Author: Kerry

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Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
John 20:24–25

When Doubt Demands Proof

Thomas was not there. We are not told why. But in his absence, he missed out on the peace the risen Jesus brought to his disciples with his appearance. When the others told him, “We have seen the Lord,” Thomas refused to believe without tangible proof. “Unless I see… unless I touch… I will not believe.”

We often judge Thomas rather harshly. Yet his demand is deeply human. Disappointment makes us guarded. Grief makes us cautious. We hesitate to trust again. Thomas was not asking for some mystical feeling; he wanted reality.

But notice this: even in his doubt, Thomas remained among the disciples. He did not abandon the fellowship entirely. And that matters.

There will be seasons when you struggle. You may wrestle with suffering, prayers that seem unanswered, or intellectual questions. Doubt does not shock Jesus. He knows the wounds that cause it.

Yet the answer to doubt is not isolation. When doubt or grief casts a long shadow over your soul, the worst thing you can do is to go off alone with your gloomy thoughts.

The best thing you can do is to go where believers in Jesus gather around the promises of God and encourage one another with those promises. Go and be where Jesus meets with us— “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). Go and be where his sweet “Peace be with you,” is spoken, where praying with others and for others and singing praise to God with many voices can lift you up and outside of yourself. The answer to doubt is not isolation.

Thomas stayed close enough to hear again.

And Jesus did not scold him from a distance. He came near. He lives not to shame doubters, but to give them proof and peace. The risen Jesus is patient with you, too. Even when your grip weakens, his hold remains firm.

Prayer:

Lord, when I struggle with doubt, keep me near your Word and your people. Strengthen my faith with the certainty of your resurrection. Amen.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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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. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
John 20:21–23

Sent with the Spirit’s Power

Twice, Jesus said, “Peace be with you.” Then he added, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

The peace Jesus gives is not stagnant. It inspires people who have found peace to now offer it to others in Jesus’ name.

Notice what empowered Jesus’ disciples: “He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” The same Lord who breathed life into Adam now breathes new life into fearful disciples. Resurrection life becomes missionary life.

And what is the core of their mission? Forgiveness. “If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” This is astonishing authority. Christians do not invent forgiveness; they deliver what Jesus purchased. The peace Jesus spoke in that locked room now travels through the mouths of believers into the ears of sinners. When a believer in Jesus declares, “I forgive you in Jesus’ name,” it is not wishful thinking. It is the living Jesus applying the forgiveness he purchased and won.

Receive from the risen Jesus the power of forgiveness.

Receive from the risen Jesus the power to forgive.

You are sent to bring peace to people in this world—not necessarily across oceans, but across rooms, across tables, across ordinary conversations. You carry the message that death has been defeated and sins are forgiven.

“Peace be with you!”

Prayer:

Jesus, breathe your Spirit into me. Fill me with your peace and send me to share the forgiveness you have won. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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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.
John 20:19-20

Behind Locked Doors

The doors were locked. The disciples were scared. The next knock on the door might be Roman soldiers sent by Jesus’ enemies to finish the job and make sure every last disciple of Jesus was silenced for good. But then—without knocking—Jesus came and stood among them.

“Peace be with you.”

This peace knows everything is the way it should be. Hiding behind locked doors was not going to manufacture calm and peace in the disciples. So, Jesus came to them. The living, breathing, crucified-and-risen Jesus stood in the middle of their anxiety and declared peace—everything is as it should be. I’m alive. You’re forgiven. Peace be with you.

Not only did he declare peace to them, but he also gave them the proof they needed. He showed them his hands and side. The proof of his love remained visible. His wounds had not vanished. The proof of his presence was no longer in doubt.

You may feel isolated in your doubts, guilt, or fear of the future. Yet the risen Jesus does not wait for you to manufacture peace on your own. Through his Word, he stands among his people today.

And he still says, “Peace be with you.”

