God of the ages, bless the needs in the life of this dear reader; in Christ Jesus I pray, amen.
Here is our text for today: 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." 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
The power of the Resurrection did not end with one appearance. In fact, the Bible records many appearances to many. This one was special in that while locked up in what we now call the Upper Room, Jesus makes an appearance behind locked doors. How He did this, we don't know; the disciples didn't know, they just knew that there was Jesus. And He shares a biblical message found in so many passages, a message of peace: Peace be with you, He says twice. It's a message of hope and encouragement, Jesus' way of saying, "Carry on!" And the second time He says it, besides peace, He says, "GO! As the Father sent me, so I am sending you." And before they can ask, "What? Why? Where," He says, "Receive the Holy Spirit," which is the empowering and authority they needed, and the charge to take a message of forgiveness and peace to the world.
How has this week of Easter been for you? We're still in the season of Easter. We're still Easter people. And we're still empowered by God's Holy Spirit to go and share a message of peace and forgiveness to all. Live a life that does the talking and if you need words, then use them!
PRAYER: Loving God of the Resurrection, thank You for your peace and presence with me today. May Your Holy Spirit guide me to faithfulness in showing and living the message with which You entrusted me. I ask this in Jesus Christ's precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
