Daily Devotions
John
John 20:19-31 "THE DIFFICULTY OF CONVINCING THE MEN DISCIPLES"
Day 338 – John 20
THE DIFFICULTY OF CONVINCING THE MEN DISCIPLES
As part of their training, Jesus once sent seventy of His Disciples out to proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom (Luke 10:1-23). Luke noted the sense of jubilance of the Disciples on their return from a successful preaching trip.
“Then the seventy returned with joy, saying,
‘Lord , even the demons are subject to us in
Your Name.'”
Luke 10:17
The angels gave specific instruction to the women Disciples that they were to tell their fellow-disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead! Mary Magdalene was also given a similar word! She was to share that she had seen the Lord Jesus! Yet when the women Disciples began to witness to their friends, they rejected what they said. Luke noted,
“And their words seemed to them like idle tales,
and they did not believe them.”
Luke 24:11
How could the Disciples succeed in preaching to non-believers, and yet fail when they were seeking to bless their friends with the glorious news that Jesus had risen from the dead? The problem of unbelief was far deeper than comprehended or realized!
A MUCH-NEEDED APPEARANCE OF THE RISEN SAVIOUR TO HIS DISCIPLES
Jesus decided that He would appear to His Disciples. This was not the norm, but rather the exception. Much was at stake. The Risen Saviour was NOT going to abide with His Disciples for very much longer! His work on earth was done. The next part of God’s programme was to involve the Holy Spirit!
The problem of unbelief was too major a problem to be left alone! He had to deal with the problem head on. John recorded another appearance of the Risen Saviour to a group of Disciples this time.
“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.'”
John 20:19
The Disciples still kept in touch with each other! Three years of being together had bonded them well. They had studied together, served together and over the years they became fast friends. They must have met to discuss the death of Jesus. One of the topics that they would have discussed would be the story of the women Disciples, who claimed that they had seen Jesus. A third topic would be the testimony of Peter and John who ran to the tomb of Jesus, but found it empty!
John intimated that there was an additional problem. They knew that the chief priests and the Pharisees were watching Jerusalem intensely. They were readying themselves for the Disciples’ retaliation. Would it not be normal to return attack for attack? But the Disciples were not meeting together to plan a reprisal! They were just plain scared of the Jews! Thus even when they held a discussion among themselves, they had to do that behind closed doors!
The Disciples had to deal with many issues at one and the same time. They were confused. They were unclear as to whether they should believe that Jesus rose from the dead! They were also afraid that the Jews would give them trouble! Would they also trump up charges against them as they did Jesus?
It was necessary that Jesus paid His Disciples a visit! He had to calm their fears. He had to clear their confusion. He had to help them regain their faith in Him, in the Word that He had spoken to them, in the Scriptures and of course in His Father! He must continue to be their Teacher once again. Hopefully, this round, the Disciples would put even more effort in their study of the Word that would be taught to them.
The doors were shut. The Disciples spoke in low tones to each other. How were they to take the testimonies of the women Disciples? They continued to be adamant and resolute, insisting that they were right! Jesus had risen from the dead!
Surely His resurrection would be the reason why His tomb was empty! The words of the angels were right! Why were they seeking “the living among the dead”? Jesus was NOT dead anymore! He was alive and well! But how could this be? The Disciples were in a dilemma. They could not come up with a solution to their problem!
In the midst of their discussion, Jesus suddenly appeared out of nowhere! The doors were still shut! How did Jesus get into the room that was shut? Was it really Jesus who had appeared to them? Suddenly, they heard the familiar greeting. There was also no mistaking that distinct voice that the Disciples had come to love so well!
The greeting Jesus gave, “Peace be with you” was as ancient as the nation. One heard this familiar greeting in the streets daily! But those words couldn’t have been more welcome and meaningful than at that moment. There was anything but peace in their hearts!
There had been intense, traumatic pain felt because their beloved Teacher had died. They had grown to love Him so dearly, that news of His death had virtually shattered them! Was this really Jesus? But of course it was! His words were not just the casual or banal way in which people greeted each other meaninglessly. When He spoke the word “peace” something happened in their hearts! The fear was gone! There was peace in their hearts indeed!
A NEW-FOUND GLADNESS
John recorded well how the disciples felt when the risen Jesus appeared to them.
“Then the disciples were glad when they saw
the Lord.”
John 20:20
It was true after all! The women Disciples had been right! Jesus was alive! What joy filled their hearts now! They had seen the Risen Lord!