is to unleash to the world the spirit of God's forgiving love and His peace that surpasses understanding which is available through the Resurrected Christ.
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