Category: JOHN

Re:Verse passage – John 20:19-23 (day seven)

as the Father has sent Me, I also send you. vs 21

This is the Johannine great commission. Though Matthew’s account is the most recognized one, each Gospel has a moment towards the end of the book where Jesus commissions the disciples (and us as well) to Go and Tell. Here we find the disciples huddled together in fear behind a locked door. There is beauty in this picture though. As often as we critique these individuals for their fear, we lose sight that they were together. They knew they were Better Together. Jesus had commanded and prayed that this group would stand together and grow together. This objective had been completed. Now it was time to Go and Tell His story together. It was time to open the door and go do something.

As we move our rally cry from Better Together to Go and Tell, we can know that our strength is in our cohesion, we are stronger and Better Together. Imagine how strong we can be as we Go and Tell His story together. It is time for us to open the door and go do something.

Re:Verse passage – John 20:19-23 (day six)

“Peace be with you.”

This was a customary greeting, but these men heard it in a new way. Each of them had abandoned Jesus; they had fled for their lives, save, maybe John. Now, he was with them in the flesh. They were fearful of the authorities, but I imagine at that moment they were afraid of Jesus too. (In more ways than one.)

His greeting was intended to put them at ease, as if to say, “We are okay. I don’t hold anything against you.”

Up to that very moment, they must have carried so much guilt and sorrow, but with just one greeting, they were at peace. Can you imagine?

Is that not what Jesus says to us when we come to him in faith? “Peace, be with you.” Aren’t you grateful for peace?

Re:Verse passage – John 20:19-23 (day five)  Make no mistake, the disciples were afraid. Not just scared, but terrified to the point of being paranoid and debilitated. Trapped behind locked doors (not only keeping Jewish leaders out, but keeping them shut in). Their minds were racing as to the potential dangers they could be facing. A perfect picture of what unhealthy fear does to the heart and soul.

Yet Jesus comes and places Himself in their “midst”. Not on the periphery but among them. What happened to them/in them is amazing. They were filled with joy. With the joy came courage and peace.  With the joy came hope and clarity. With the joy came mission and purpose.

It was a life changing moment brought about by joy. Was there still fear? I suppose. But their joy was greater, and that made all the difference. Oh Lord, fill us with joy.

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭2‬

Joy is the serious business of heaven. – C. S. Lewis

Re:Verse passage – John 20:19-23 (day four)

The breath of God is more powerful than we could ever imagine. In Genesis, man gets his very life from God’s breath. Psalm 33 proclaims that the breath of God created the heavenly host. Job tells us that the breath of the Almighty gives understanding. Here, Jesus simply breathes, and the disciples receive the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God himself, the third member of the Trinity, imparted through breath.

It’s by this Holy Spirit that we can participate in life with God. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to live in a new way. Right after he breathes the Spirit onto them, Jesus starts talking about forgiveness. Of all the ways that the Spirit changes our lives – Jesus chooses to talk about how the Spirit empowers us to forgive. Overcoming unforgiveness is one of the most powerful ways the Spirit acts in our lives. Are you having trouble forgiving someone who has wronged you? Take it to the Lord. When you walk with God, he has given you his Spirit through a simple breath. Through that Spirit, forgiveness is possible.

Re:Verse passage – John 20:19-23 (day three)

“Peace be with you.”

You might from time to time encounter a self-proclaimed “straight shooter” who will “tell it like it is.” That kind of bluster will ride roughshod over a person’s soul. Jesus, by contrast, used words not to establish a reputation, but to move in close to a person’s heart. Sometimes the person rejected that move. Other times, the person welcomed it. In either case, Jesus always spoke words that perfectly fit the circumstance. His words served people. This instance is no exception. A “straight shooter” would have shamed the disciples for their terror and scolded them for their confusion about resurrection. Jesus, deeply moved by their fear and pain, knew they needed peace, not a pep talk. Their courage to love the whole world arose from their experience of the one who spoke words of compassion into their weakness.

Re:Verse passage – John 20:19-23 (day two) And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. vs. 20

Jesus’ first words to the disciples were ones of peace, and then he immediately showed them his wounds. It was after he had done this that they rejoiced. He was aware of the visceral need to see, touch, experience the resurrection. It is one of the things I love best about the savior, he understands the human condition fully. He ate, was tired and took naps, he laughed, and he suffered. All of these are what being fully human represent. When scripture speaks of ‘hungering and thirsting for righteousness’ it taps into a very real understanding by those who walk this mortal journey. It seems an odd statement that they would rejoice over the wounds, but it made the power of resurrection real, and Jesus understood that need to see and feel. Our trust is in the power of scripture and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit to know the truth of Jesus’ resurrection power. Thanks be to God.

Re:Verse passage – John 20:1-18 (day seven)  

Jesus said to her, “Mary!” vs 16a

Mary didn’t initially recognize that it was Jesus who was talking to her. Perhaps she was still in shock, stricken by grief. How could it have been Jesus? She was there at the cross. She watched Him die. But when He said her name, it was unmistakable. She knew His voice. She knew this was real.

To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. John 10:3-4

Do you know His voice? Have you heard it? When you hear the voice of the Lord calling out your name, it is unmistakable. He calls each of us by name to trust Him as our Savior. Yet, it doesn’t stop at salvation. You will often hear it when you are running too fast in the wrong direction. You will hear it when you need encouragement. You will hear it when He is calling you to a special task. Maybe even now you will hear him calling out your name. When you hear it, you will know His Voice. When you hear it, you will know this is real. You will know, because you are His.

Re:Verse passage – John 20:1-18 (day six)

“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” John 20:17

We are not sure what to make of this. Is Jesus alluding to some mystery about his glorified body? I believe it is far simpler than that. It might have sounded something like this,

“Mary, you need to let me go; I still have work to do, and so do you. Now go tell my disciples…”

Could it be that is what Jesus intends for us to understand? That we can’t stay in the garden holding onto him. That we have a story to tell.

“Now, go and tell…”

Re:Verse passage – John 20:1-18 (day five)  One of beautiful things about the scriptures is that they portray people as ”normal” people. Even the heroes. They say and do things just like us. They fail. They argue. They miss the point. They succeed. They are afraid. They have courage. They sin. They celebrate. They worship. Just like us. And what we read in our Re:Verse passage this week, is that the disciples and women followers of Jesus are extremely grief stricken. (Just like we would be) It’s further evidence that Jesus really died and was buried. Some saw it and talked about it. The others sensed it from the way people were speaking and acting. And they were filled with grief, shock, and fear.
We all process and discover events and truth differently. Peter sees the empty tomb and grave clothes and is still in a state of grief. John see the same thing and “believes”. Mary sees the same thing and is overcome with grief and confusion.
Yet, all of these people mentioned will come to the point of believing. The Lord will immediately begin to work and speak in ways to convince, convict, and encourage His followers.
How might He do that with us (His followers today)?  Oh Lord, please help us to believe with greater confidence and to follow You with greater clarity and courage!!  Show us!!  Speak to us!! Come near to us!!  Help your people!!