Jesus Lives

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 

1. The disciples knew he was Jesus yet he had changed - in what ways? 
2. He was in his resurrected body - what will your resurrected body be like?

When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

3. What can you tell people about forgiveness?

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

4. Do people make similar demands nowadays? 
5. Do you ever feel like this?

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

6. What did Thomas mean by his answer?
7. What does Jesus’ comment mean for us?

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

8. How does this explain why the Bible was written?
9. Some miracles would be nice but do we really need them?
10. Why is it a good idea to read the Bible?

Do you have the gift of peace which Jesus gives?
Have you received the Holy Spirit - who gives the Holy Spirit?
Have you been sent by Jesus - to do what?