When we are afraid, Jesus doesn’t say, “Calm yourselves.” He says, “Look at me. See the wounds that won your freedom.” The same body that hung on the cross now stands alive. The penalty of sin was paid. Death was undone. Peace with God has been won.

The peace Jesus gives is not based on our feelings, but on Jesus’ promised presence, power, and love for us. Jesus proved his love for us when he died on the cross for us. He proved his power when he conquered death. Jesus lives, so our souls trust that Jesus makes everything the way it should be.

“Peace be with you!”

Prayer:

Jesus, fix my eyes on your wounds, that I may have peace in the certainty of your victory. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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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.
John 20:19-20

Then Jesus Stepped Into the Room

How secure are you? Is your job safe, or is there a lay-off coming? How about your health? Or what if you had a serious car accident, or your home caught on fire, or what if …?

These are important questions, but in reality, almost laughingly insignificant in comparison to, “What is my relationship to God?” Or to put it a different way, “When I die, where will I go—to heaven or hell?” Now these questions simply have to be answered, or there will be a nagging sense of worry, emptiness, and insecurity.

The problem is, as we look into our heart and mind, we’re not helped. Have we been perfectly patient with those around us, shown perfect love to them, always been an example of Christ-like love? Or do we see in ourselves a rash of impatience, unkindness, selfishness? Ouch, more insecurity.

Jesus’ disciples understood insecurity. There they were, locked in the room, with no idea what was going to happen next, with no idea where their life was going to go. And then? Then Jesus stepped into the room.

And what did he do? He showed them his hands and side. There, on his nail-pierced hands, was proof that the disciples were forgiven, that Jesus had fully paid for all their sins, and that they stood at one with God. It wasn’t, “Don’t worry, be happy, the sun will come out tomorrow.” No, it was far deeper. It was, “See here—in my hands and side—the proof that I love you! The proof that your sins are forgiven and you’re on the way to heaven!”

Jesus’ hands and side say the same thing to you and me: “You are forgiven. You are loved. You are on the way to heaven!”

Prayer:

Jesus, my risen Savior, often I’m nervous and afraid. Forgive me. Focus my attention on your nail-scarred, risen hands, that I might see clearly that my sins are forgiven, and that I’m at peace with you. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him.”
John 20:1-2

We Know Where Our Savior Is!

Panic, confusion, and emptiness filled Mary Magdalene. Already her heart was heavy with grief as she prepared for one last act of love for the one she had followed as the promised Messiah. She would help anoint his body for burial and then leave the tomb without hope and without help. But now this was too much to bear. Not only was her friend dead, but his body was also missing.

First, panic set in. “What could have happened?” Mary must have thought. Then confusion followed. “How could just a few days change my life so much? Just days ago, I thought I had found the Messiah. How I loved listening to him! His words freed me from my burdens. I really thought Jesus was the one. But now he’s gone. What am I to do?” And now her life felt empty. No Jesus. No hope. No help.

And that’s how our lives would also be, if Jesus had never been found, or if his dead body would have been discovered in the tomb or elsewhere. Without a risen Savior, we could have no hope, no help, no forgiveness, no life. Then we would have every reason to panic. Then confusion and emptiness would be our lot in life, and we would be pitiable and hopeless indeed.

Thankfully, the apostle Paul assures us in the book of 1 Corinthians, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20).

Thank the Lord, we know where our risen Savior is! He’s not in the grave, for he is alive, and we have the certain hope that we live eternally. Now our life remains full, today and forever!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, today I rejoice in the reality of your resurrection and the hope and help it provides. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Now the LORD provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Jonah 1:17

The Lord Provides a Savior

It seemed like the end. Jonah had run from the Lord. He boarded a ship going in the opposite direction. When the storm came and the truth was revealed, he was thrown into the sea. The water closed over him. There was no escape. No strength left. No hope of saving himself.

But the Lord provided. God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah. What looked like judgment became rescue. What seemed like certain death became the means of preserving his life. Jonah could not save himself, but the Lord saved him.

