Monday Devotional: April 21, 2025

Bible Reading: John 20:19-31 (NRSVUE)

¹⁹ When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” ²² When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” ²⁴ But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So 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.” ²⁶ A 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.” ²⁷ Then 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.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” ³⁰ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. ³¹ But these are written so that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Fear hangs heavy in the air. The authorities have brutally executed the disciples’ leaders. Clearly, the authorities intend to squelch this burgeoning threat. How far will they go with this crusade? With the leader removed, will they search for the key followers in order to nail the coffin shut? In fear, the disciples hide behind locked doors.

The disciples have put their confidence in locks; their security hinges on latches and bolts. But even locked doors do little to calm their anxiety. What if their hiding place is discovered; what if there is another way in; what if the lock doesn’t hold?

They feel anxious and fearful. Then Jesus appears, undeterred by any hindrance. The lock not only indicates the disciples’ fear but also sets up Jesus’ miraculous arrival. The lock makes Jesus’ sudden appearance that much more amazing; locks are no match for him. Jesus turns a locked door into an opening for the joy of his presence,

Jesus conveys a message — a message twice uttered, “Peace be with you.” The locks, which bring a measure of security, prove inadequate to subdue the disciples’ fears. But where locks fail, Jesus succeeds. He offers his peace to overcome their fears. The disciples can find their security in him. As fear dissipates, joy replaces sorrow.

Jesus makes this same offer of peace to us. We may employ all manner of earthbound solutions to quell our fears, but all will prove inadequate. With doors tightly locked, fear can still overwhelm us. Locks cannot ease the barrage of “what ifs.” But Jesus can bring peace and ease our anxieties. The resurrected Lord has defeated death; surely he can defeat the sources of our fears!

Prayer

Lord, I invite you to bring peace to calm my fears. Amen.

By Philip Huber, The Upper Room Disciplines 2016, page 118.

Bible Study

“Embracing Life” By Von W. Unruh

Unit 1: Beatitudes for Lent

Session Title: From Violence to Peace
Focal Passages: Matthew 5:9; John 18:1-11
Purpose Statement: To explore Jesus’ words regarding peacemaking in light of his arrest.

Questions:

• What can we learn about violence and nonviolence from Jesus’ arrest? Why did the arresting company go ready for a fight? Why did Jesus not fight back?
• Have you ever questioned violence? Do you think a world of nonviolence and peacemaking is unrealistic? How do you think Jesus would respond to your concerns or objections?
• What would it look like for you to be a true peacemaker? Jesus can imagine you being a peacemaker. Can you imagine it? Can you see the possibility that God can redeem those you call enemies?

Zoom Session

Monday, April 21, 2025, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

(For Zoom Link, send an email to [email protected])

In-Person Session

Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, Conference Room, McGee Building.