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Daily Devotion: John 20:20

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John 20:20    "And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord."

Today, I join an Old Testament verse with this passage from John.  "And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." (Zechariah 13:6)

Jesus came to the room where the disciples had huddled together. They were still in fear for their lives.  Jesus came and stood in their midst, speaking peace into their hearts. Then He showed them His hands and side. They clearly saw the wounds from the nails and the wide open wound from the sword that had pierced Him. "Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord."  

Words seem to fail me as I sit here thinking about this scene.  I think back to earlier that day when Jesus spoke Mary's name. Instantly she went from fear and confusion to complete peace. Her heart went from possibly a tinge of anger, thinking someone had stolen the body of Jesus, to being filled with the warmth of love and peace which can only come from the presence of our Lord.  Now, these ten men are huddled in fear and confusion. What are they going to do?  Their lives are endangered, or so they think.  The One Who had led them each step for the past three years was now dead. Yes, Jesus had told them He would raise again, but at this moment fear and sorrow overshadowed those words.  But in one instant, with very few words and the outstretched, nail-pierced hands, Jesus took them from fear to peace.

Have you ever been caught up in a moment of anxiety, fear, or sorrow?  It is wonderful when we are taken from that point of confusion to a place of peace.  Our Lord is able to do that with one word or a show of His hands, feet, and side. How can He do that for us today when He is sitting at the right hand of the Father in heaven?  He gave His Holy Spirit Who lives within us. Remember what Jesus said just a few nights before this scene?  He was speaking of the Holy Spirit when He said, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." (John 14:26)

By this same Comforter, we are brought to a remembrance of the words of our Lord. By this same Comforter, we can see those wounds in His hands, feet, and side. By faith, this same Comforter answers the question: "What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends."  Then we might ask this question:  "Was it for me?"   To which the Comforter says, "Yes, all for you."

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