NEW PEACE, NEW PURPOSE
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Opening Prayer
Lord Jesus, I want to know you better, to serve you better, and to trust you more. Use what I read in Scripture today to teach me, to inspire me, and to equip me.
Read JOHN 20:19–23
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Jesus Appears to His Disciples
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
In any given day, how much do you count on everything going just as you expect— with no disappointments, no surprises, or no upsets?A lot can happen in a day! One that began with burial rites, a missing body, angels, and accusations now brings us to these locked doors and leaderless disciples (v. 19). One that saw a tomb of breathless confusion turn to belief and a garden of grief turn to gladness, now shows us a room of fear. Having suspected graverobbers themselves, were the disciples afraid that the Jews would claim they had stolen Jesus’ body (Matthew 27:64)? Yet all our anxious, agitated defenses are no barrier for Jesus. So we watch as fear fades in the powerful presence of peace.
And that peace has a purpose. Every person of the Trinity participates in passing Jesus’ mission on to his disciples. The perfect ‘Sent One’ (as John often refers to Jesus) has completed the work entrusted to him by the Father and invites his disciples to continue it, equipped by the Holy Spirit. Sent ‘as’ Jesus was (vv. 21, 22), how are we to walk in our purpose? Whether others receive it through the gospel we preach or from us personally, forgiveness is primary (v. 23). So, on this first day of the week, as at creation, chaos is brought under control by the Word of God as the breath of God is given to his people again.
Apply
Which rooms in your life have you locked because of fear?
Closing prayer
Lord God, when things are confusing and I am uncertain, assure me of your purposes for me and help me to rest in in the peace only you can offer.
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