This account points us to someone greater than Jonah, that is, Jesus Christ.

Jesus would not spend portions of three days in a fish, but in the grave. He would sink into death itself, not because he ran from God, but because we have. He took our place. He carried our sin. He faced the punishment we deserved.

When Jesus died on the cross and was laid in the tomb, it seemed like hope was lost. But on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead. What looked like defeat was victory. What looked like judgment became salvation.

This means your salvation does not depend on your ability to rescue yourself. Like Jonah, you cannot escape sin or overcome death by your own strength. But the Lord has provided.

He provided his Son. Jesus entered death and came out alive. His resurrection proves that sin is forgiven. His victory means death is defeated.

When you feel overwhelmed by guilt, remember that Jesus has already paid for it. When you feel helpless against death, remember that Jesus has already conquered it. When you feel lost, remember that the Lord has already provided your rescue.

Your salvation rests not in what you have done, but in what Jesus has done for you. The Lord provided a fish for Jonah. The Lord provided a Savior for you.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for entering death to rescue me from sin and judgment. Strengthen my faith in your victory and help me trust in your saving love. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
John 20:18

Mary Saw the Lord

Grief had brought her to the tomb. Mary Magdalene stood outside weeping. The one who had changed her life was gone. Jesus Christ, who had freed her from darkness and given her hope, had been crucified. Now, even his body seemed to be missing. It felt like one more loss, one more sorrow, one more reason to despair.

Then Jesus spoke her name. “Mary.”

In that moment, everything changed. The one she thought was dead was alive. The one she thought was lost was standing right in front of her. Death had not won. The grave had not kept him. Jesus lived. Her sorrow turned to joy. Her despair turned to hope. And she went to tell the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”

This is the heart of the Christian faith. Not a philosophy. Not wishful thinking. A living Savior.

Mary was not sharing a rumor. She was announcing a reality. Jesus had risen from the dead, just as he promised. His sacrifice for sin had been accepted. His victory over death was complete.

This means everything for you. It means your sins are forgiven. Jesus did not remain in the grave because his work was finished. The payment was complete. God accepted his sacrifice in full.

It means death is not the end. Because Jesus lives, those who trust in him will live also. The grave is no longer a place of defeat, but a doorway to eternal life.

It means Jesus knows you personally. Just as he called Mary by name, he knows you. He sees your struggles, fears, and sorrows. And he comes to you through his Word with comfort and peace.

Mary’s message is still the message the world needs to hear: “I have seen the Lord.”

In the words of the Bible, you see him too. You see his love, his victory, and his promises. And because he lives, you have forgiveness, hope, and life, now and forever.

Prayer:

Risen Lord, thank you for revealing yourself as the living Savior. Strengthen my faith through your Word and remind me that you know me and love me. Help me live each day in the joy and confidence of your resurrection. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
John 21:13-14

Jesus Serves a Meal

It was a simple meal.

Jesus’ disciples had spent the night fishing and caught nothing. They were tired. Perhaps they were still uncertain about the future. They had seen the risen Jesus Christ, but what now? What would become of them? Had their failures disqualified them? Had Peter’s denial changed everything?

Then Jesus met them on the shore. He didn’t come with demands. He didn’t come with a list of corrections. He came with food. He took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. The risen Lord of life served his disciples.

What a beautiful reminder of who Jesus is.

This is the same Savior who had washed their feet. The same Savior who had given his life on the cross. The same Savior who rose from the dead in victory. And now, he still came to serve. His resurrection had not changed his heart. He was still their gracious, giving Savior.

This is comforting, because we are not so different from those disciples. We also grow tired. We also face uncertainty. We also carry the burden of our sins and failures. We wonder if we have done too much wrong, failed too often, or wandered too far.

Yet Jesus still comes to his people. He comes through his Word with his promises. He serves a meal, the Lord’s Supper, for the forgiveness of our sins. He comes with promises that calm our fears. He comes with his grace, not because we deserve it, but because he loves us.

