Scripture: John 20:19-31 (NIV)
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.”
24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Devotion:
The account in John 20:19-31 captures the transformative journey of doubt to faith experienced by the disciples, particularly Thomas, following the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we meditate on this passage, let us explore how Easter invites us to embrace the reality of Christ’s resurrection and the profound blessings of faith.
1. Encountering the Risen Christ: On the evening of that first Easter Sunday, the disciples gathered in fear behind locked doors. Yet, in their midst, Jesus appeared, offering them peace and revealing His wounds as evidence of His resurrection. The disciples’ fear turned to joy as they beheld the Lord in His resurrected glory. Easter reminds us that Christ’s victory over death brings peace that transcends all understanding, dispelling our fears and filling us with joy.
2. Commissioned for Mission: Jesus imparted the Holy Spirit to His disciples, commissioning them to continue His mission of reconciliation and forgiveness. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they were empowered to extend God’s grace and mercy to others, proclaiming the gospel message of salvation. Easter commissions us as well to be ambassadors of Christ’s love and agents of His grace in a broken and hurting world.
3. From Doubt to Belief: Thomas, initially skeptical of the disciples’ testimony, demanded tangible proof of Jesus’ resurrection. Yet, a week later, Jesus appeared again, graciously addressing Thomas’s doubts and inviting him to touch His wounds. Confronted with the reality of Christ’s resurrection, Thomas’s doubt was transformed into unwavering faith, as he declared, “My Lord and my God!” Easter invites us to bring our doubts and questions before the risen Christ, trusting in His transformative power to strengthen our faith.
4. Blessed are Those Who Believe: Jesus affirmed Thomas’s faith, yet also extended a blessing to those who would believe in Him without seeing. This blessing encompasses all who, throughout history, have embraced the testimony of the apostles and believed in the reality of Christ’s resurrection. Easter beckons us to join the ranks of those blessed believers, whose faith is grounded not in physical sight but in the testimony of Scripture and the witness of the Holy Spirit.
5. The Purpose of Faith: John concludes this passage by emphasizing the purpose of recording these accounts—that we may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing, we may have life in His name. Easter invites us to embrace the reality of Christ’s resurrection with faith, recognizing Him as the source of abundant and eternal life.
As we celebrate Easter, let us follow the example of the disciples, embracing the reality of Christ’s resurrection and allowing our doubts to be transformed into unwavering faith. May we declare with confidence, “My Lord and my God!” and be counted among the blessed who believe in Him. Amen.
