Stand, Speak, Show, Open

And I have said it MANY times before, that Jesus is our standard. He is our example. He is who we should learn the most from and seek to emulate.

And we can look ALL throughout the Gospels to find the pattern of His person. To uncover His characteristics and study His habits.

John 20:19-23 is such an important section of scripture following the death and resurrection of Jesus.
It says this in the NLT, “That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! ‘Peace be with you,’ He said. As He spoke, He showed them the wounds in His hands and His side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again He said, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you.’ Then He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.’”

We can gain SO much from this conversation between the resurrected Christ and His students… His friends!

From here, we find 4 lessons we can learn from His life by just these 5 verses. And they could be easy to miss if we aren’t slowing down to really take notice and observe. Ahh… yes… read until you hear His voice!

So on my sticky note I wrote them.
Jesus set the example for us, friends:
1.) Stand with people
2.) Speak peace
3.) Show wounds
4.) Open the Word

1.) Stand with people. “Suddenly Jesus was STANDING there among them.”
Oh how we are called to stand with our friends and loved ones. When they hurt, when they’re confused, when they're anxious. We are better together. “If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.” (Eccl 4:10). We need each other. And maybe now more than ever. Who are your people? Who is your tribe? Stand with them. Jesus did just that! He came to where there was pain and He entered into people’s stories with them.

2.) Speak peace. “PEACE be with you.” And He says it twice in this section of scripture. He enters in with them and speaks peace over them. His very presence was peace. And you and I can be carriers of that same peace. When we walk into a room, do we usher in peace with us??

3.) Show wounds. “He showed them the WOUNDS in His hands and His side.” Our story matters. When we are able to share our own wounds with other people - faith is increased. When we tell of our healing stories, and the way God has redeemed and restored us from our past state, we give hope to the hurting. There is nothing we possess greater than our personal witness to the glory of Jesus Christ! Share your testimony. Release that same miracle working power into the lives of those who need to know that He, too, can “do it again” for them!

4.) Open the Word. “As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you.” He reminds them of the words He spoke to them while He was living among them as a man. His very word now more alive than ever! Yes… the LIVING Word. It’s what they now had standing in their midst. Open the Word for people… BE the living Word for people. Remind them of who Jesus is and what He can do for them. Share the promises of God. Be Jesus in flesh!

Stand, Speak Peace, Show Wounds, and Open the Word.

Such great reminders to us today as we press forward PAST the cross into FULL resurrection with Jesus!