The disciples did not need to earn that meal. Jesus freely gave it. In the same way, you do not earn his love. He freely gives it.

Your risen Savior lives. He knows your needs. He knows your weaknesses. And he still serves you with his grace.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for serving me with your grace and forgiveness. When I am uncertain, remind me that you are alive and caring for me. Strengthen my faith and help me trust your constant love. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you”
Luke 24:36

Peace Be With You

The doors were locked. The disciples had every reason to be afraid. Jesus Christ, their teacher and friend, had been crucified. Reports of his resurrection were circulating, but it all seemed too good to be true. And if the authorities had executed Jesus, what might they do to his followers?

Fear filled the room. Fear of the future. Fear of suffering. Fear of death. Into that fear, Jesus came and stood among them.

He didn’t knock. He didn’t wait for permission. He simply appeared. And the first words he spoke were not words of correction or disappointment. He didn’t say, “Why did you doubt?” or “Why did you run away?”

He said, “Peace be with you.” This was more than a greeting. It was a declaration.

Just days earlier, these disciples had failed him. They had argued about who was greatest. They had fled when he was arrested. Peter had denied even knowing him. Their fear and weakness were fresh failures.

Yet Jesus came with peace. This is the peace he won for them. His death on the cross had paid for every sin. His resurrection proved that forgiveness was complete. This is also the peace he brings to you.

You know your failures. You know the times fear overcame faith, when worry replaced trust, when sin spoke louder than God’s promises. Your conscience reminds you of what you’ve done wrong. And yet Jesus still arrives.

Through his Word, he stands among his people and says, “Peace be with you.” Your sins are forgiven. Your guilt is removed. Your relationship with God is restored. This peace does not depend on your strength. It depends on his finished work. Jesus lives. The cross counts. Forgiveness is real.

Whatever fears trouble your heart today, your risen Savior stands with you. He is not distant. He is not absent. He is alive. And he still speaks the words you need most. “Peace be with you.”

Prayer:

Risen Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing your peace to fearful hearts. Remind me that my sins are forgiven and that you are always with me. Strengthen my faith and calm my fears with your promises. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

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[Jesus] is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
Matthew 28:6

Just As He Said

The tomb was not supposed to be empty.

On Friday, everything seemed so certain. Jesus Christ had died. His lifeless body was laid in the tomb. A heavy stone was rolled into place. Roman guards stood watch. Death had done its work, just as it always had.

Early Sunday morning, the women came expecting the same reality we all know too well. They came expecting death. They came bringing spices, ready to care for the body. They came grieving, hearts heavy with loss and disappointment.

But instead of death, they heard life. The angel announced, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” Those words change everything.

Jesus had promised this. He told his disciples he would suffer, die, and rise again. At the time, they didn’t understand. It seemed impossible. Death doesn’t reverse itself. Graves don’t open. The dead don’t walk out alive. But Jesus is not like anyone else.

His resurrection proves that his promises are true. When he said he would pay for sin, he did. When he said he would defeat death, he did. When he said he would rise, he did. And that means his promises to you are also true.

When guilt weighs on your conscience, the empty tomb assures you that your sins are forgiven. Jesus’ resurrection is God’s declaration that the payment was complete. Nothing remains to be paid.

When grief fills your heart, the empty tomb assures you that death is not the end. Because Jesus lives, those who trust in him will live also.

When fear whispers that God has forgotten you, the empty tomb reminds you that Jesus keeps every word he speaks.

The stone was rolled away not so Jesus could get out, but so the world could see in. The tomb is empty. Death is defeated. Your Savior lives. And because he lives, you have peace, forgiveness, and eternal life.

Just as he said.

Prayer:

Risen Savior, thank you for keeping your promise and rising from the dead. Strengthen my faith in your victory over sin and death. Help me live each day in the peace and confidence that you are alive and that your promises are true. Amen.

Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.