What moves you from fear to peace? What replaces your terror with gladness?

The disciples of Jesus were anxious and afraid after the crucifixion. They closed themselves up together in a room behind locked doors out of their fear.

When Jesus showed up and stood with his disciples he brought his peace with him. Everyone’s anxiety and fear turned to gladness when they saw Jesus.

John tells us, “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:19-20, ESV).

What do you see around you and in your life that confirms the reality of Jesus for you? What signs of Jesus’ divinity do you see in the world?

The truth of Jesus is evident in the Bible, in creation, in the church, and in the children of God.

In his gospel account, John wrote the purpose of his writing, saying, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31, ESV).

When it comes to your faith in the resurrected Jesus, do you believe? Do you always believe? Do you sometimes doubt?

Sometimes belief and doubt are so close to one another. Our doubts are answerable. We can go from disbelief to belief through the evidence of our faith.

Thomas, who often gets a bad reputation as someone who doubted, had his faith assured by Jesus. Thomas’ doubt was put at ease by Jesus allowing him to experience the evidence of his resurrection. Thomas moved from disbelief and doubt to belief.

Eight days after Jesus’ resurrection appearance to his disciples, “The disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you.’ Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.’ Thomas answered him, ‘My Lord and my God!’” (John 20:26-28, ESV).

How do we receive victory over death? Where does immortality and everlasting life come from?

We hope for death to be defeated. We long to be imperishable. We desire death to be swallowed up by life. We crave immortality and life everlasting.

The Apostle Paul wrote the church in Corinth, saying, “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.’” (1 Corinthians 15:54, ESV).

What does your suffering reveal? Does your suffering have purpose?

Suffering is an inevitable reality of living in a broken world. Seldom can we escape suffering in this life.

Suffering does not have to be meaningless, nor does it need to lead us into despair or hopelessness.

Suffering can be revealing, and can have deep meaning and purpose in our lives.

The Apostle Paul instructed the church in Rome with this truth in his letter, writing, “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:16-17, ESV).

Why does the Apostle John want us to know that Mary assumed Jesus was a Gardner at the resurrection in his gospel account?

God created all things good and set humanity in Eden, a garden paradise. When humanity sinned at Adam and Eve’s rebellion, it happened in a garden, and humanity fell, and the Garden of Eden fell. When Jesus defeated sin and death on a cross, and from the grave on the third day, he resurrected from a garden tomb, and humanity was resurrected from that garden, and now the garden will be resurrected with us in the last day.

John’s resurrection account tells us Mary was inquiring of two angels in the tomb about the whereabouts of Jesus’ body. “[Mary] turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means Teacher).” (John 20:13-16, ESV).

What is left for God to do to complete his work? Is God’s work complete? What about the work of Jesus on the cross? What did the cross of Jesus accomplish in our lives and in this world?

When Jesus died on the cross for the sins of the world, he proclaimed that his saving and redemptive work was finished. The complete debt of sin was paid in full by the Son of God on the cross.

The Gospel of John tells us, “Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), ‘I thirst.’ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” (John 19:28-30, ESV).

According to John’s Gospel account, in John, chapter thirteen, Jesus arose from the Passover meal with his disciples and began to wash his disciple’s feet. All of his disciples, even Judas, whom he knew was about to betray him. The text says, “During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him” (John 13:2, ESV).

The next verses tell us, “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (John 13:3-5, ESV).

The first century seating arrangement, at what most likely would have been a triclinium table, dictated that the last seat at the table was meant for the servant, and if a servant was not available, it would have been the job of the person at the lowliest position at the table to wash the feet of the guests. This job would have fallen to Peter, who was most likely seated in that last seat, which is why when Jesus begins to wash the disciple’s feet, Peter protests vehemently.

What motivates you to do what you do? Do you understand why you do the work you do? What is your purpose for the vocation you have chosen, and the work you do?

Motivation is important in the quality and the outcomes of our work.

When we begin with why we do something, the purpose of what we do, it shapes how we do what we do, and the effectiveness and purposefulness of what we produce and bring into the world.

The Apostle Paul wrote the church in Corinth about the correct motivation for work, saying, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, ESV).

Who is ruling over your life? Who are you looking to for hope and for salvation?

The question is, will God triumphantly enter into the gates of your life?

We are all ruled and governed by something or someone.

The Kingdom God is often referred to as the rule and reign of God.

We long for and need God to rule over our fragmented lives and over this broken world.

What does resting look like in your life? Do you take time to rest?

Resting is a key component of following God. Resting is a reflection of the character of God, and our trust in him and our obedience to him.


God commanded his people to rest in the Torah, saying, “‘Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.” (Leviticus 23:3).

Sabbath is about resting in God. Work is essential enough to do six days a week. Resting in God for a day is essential in showing obedience and love for God.


The author of Hebrews wrote, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” (Hebrews 4:9-10).

What do you know you should be doing? Are you doing what you know you should be doing?

When it comes to doing the right thing, we are to do what we know we should be doing. We are not to do the things we know we should not be doing.

When it comes to living well, we are to do what we know is right.

James, the half brother of Jesus, writes this wisdom in his letter, saying, “So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (James 4:17, ESV).

What are you working for? Who are you working for? What is your work accomplishing?

The wisdom of the Proverbs tells us that our work brings us God given agency and freedom, saying, “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.” (Proverbs 12:24, ESV).

Our work is essential for provision and fulfillment. Our work has purpose. Our work has eternal significance. Our work brings God glory and helps usher in God’s kingdom in this world.

Do you feel condemnation from God or others? Where does condemnation come from? Are you condemned?

God has not come to condemn us, but to set us free from guilt and shame.

The gospel of John tells us, “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17, ESV).

What are you living for? What are you dying to?

As followers of Jesus, we are living for God, and we are living for a greater purpose and call. We are also called to be dying to certain sinful things in our life.

The Apostle Paul wrote the Galatian church, instructing them, saying, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” (Galatians 5:24, ESV).

How do you stay sharp? Who is sharpening you? Who are you helping to sharpen?

We cannot follow God on our own and we cannot do life on our own. We need one another to help one another stay sharp.

The wisdom of the Proverbs instructs us, saying, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17, ESV).

What do you believe about life after death? What does resurrection mean? What does it mean that Jesus is the resurrection and the life?

Jesus gives us his resurrected life in place of our sin generated death.

When Jesus’ friend Lazarus was not well, he went to visit Lazarus and his sisters in Bethany, after waiting a few days. When Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already died and had been in the tomb four days.

When Lazarus’ sister Martha heard that Jesus was coming, “she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.’” (John 11:20-22, ESV).

How has God designed you? In what ways are you unique and gifted? Do you see that God made you on purpose? Can you see God’s thoughtful and good design?

We were made by God’s good intention, purpose, and design.

The Psalmist writes, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:13-14, ESV).

Who are you trying to be like? Are you imitating someone? Who do you pattern your life after?

Following Jesus is about doing what he does. Jesus followers avoid evil and do the good that Jesus has modeled.

Discipleship is imitation.

We can be imitators of evil, or we can be imitators of good.

In his third letter, the Apostle John wrote, “Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.” (3 John 1:11, ESV).

Can you see in the pitch black darkness? Do you have blind spots in your life?

We need light to see. In our sinfulness, we are blinded and we walk in darkness.

Jesus came as the light of the world to help us see his light.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus said, “‘As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.” (John 9:5-7, ESV).