John 20:19-23 – Peace
If ever a group of people are distraught, upset, sad, confused, scared, guilty, and worried, it must be the followers of Christ in these days after the crucifixion. Their world has come to an end; the unthinkable has happened. Their faith seems to be groundless, and on top of everything else there are several strange stories of a resurrection floating about. Jesus knows all this, so when He comes to His followers He speaks peace to them – peace and not blame, peace and not fault-finding, peace and not rebuke is the first thing this little group hears from their Master’s lips after He leaves the tomb. Peace is a key concept of Christianity. Peace between God and man through the precious blood of atonement; peace between man and man through new hearts of grace and love – to spread this kind of peace is the work of the Church.
Jesus gives His disciples evidence of His own resurrection. He shows them His hands and side. They can see that He is not a ghost, but He has truly risen from the dead.
Jesus calls His apostles to go into the world and preach the Gospel as He has preached it. The true preaching of the Gospel declares how sins can be forgiven. Jesus is not giving His disciples the authority to forgive sins – that authority belongs to God alone. What He is giving to them, and to all His ministers, is the authority to declare whose sins are forgiven and whose sins are not forgiven. This is exactly what true Gospel preaching does: it declares whose sins are forgiven – those who repent and believe; and it declares whose sins are not forgiven – those who turn their back on God and try to save themselves.
Questions
- What kind of peace do Christians have?
- What evidences does Jesus give His disciples that He is not a ghost?
- How can sins be forgiven?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the salvation of family and friends.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.