After Jesus' death many folks thought that he was gone for good. Imagine what was racing through the minds of his disciples following his crucifixion. Then, on that Sunday the women who went to the tomb and learning that Jesus was not in the tomb, they bring the message to Jesus; disciples. In essence, they would have stated: He is not in the tomb; he has risen.
This Sunday we come to the time when the risen Jesus appears to his disciples as they are behind locked doors. We have these words in our Gospel reading:
"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." After he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord." John 20:19-20
Those disciples were hiding out of fear. Possibly they thought what happened to Jesus could also happen to them. But note that Jesus understood their fear and brought them a word of peace. Could anything greater have been said by him?
Think about your own life and what fears you might have to live fully as a disciple of Jesus. Are you in fear of what someone might say in response to you talking about Jesus? I believe we all tend to want to play it safe. Yes, we know we are saved and maybe we can be a good witness just by people seeing our attending church. However, we are called to more than that and to witness to our Lord wherever that might take us. Are you willing to do that?
I would ask you to meditate on these words from John's Gospel or you may read the entire reading which is John 20:19-31. May God's blessing be upon your worship this Sunday.
Pastor Marty
This Sunday we come to the time when the risen Jesus appears to his disciples as they are behind locked doors. We have these words in our Gospel reading:
"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." After he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord." John 20:19-20
Those disciples were hiding out of fear. Possibly they thought what happened to Jesus could also happen to them. But note that Jesus understood their fear and brought them a word of peace. Could anything greater have been said by him?
Think about your own life and what fears you might have to live fully as a disciple of Jesus. Are you in fear of what someone might say in response to you talking about Jesus? I believe we all tend to want to play it safe. Yes, we know we are saved and maybe we can be a good witness just by people seeing our attending church. However, we are called to more than that and to witness to our Lord wherever that might take us. Are you willing to do that?
I would ask you to meditate on these words from John's Gospel or you may read the entire reading which is John 20:19-31. May God's blessing be upon your worship this Sunday.
Pastor Marty
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