Lee's Landing/Wesley Chapel UMC

The Day After

 This Sunday is the “day after.” It follows the wonderful celebration of Easter Sunday. Last week most churches around the world had one of their largest attendance days of the year. This Sunday will bring a different level of attendance and excitement and anticipation. The Easter lilies and all of the white decorations and beautiful things are still in the churches, but the soaring excitement may well have left. We know that Jesus is alive but often don't know how to express our commitment to him. The disciples were in quite a quandary at the same point.

The disciples were locked away hiding from the Jewish leaders. They were fearful that they would face the same fate that had come to their Rabbi Jesus. Jesus appeared and bestowed upon them their mission and the power of the Holy Spirit to carry it out. He said to them "SO SEND I YOU." There was one of their number that was missing - Thomas.

The absence of Thomas was a vital part of the story. Most of the disciples did not yet know exactly what they were being sent to do. They still lacked an understanding of who Jesus really was. The next week when Jesus appeared, and Thomas was present, he set the record straight. He looked at Jesus and said, “My Lord and my God.” The calling of the disciples was to tell the whole world that Jesus was and is the Lord and God of the universe. We are called to proclaim the same message.

Join us this Sunday as we explore our calling.

¹⁹Then 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, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you.

²⁰And when he had so said, he showed them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

²¹Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me,

SO SEND I YOU.

²²And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said unto them, Receive the Holy Spirit:

²³Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

~~~John 20:19-23