YES, GOD IS REAL!

SCRIPTURE

Second Sunday of Easter
John 20:19-31 (NRSV)
Beholding the wounds of the risen Christ

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 said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "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."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 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."

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." 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." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" 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."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 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.

DEVOTION

This scripture always makes me giddy with the joy of God’s victory in Jesus! Can’t you just see the disciples holed up in the house, doors and windows locked, frightened and depressed trying to figure out what to do now that Jesus is no longer with them?

Can’t you just see Jesus entering the room as bold and brash as he pleased—despite the locks—and saying to them, “Peace be unto you?”

I love when Jesus speaks peace into our lives. I don’t know about you, but I’ve prayed for peace many, many times in my life. There are many reasons why I need peace. Sometimes I need peace because I am afraid, angry, impatient, or exhausted. It is in times like these that I call on God, in Jesus Name, asking for God to grant me peace!

As Jesus spoke peace into the lives of his disciples, he showed them his hands and his side. See, peace is always a by-product of believing in Jesus. We are granted peace when we believe that God loves us so much that God gave Jesus to save us from our sins and to open the door to eternal life. This faith and hope in Jesus bears us up in times of trouble and causes us to remember that Jesus is the one who is able to calm all of the storms that rage in our lives.

After God grants us peace as a result of our faith, God always gifts us with the Holy Spirit. We are given the gift of the Holy Spirit so that we will be empowered and equipped to do the work of evangelists—sharing GOOD NEWS with everyone that we meet!

Whether you are a man, woman, boy, or girl, Jesus is saying to us today, “Faith…Peace…Go…”

Have faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection! Be at peace in this often troubled world! Go, and share this peace and faith with others!

Now, don’t worry if you feel like a “doubting Thomas” on this Sunday morning! In today’s scripture we see that Jesus is willing to meet us just where we are.

Thomas missed Jesus’ first visit to the disciples, so he did not believe the GOOD NEWS regarding the resurrection. Rather than giving up on him, Jesus returned the next week, allowing Thomas to poke his finger in Jesus’ hands and side and believe!

In response to his increased faith and peace Thomas declared, “My Lord and My God!” With these words he declared his belief in the miracle of the resurrection. And in response, Jesus said, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Although we do not have Jesus with us in the flesh right now, we are still able to believe, by faith, because of the GOOD NEWS testimony of the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and other believers!

The last verse of today’s reading says, “…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.”

I thank God for the Bible and for Holy Scripture! I also thank God for all of the believers throughout the ages who have declared by the power of the Holy Spirit, “We have seen the Lord!”

Oh Hallelujah! Have you seen the Lord with the eyes of your heart? Has God ever spoken peace into your life? Has God ever increased your faith? Has God ever sent you out as his friend and ambassador to bear the GOOD NEWS that God loves, gave, and saves?

We are the most blessed people in the world! As possessors of faith, peace, and testimony we are sent out to tell others that JESUS SAVES and HE SAVES TO THE UTMOST!

Alleluia! Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

Now, ain’ta that GOOD NEWS?!

Have you seen the Lord? Will you share your faith, peace, and testimony with others today?


Dear Lord, thank you so much that you have appeared to me in the holy scriptures and the testimonies of other Christians. Please help me to share the faith, peace, and testimony you have given me with those who need to know and believe that you love them very, very much! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.



ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you have additional questions about how to become a friend and follower of Jesus, please see the devotion entitled, "Come to Jesus" found at
http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com/2009/03/come-to-jesus.html

We are celebrating with the 11 people who have recently put all their hope in Jesus! Happy Re-birthday!

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From Pastor Yolanda's blog http://aintathatgoodnews.blogspot.com