Jesus Appears to His Disciples (John 20:19-31)

John 20:19-31 brings us face-to-face with the transformative reality of Christ's resurrection and our commission as believers. We discover that Jesus' post-resurrection appearance wasn't just about proving He was alive—it was about launching a mission that would change the world. His three-point message to the frightened disciples cuts to the heart of Christian purpose: we are sent just as He was sent, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and authorized to proclaim forgiveness through the gospel. The parallel between God breathing physical life into Adam and Jesus breathing spiritual life into His disciples is breathtaking—we're witnessing a new creation, a spiritual rebirth that equips us for the work ahead. Thomas's doubt reminds us that honest wrestling with faith is acceptable, but we're called blessed because we believe without seeing. The central truth echoes throughout: these signs were written so we may believe Jesus is the Christ and have life in His name. This isn't merely academic knowledge—it's transformative truth meant to fuel our evangelism and shape how we live. We're challenged to consider who God is sending us to, whether through acts of compassion or direct gospel proclamation, always remembering that our ultimate mission is bringing salvation to a lost world.