CROSSROADS followHim SESSION I—APRIL 2018

Psalm 133 1 Oh, how good and pleasant it is, * when brethren live together in unity! 2 It is like fine oil upon the head * that runs down upon the beard, 3 Upon the beard of , * and runs down upon the collar of his robe. 4 It is like the dew of Hermon * that falls upon the hills of Zion. 5 For there the LORD has ordained the blessing: * life for evermore.

John 20:19-31 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." 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."

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."

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."

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.

Here is our friend Thomas getting a reputation for doubting. But we have all doubted right? Oh, that Jesus would come to us and remove the doubt directly. How do you handle doubt? What do you do during the ‘dry times?’

CROSSROADS followHim SESSION II APRIL 2018

Psalm 4 1 Answer me when I call, O God, defender of my cause; * you set me free when I am hard-pressed; have mercy on me and hear my prayer. 2 "You mortals, how long will you dishonor my glory; * how long will you worship dumb idols and run after false gods?" 3 Know that the LORD does wonders for the faithful; * when I call upon the LORD, he will hear me. 4 Tremble, then, and do not sin; * speak to your heart in silence upon your bed. 5 Offer the appointed sacrifices * and put your trust in the LORD. 6 Many are saying, "Oh, that we might see better times!" * Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD. 7 You have put gladness in my heart, * more than when grain and wine and oil increase. 8 I lie down in peace; at once I fall asleep; * for only you, LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Luke 24:36b-48 Jesus himself stood among the disciples and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of , the prophets, and the must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.

There is an argument to be made that the only words we really needed to hear from Jesus were peace be with you. After all isn’t that what the whole Jesus Way is about? Finding peace and giving peace. Notice he says peace be WITH you…with means more than peace to you…this is a word that requires action. What action do you take for peace?