It’s easy for Christians to fall into a rut: Church is a thing you do, prayer is a box to check, and faith seems far from “the real world.” This fall we let Jesus himself confront our ruts. “Do you believe this?” he asks (Jn. 11:26).
To believe in Jesus is to experience him. It’s more than logic, argument, and doctrine. It is intimate knowledge of God himself. This fall, let Jesus himself speak to you in his seven “I AM” statements in the gospel of John. How is he changing you? What response is he inspiring in you? To believe in him changes everything.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Ponder
Today we ponder the I AM statement: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Why are darkness and night associated with sin and evil? What darkness are you experiencing in your life today?
Word
John 20:19
“Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’”
Meditation: Belief that Brings Us More Than Peace by Julianna Shults
Unprecedented. Exhausting. Chaotic. All words that we have overused to describe 2020. Vocabulary is limited when describing how a pandemic, politics, racial tension and so much more fit into such a short time frame. In that year I anxiously overbought hand sanitizer and boxed mac and cheese. My heart broke not getting to hug, celebrate, and eat with my friends and family. Instead, I filled my time alternating between diving deep into the news or disconnecting into Netflix.
After a season of isolation and difficult questions, we all are looking for some peace.
After Jesus’ death and resurrection, the disciples were locked away in a room (something we can empathize now). While they had heard stories of an empty tomb, they doubted what it meant. They had given up their lives to follow Jesus and now they were left hiding and afraid.
Suddenly, Jesus appears in the room with them. He has risen just like He promised. His first words are “Peace be with you.”
Peace was exactly what the disciples needed right then. In their unprecedented, chaotic moment, God’s peace brought assurance, comfort, rest. After all they had experienced with Jesus, I’m sure they wouldn’t have minded some down time and a nap.
Except Jesus didn’t stop there. Jesus didn’t come simply to give us peace, but to offer us so much more.
In verse 21 we read, “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.’”
Belief in the resurrected Jesus brings us peace, but it also moves us to action. Jesus sent the disciples out with His Holy Spirit to share the good news of Salvation. Just like the disciples, we are sent to the people around us who need God’s grace and forgiveness. In the midst of hard times, we read of Jesus in appearing to the disciples and are reminded of our belief that God is present and continuing to fulfill His promises to us.
Jesus has given us peace through his death and resurrection, but we cannot simply sit and hold it for ourselves. Like the disciples, we move from doubt to belief, fear to peace, and out into the open where we care for our neighbor by sharing the Gospel.
Dear Heavenly Father, step into our moment now just as you stepped into the room with the disciples. Bring us peace. Send your Holy Spirit so our belief in you can move us towards love for others. Help us to share the faith and forgiveness you offer with others and bring them from doubt to belief. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Prayer
Jesus, you said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Chase away the sins in my life that like to hide in the shadows. Dispel confusion and ignorance. Shine into the dark corners of my world today. Amen.
Benediction
May the blessing of the eternal God be upon us and upon our work;
His light to guide us,
His presence to strengthen us,
His love to unite us;
Now and always. Amen.