John 20 - The Gospel 

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. 

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like. 

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭20:19-22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Peace be with you. The disciples were behind locked doors, living in fear of the Jewish leaders, and Jesus comes with a message of peace. Jesus again brings a message of Peace...and then breathed on them and said, “receive the Holy Spirit.” I find it also interesting, and a bit fascinating, they did not actually receive the Holy Spirit, or at least the scripture does not say they do. That comes later. Interestingly again, the Lord tells them to do something, and they don’t. Oh, to understand what it is like to be human. :) 

A week later, Jesus came to doubting Thomas and brought the message, “Peace be with you!” 

The Gospel, the Good News! John closes his account with this;

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭20:30-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus defeated death, and he brings peace and abundant life. That by believing you may have life! Amen, and praise God.