" Something Happened ! "

 

John 20:19-31 "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, came JESUS and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when HE had so said, HE showed unto them HIS hands and HIS side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD. Then said JESUS to them again, Peace be unto you: as MY FATHER hath sent ME, even so send I you. And when HE had said this, HE breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the HOLY GHOST: Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when JESUS came. The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD, but he said unto them, except I shall see in HIS hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into HIS side, I will not believe.

And after eight days again HIS disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came JESUS, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith HE to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold MY hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into MY side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto HIM, My LORD and my GOD. JESUS saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen ME, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did JESUS in the presence of HIS disciples, which are not written in this Book: but these are written, that ye might believe that JESUS is the CHRIST, the SON of GOD; and that believing ye might have life through HIS name."

     Peter denied the LORD three times. He did not want to admit that he had been with JESUS and that he was one of HIS disciples. However, about fifty-three days later, this same Peter boldly confessed CHRIST to thousands of Jewish people (Acts 2). The man who cowered before a damsel (John 18:17) became a courageous preacher of the Gospel. Something happened ! The half-brothers of JESUS did not believe in HIM (John 7:5); they grew up with HIM but did not embrace HIM as Israel's promised MESSIAH and KING. Yet, James later became the leader of the Jerusalem church, and both he and Jude wrote New Testament books, proclaiming that they were slaves of JESUS CHRIST WHOM they served and loved (James 1:1; Jude 1:1 pictured above). Something happened (1st.Corinthians 15:7) ! JESUS' disciples ran away after HE was arrested (Mark 14:27, 50). Later these same men became bold preachers and missionaries, willing to be martyred for the Gospel they preached. Something happened to these men ! For centuries the Jewish people had set apart the Sabbath (Saturday) for worship. But, Christian believers, many of whom were Jews, began to gather on the first day of the week (Sunday). What brought about such a momentous change ? Something happened ! Thomas was absent when JESUS appeared to HIS ten disciples, and they informed him, "We have seen the LORD !" But Thomas said, "Except I shall see in HIS hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into HIS side, I will not believe" (v.25). A week later, "Doubting Thomas" instantly was transformed into "Convinced Thomas" ! Something happened ! Has the resurrection of JESUS CHRIST, on your behalf, transformed your life ? GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

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