Worship into the Week- But Believe

Worship into the Week-

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

John 20:19-31

Pease be With You-

 has to have a different memory

 marker after this reading.

When we give the sign of peace-

 a handshake or a kiss,

(Pre-COVID19 days)

we speak these words.

Shalom, Shalom.

Peace be with you.

Locked up in the room together, 

the disciples were probably

 feeling anything but peaceful.

Out of nowhere- 

Jesus appears and calms them with these words.

He also BREATHED on them the Holy Spirit.

Now, nothing in their world would be the same.

Thomas was not with them 

and can't quite fathom this story 

when the disciples tell him.

He utters the statement that 

forever labels him to the world-

and mirrors his great need to SEE for himself- 

or he will NEVER believe.

But, eight days later the disciples

 are assembled again, 

with doors locked and Thomas with them.

Jesus stands among them and says again-

"Peace be with you."

Jesus looks at Thomas and offers his hands.

Thomas sees and touches and proclaims-

 "My Lord and my God!"

Then Jesus speaks to all of us-

offering the moment to believe with our heart.

"Have you believed because you have seen me?

Blessed are those you have not seen

 and yet have believed."

I am so thankful for the and yet.

Then the chapter is finished with an amazing verse

 of proclamation of the works of Jesus- 

that I think I somehow missed for most of my life.

verse 30-31-

"Now Jesus did many other signs

 in the presence of the disciples, 

which are not written in this book; 

but these are written so that you may believe

 that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, 

and that by believing

 you may have life in his name."

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