John 20:19-30
19When 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.” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So 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.”
26A 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.” 27Then 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.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” 30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31But 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.
Thoughts: We all have found ourselves hidden away in fear. We fear things as individuals. We fear things as a community or church.
This passage reminds us that Jesus breaks into our lives even when we are hiding or scared. The Holy Spirit is breathed on us and we come to life. And even when we doubt, Jesus invites us to touch and taste in the bread and in the wine.
Questions to ponder:
What fears do you experience when you want to hide away?
What fears do you think the church has?
How have you felt the Holy Spirit move you when you are afraid? Where have you found help?
In "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" the winter witch has turned characters into statues. In chapter 16, Aslan breathe on them. What happens?
How might we live life differently when we recognize the Holy Spirit inside of us? How do we come to life?
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