Blessed are you who believe (John 20:11-29) December 24, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – John 20:11-29

Set – John 20-21

Go! – John 19-21

John 20:11-29
11 Mary, however, stood outside the tomb sobbing, crying, and kneeling at its entrance. 12 As she cried, two heavenly messengers appeared before her sitting where Jesus’ head and feet had been laid.
Heavenly Messengers: 13 Dear woman, why are you weeping?
Mary Magdalene: They have taken away my Lord, and I cannot find Him.
14 After uttering these words, she turned around to see Jesus standing before her, but she did not recognize Him.
Jesus: 15 Dear woman, why are you sobbing? Who is it you are looking for?
She still had no idea who it was before her. Thinking He was the gardener, she muttered:
Mary Magdalene: Sir, if you are the one who carried Him away, then tell me where He is and I will retrieve Him.
Jesus: 16 Mary!
Mary Magdalene (turning to Jesus and speaking in Hebrew): Rabboni, my Teacher!
Jesus: 17 Mary, you cannot hold Me. I must rise above this world to be with My Father, who is also your Father; My God, who is also your God. Go tell this to all My brothers.
18 Mary Magdalene obeyed and went directly to His disciples.
Mary Magdalene (announcing to the disciples): I have seen the Lord, and this is what He said to me . . .
19 On that same evening (Resurrection Sunday), the followers gathered together behind locked doors in fear that some of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem were still searching for them. Out of nowhere, Jesus appeared in the center of the room.
Jesus: May each one of you be at peace.
20 As He was speaking, He revealed the wounds in His hands and side. The disciples began to celebrate as it sank in that they were really seeing the Lord.
Jesus: 21 I give you the gift of peace. In the same way the Father sent Me, I am now sending you.
22 Now He drew close enough to each of them that they could feel His breath. He breathed on them:
Jesus: Welcome the Holy Spirit of the living God. 23 You now have the mantle of God’s forgiveness. As you go, you are able to share the life-giving power to forgive sins, or to withhold forgiveness.
24 All of the eleven were present with the exception of Thomas. 25 He heard the accounts of each brother’s interaction with the Lord.
The Other Disciples: We have seen the Lord!
Thomas: Until I see His hands, feel the wounds of the nails, and put my hand to His side, I won’t believe what you are saying.
26 Eight days later, they gathered again behind locked doors; and Jesus reappeared. This time Thomas was with them.
Jesus: May each one of you be at peace.
27 He drew close to Thomas.
Jesus: Reach out and touch Me. See the punctures in My hands; reach out your hand, and put it to My side; leave behind your faithlessness, and believe.
Thomas (filled with emotion): 28 You are the one True God and Lord of my life.
Jesus: 29 Thomas, you have faith because you have seen Me. Blessed are all those who never see Me and yet they still believe.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

I love the reactions people have when the Father sends His messengers to meet with them. Most of the time, they recognize them as His angels and fall on their face as though they were dead. All the soldiers positioned around the tomb fell prostrate that morning. The angel’s feet touched the ground, an earthquake shook the ground, and the soldiers fell down as if dead. It happens all the time. They can be really scary dudes when they don’t come to deliver a message to you…or even when they do.

Mary got their rhetorical question that morning, “Why are you crying?” Of course they knew. She didn’t know where I was even though I had told her I would rise from the grave. Her joy overcame her fear…sort of. I’m not sure she knew they were angels yet. Then she turned to Me and thought I was the gardner. Still frozen with grief, she didn’t know who I was.

All that was to change for her and My disciples in just a few short minutes. The angels announcement, My appearance in the garden, then My appearance behind locked doors grew their faith exponentially. The eleven began a mission that changed the world at My direction. Millions believe because of the truth Mary found out from the angel that morning. The truth My disciples learned that evening. The truth of My words and My Spirit in them.

They all believed because they saw Me. Blessed are you because you believe and have not seen Me, but trust in My word and the word of those who have gone before you.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
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