Apr 12 Divine Service
- NAC News
- 22 hours ago
- 2 min read
Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
John 20:19-20
Where are we in the Bible?
Our Bible verses for this sermon are a continuation of the verses that served as the foundation for Easter Sunday (20:17-18). This gives special significance to the word “then” at the beginning of verse 19, and serves to create a bridge between the two Sundays. This appearance of the risen Jesus to His disciples is the first of three outlined in the Gospel of John (see 20:24-31 and 21:1-22), and it includes four notable themes: fear (20:19), Jesus’ bestowal of peace (20:19,21), sending and being sent (20:21), and the gift of the Holy Spirit (20:22).
Summary
The resurrection invites us to move beyond clinging to the past and to step into the new life Christ offers. As we live and share the power of His resurrection, we trust that all souls will encounter Him personally, as our role is to faithfully bear witness to all. The resurrection of Jesus Christ confirms His divine Sonship and the truth of the gospel, stands as the foundation of our faith, and sends us out with a message of hope, calling us to share the joy of the resurrection with our neighbors as its life-giving effects continue in the world.
It’s important that we put ourselves into this story so that we understand the significance of Jesus’ greeting of peace. It is now the evening of the day of resurrection. The doors are shut, implying that the disciples have not believed Mary’s report (20:18) and have not gone looking for Jesus, but are still in hiding. They’re dominated by fear. This fear is justified, as the collusion between the religious authorities and the Roman Empire has destroyed Jesus, and the disciples have every reason to expect that they will be found guilty by association. It’s into this fear and confusion-filled setting that the Risen Lord enters.
Foundational readings:
Scripture John 20:1-23
Catechism 12.1.8.8
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April Divine Service overview click here to read
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