The Risen Jesus visits his friends
(From the Gospel of John, chapter 20, verses 19-29)
It was Sunday and the sun was setting. It had been a long, confusing day. Early in the morning, Jesus' friends had received the unbelievable news that his body was gone from the place where they had left it. And then even more unbelievable they learned that an angel had told some women that Jesus was no longer dead. They had come running - breathless and excited - to tell the men: "Jesus is alive! Just like he said! God has raised him from death!"
Alive? How could Jesus be alive? The men were scared. Maybe someone had stolen Jesus' body, to make it look like he had risen from death. If that was the case, the Roman leaders would be furious. Those in power would come looking for Jesus' friends, accusing them of causing more trouble.
The men found a room in someone's home and locked themselves in it. Maybe they would be safe if they stayed quiet and out of sight.
One of the men named Thomas said to the others, "Let me go find us some food. Maybe if we eat we'll feel better."
"Go quickly and quietly," Peter told him. "Don't let anyone follow you back here."
No sooner had Thomas left then an amazing thing happened: Jesus was standing in the middle of the room! "Peace be with all of you," he said with a smile. He showed them his hands and his side. They saw where the nails and the spear had gone into his body when he was killed. It was Jesus. It really was Jesus!
The disciples rejoiced and hugged Jesus. They laughed and offered prayers of thanksgiving to God. Jesus said to them, "As God has sent me, so I now send you." Then he took a deep breath and breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. Let it empower you for ministry in my name." And he was gone - just as suddenly as he had come.
Thomas returned from his errand. "We have seen the Lord!" the others told him. But Thomas said to them, "Are you serious? Jesus was here? You actually saw him?"
"Yes! Yes!" the men replied. "We even touched him!"
Thomas shook his head. "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 it."
A week later the men were still in the same locked room. This time Thomas was with them. Suddenly Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."
Jesus stretched out his hands to Thomas. "Look at my hands. Put your finger here in my side. Do not doubt. Believe."
Thomas fell on his knees, tears streaming down his face. "My Lord and my God!" he said to Jesus.
Jesus put his hand on Thomas' shoulder and said, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen me and yet believe that God's love is more powerful than death."
Questions to think about:
I wonder if you have ever been scared.
I wonder if you have ever doubted something that you were told.
I wonder what Jesus' voice sounded like when he visited his friends.
I wonder what the men did in that room for a whole week.
I wonder what happened after Jesus left for the second time.
I wonder what it feels like to have the Holy Spirit in you.