John 20:19-23

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors were locked where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 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 retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

Discuss these questions on our Facebook page:

• When the disciples were gathered in fear (John 20:19), Jesus came to them and offered peace. Have you experienced the peace that comes from Jesus in the midst of a time of great fear? What did that look like? What other words describe the feelings of a group of people gathering in fear?

• In our lectionary passage from John 20, Jesus brings peace to the fearful disciples. Concerning John 20, The preaching notes say, “We don’t create this peace. We receive it. Like a breath.” In your community and around you, who needs to receive the peace of Christ?

Acts 2:1-21
Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
John 20:19-23