Living Words
"Living Words" is a weekly podcast that explores the transformative power of scripture across a diverse range of Biblical books, guided by insightful devotionals from the author's own works. Each episode seeks to deepen faith and understanding, connecting listeners with the enduring wisdom and relevance of the Bible in their daily lives.
Living Words
In His Footsteps Week 28: The Resurrection Appearances
What if you could transform fear into joy and skepticism into unwavering faith? This episode of the Living Words Podcast tackles those very questions as we explore the resurrection appearances of Jesus in John 20:19-23 and John 20:24-29. We dive deep into the moments when Jesus first appeared to His disciples after His resurrection, instilling peace in their hearts and commissioning them with the Holy Spirit. The journey continues with Thomas, who transitions from doubt to a profound declaration of faith upon seeing Jesus' wounds, emphasizing the blessedness of believing without seeing. These pivotal moments teach us about the gifts of Jesus' peace, the empowerment for mission through the Holy Spirit, and the assurance for those who believe without physical evidence.
In the second part of this episode, we offer heartfelt prayers aimed at empowering and strengthening your faith. We seek God's guidance and the Holy Spirit's filling, asking for the courage and ability to spread His message of forgiveness and grace. Additionally, we pray for unshakeable trust in God's promises during times of doubt and uncertainty. These prayers are crafted to inspire and comfort you, providing spiritual nourishment to carry through your week. Tune in and let these words be a source of blessing and encouragement until we meet again next Sabbath.
Get a copy of the In His Footsteps devotional here.
Good morning, blessed Sabbath. I'm Charles Vance and this is Living Words Podcast. This week is Week 28, the Resurrection Appearances. This is Week 28 of the 52 Weeks in the Gospel of John from In His Footsteps devotional. If you'd like a copy of this devotional, you can get it at Amazon. I'll leave a link to it in the show notes or you can just go to Amazon and search for In His Footsteps 52 Weeks in the Gospel of John. So this week the text is John 20, 19-23, and John 20, 24-29.
Speaker 1:These verses recount two post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to his disciples, revealing profound truths about peace, belief and the mission of the church. These passages underscore the transformative power of his resurrection and its implications for his followers. John 20, 19-23,. Jesus appears to his disciples On the evening of his resurrection day. He appears to his disciples On the evening of his resurrection day. He appears to his disciples who are gathered in a locked room for fear of the Jewish leaders. His greeting Peace be with you is not only a common Jewish salutation, but also a profound declaration of the peace he brings through his victory over death. He shows them his hands and side, providing tangible evidence of the identity and the reality of the crucifixion. This encounter moves the disciples from fear to joy and he then commissions them, saying as the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And he breathes on them and says Receive the Holy Spirit, empowering them for the mission ahead and imparting the authority to forgive sins, which signifies the reconciliatory role of the John.
Speaker 1:20, 24-29 is the story of Jesus and Thomas. Thomas, absent during his first appearance, expresses skepticism about the resurrection, famously saying he will not believe unless he sees the nail marks in the hands of Jesus and puts his finger where the nails were. A week later, jesus appears again and invites Thomas to touch his wounds. Thomas responds with a profound declaration of faith my Lord and my God. And he then speaks to the broader theme of beliefs, blessing those who believe without seeing Key themes in theological significance about this passage is the peace through Jesus. His greeting of peace underscores the peace with God made possible through his death and resurrection, peace amid fear and certainty and doubt. It's also the mission of the church and Jesus, in commissioning his disciples, highlights the continuation of his mission through the church, empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 1:The authority to forgive sins emphasizes the church role in the ministry of reconciliation. And you know this. I'm not sure I agree with the wording there to forgive sins. It's not really because the authority, the forgiveness of sins, comes from God himself, because the forgiveness of sins comes from God himself. The only one that can forgive you sins is Jesus himself, and as a disciple they're sent to go forth to proclaim the forgiveness of Jesus through his blood. So I think it's not that they have the authority to forgive sins. I think they have the authority to cast out demons. They have authority to heal, they have authority to bring the kingdom of God near to you so that you can grasp onto it and receive this forgiveness of sins from the Messiah himself.
Speaker 1:Now Thomas's story talks about faith beyond sight. It addresses the struggle that we have with doubt and faith, culminating in a powerful confession of his divinity. It encourages believers that faith does not always stem from the physical proof, but from relational trust in Jesus. Some of the lessons we see are the gift of his peace that transcends circumstances. First words to his disciples post-resurrection Peace be with you. This highlights the deep, abiding peace he offers, one that overcomes fear, uncertainty and turmoil. This peace is rooted in the reconciliation that God made possible through his sacrifice and as Jesus' sacrifice over victory and death. And John 20, 19,. There's also empowerment for mission through Holy Spirit. When Jesus breathes on His disciples and says Receive the Holy Spirit, he empowers them for the mission of proclaiming forgiveness and reconciliation in His name. This act signifies the sending of the church to continue His redemptive work, equipped and guided by the Spirit. John 20, 21-22,. Again, jesus said Peace be with you, as the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and said Receive the Holy Spirit. And also we have blessed assurance from those who believe without seeing. Thomas' initial belief and subsequent declaration of faith upon seeing Jesus underscores the blessedness of believing without physical evidence In Jesus' words to Thomas, extended to all future believers, offering assurance and blessing to those who trust in him through faith and not sight, laying a foundation for the nature of Christian belief.
Speaker 1:Reflection and discussion. How does his resurrection appearance address the disciples' fear and doubts? Because he says peace to you. And then he says touch me, I'm here, these are my wounds, this is my nail-scarred hand, here's the side where the sword went in. This gave them complete peace and joy, knowing that he had risen again, as he said. He would so reflect on the transformation from fear to bold witness. How does the resurrection power empower us? Because that's the Spirit of God. That's the power of the Spirit of God in dwelling that when you receive Christ and you bring His Spirit into you, you have His Spirit within you. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is within you. Christ from the dead is within you.
Speaker 1:And there's some suggested prayers. A prayer for peace. Lord Jesus, prince of Peace, in a world filled with turmoil and fear, I seek the peace you offered your disciples on the evening of your resurrection. May your peace, which transcends all understanding, guard my heart and mind, help me to trust in your sovereign care and find rest in your presence, no matter the challenge I face. Let your peace flow through me that I may be a beacon of your calm and assurance to those around me. Amen.
Speaker 1:Now a prayer for empowerment and mission.
Speaker 1:Heavenly Father, as Jesus sent his disciples, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to continue his work of reconciliation, so I ask for your empowerment in my life.
Speaker 1:Fill me anew with your Spirit that I might serve your kingdom with boldness and love. Guide me in sharing the message of your forgiveness and grace with the world in desperate need of your hope Equip me for every good work that I may faithfully fulfill the mission you have entrusted to me. Amen, in a prayer for faith. Lord of all, in moments of doubt and uncertainty, remind me of the blessed assurance promised to those who believe, without seeing Strengthen my faith, that I may cling to the truth of your resurrection and lordship with unwavering trust. And, like Thomas, may my heart respond to your gracious revelation with a deep and personal confession of your lordship over my life. Increase my faith that I may walk confidently in your promises, serving as a witness to your transformative power and love. Amen. I hope this has been a blessing to you and I hope you found some words of comfort and encouragement in this brief devotion that you can take with you the rest of the day and the rest of the week, until we meet again. I'll see you again next Sabbath.
