David Jeremiah (March 16, 2025) Daily Devotional: Season of Hope: The Meeting Room.
Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” - John 20:19
Recommended Reading: John 20:19-29 - THE APOSTLES COMMISSIONED - 19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”...
After His triumphal entry, Jesus instructed Peter and John to secure a large room in a house in Jerusalem where they could meet and partake in the Passover meal.
On Sunday evening the disciples were gathered in that same Upper Room, still mourning the loss of their Savior and also probably talking about how they could escape the wrath of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly a Man appeared in the room. The disciples were terrified, for the Man in the room had not come through the door, and the door was still locked. Was it a ghost? But then the Man showed them His nail-scarred hands and His side. It was Jesus! He had indeed risen from the dead! One disciple, Thomas, was absent on that evening and did not believe when they told him the good news. So a week later the resurrected Lord appeared again in the Upper Room, allowing Thomas to personally feel the nail prints in His hands and touch the hole in His side from the spear. And Thomas responded, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)
We can be thankful that God reaches out to us where we are, like He did for Thomas, to erase our doubts and support us in our weaknesses.
Our loving Lord is not just present, but nearer than the thought can imagine—so near that a whisper can reach Him. - Amy Carmichael
