A way to live a mission in your community:
See the loving and just events and people in your community as God’s work and support and join both the events and people.
Based on John 20:19-31
Life App for the week of the Second Sunday of Easter, 4/8/18 to 4/14/18
A way to live a mission in your community based on John 20:19-31, a reading from the Revised Common Lectionary for the Second Sunday of Easter, 4/8/18.
In the evening of the day of discovery of the empty tomb and of the appearance to Mary, the disciples had locked themselves in a room for fear they, too, might be arrested. Jesus appeared among them with his familiar greeting of “Peace be with you.” He showed them his wounds and his side, which assured them it was Jesus, not someone or something else. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” [This is John’s version of Matthew 28:18-20.] He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” [This is John’s version of Pentecost, Acts 2:1-4.] He further commissioned them to grant or withhold forgiveness of sins. [Christians properly recognize real evil for what it is.]
Thomas was not there. When he heard the disciples had seen Jesus he said he would not believe until he had seen the marks of the nails in Jesus’ hands and had put his hand in Jesus’ side. A week later, Thomas and the other disciples were in the house with the doors shut. Jesus came and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your fingers here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Without touching Jesus, Thomas said, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus said, “Do you believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing.”
Jesus did many other things in the presence of his disciples which are not written down. John, the writer, says he has written these things so that others can believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and through belief have life in his name.
A theme: See the things Jesus does among us and believe God is among us in him.