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Thursday, April 23, 2020

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."

Supplies:
Magazine Cutouts
Colored pencil 
Fine-point Sharpie pen







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