Hiding in Fear (Easter Day 3)

Easter Wednesday: Hiding in Fear

PRAY: Ask God to speak to you from His Word.

READ: John 20:19-23

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

UNDERSTAND: What is the main idea of this passage?

Imagine this for a moment. Your leader and your friends are the most popular group in town. Your leader gets arrested, executed, and buried. Three days later his body is missing and your group is probably being blamed for stealing the body. Do you think you would be afraid? Sure you would! But if your leader comes back from the dead and walks into your hiding spot, that certainly would change your fear to joy.

APPLY: What is this passage calling me to do?

Immediately after appearing to a group of fearful disciples, Jesus gives them a job to do. He tells them that He is sending them out into the world the same way that God the Father had sent Him. The disciples were given a new purpose for their lives. And history tells us that they went all over the known world spreading the Gospel.

What do you think is your purpose?

How is your everyday life fulfilling or not fulfilling that purpose?

PRAY: Ask God to give you the courage to live out His purpose for you.