The disciples were scared, and so they had locked themselves away, to hide from the people who had just crucified Jesus
These were the same disciples who had walked with Jesus for three years. They knew Him. They knew His ways. They heard His teachings and saw His miracles, and yet, as soon as Jesus died – they fled, and hid from the world around them
In John 20:19-23, I love that Jesus didn’t just knock on the door and hope that the disciples opened it. He came and stood among them and then showed them His hands and side to reaffirm that He was really the Risen Christ
Jesus’ first words to His disciples were ”Peace be with you” – everything has to start with peace.
Before we are released and sent to change our world’s – peace must exist, because where there is God’s peace, there is power
It becomes His will over ours! This Scripture also shows that when Jesus walks into the room, we encounter peace – just as His disciples did that day
This is the day that Jesus’ disciples was given the power of the Holy Spirit. Life began when God breathed into Adam, and now the breath of Jesus imparted an eternal, Spiritual life into His followers because, just like us, we have been given authority to tell others about the Good News so that people’s sins might be forgiven – but it requires boldness to do it, and a peace that passes all understanding to walk where Jesus asks us too
Friends, make time today to read the passage below and allow God to breathe on your circumstances because there are too many of us still hiding away with the doors locked, too scared to go out in fear. Jesus died to set us free. To walk in His love and freedom so that we would change the world with Hope
That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:19-23
Categories: John
