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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." 24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin ), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." 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, I will not believe." 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." 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." 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 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." 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 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 20:19-31 NIV)
Happy Easter, dear Friend! I pray the joy of Christ's Resurrection has given you new hope and new joy especially as we face the realities and challenges of life. May we be victorious in all things!
Death has robbed all of us of special people, even some we did not know personally. I could share a partial list of dear ones whom I knew to be too young to be in God's presence because I was robbed of special friendships and relationships. I know you have your own list. And there are times when we hope that we might see them again only to remember, no, they're gone. Sundays were the days I would talk to my Dad; but no more. Church was where I could see my Mom and grandma and so many others singing and worshiping God; but no more. I think maybe if I drive by the old church and go inside I will see them again; but realize it's wishful thinking; just the continuing impact of that separation that is death. I think the Disciples were in that phase of their grief process when this event took place. Not truly knowing what to do, other than wait, the Twelve were in the Upper Room, with doors locked out of the fear they had of their religious leaders, for they knew they could be next! And into that locked room, without using the door to enter, appears Jesus with this simple, but needed message; "Peace be with you." And immediately shows them, because He knew them, His hands and His side, and this brings them joy, and boy did they need it. And again, "Peace be with you," adding, "As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Then He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." The writer then adds that Thomas, one of their compadres in ministry did not bother to show up for work that day. When he finally showed up, of course news of their having seen the Risen Lord was the first topic they shared with him. He replied with skepticism and declares he would not believe anything Jesus unless he could physically see and touch the wounds of the Lord.
One week later, with Thomas present for work, Jesus visits again. Again, not using the doors and appearing among them, Jesus stood among them and announced again, "Peace be with you." Then Jesus addresses Thomas and his doubts, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt, but believe." Ouch! I've been there; having said something someone else said to someone who told the person what I said, then got caught when they said, here is why... I bet Thomas felt the same way, but this was Jesus! Thomas declares his faith in Jesus by affirming, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus blesses his response and the writer declares his purpose of wanting the world to come to faith in Jesus.
This Easter, Jesus still enters into the locked rooms of our hearts, still speaks peace to our storms, still calls us out into a world that needs the hope only He can give. The tomb is empty. The fear can end. The work begins anew. And the command to continue as missionaries, witnesses, evangelists, pastors, teachers, etc. continues. We have work to do!
PRAYER: Loving Jesus, thank You for walking through locked doors and entering our fears with Your peace. Thank You for your patience with our doubts, and for calling us to believe even when we cannot see. Breathe Your Spirit into us today, that we may live as Easter people—bold in faith, generous in grace, and alive in Your purpose. Help us to carry Your peace into a world still hiding in fear. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Let your life be a witness to the resurrection. Live peace. Share grace. And don’t be afraid to open the door—Jesus is already inside.
I love you and I thank God for you!
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
