On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." John 20:19

Do you remember any time in your life when you were scared, afraid of something?

You probably do. Perhaps you remember a few moments from your childhood, when you were in a dark room, alone, and heard a noise. What was your reaction and feeling at that moment? What did you think? You most likely remained silent, cowering, trembling and, maybe thought, hopefully, no one will find me here, or were you distressed, bewildered, and sought help with your parents?

I do not know.

You may have also reacted differently, but you certainly felt very safe when your parents approached you. With their arrival, you were sure you were safe and that no harm would come to you.

Fear and doubt: these are words from the Gospel of John 20:19-31.

What is described in this text by the evangelist John are events from the Sunday afternoon when Jesus rose from the dead. The disciples were sad and hopeless at the memories of Jesus' death. Filled with fear that the Jews might also come for them, they had hidden behind locked doors.

Suddenly, Jesus appeared in their midst.

They wondered how can this happen? Jesus died and had been buried. How could He stand in their midst? The disciples were terrified, confused, scared, and Thomas doubted. "Is He a ghost?" some asked. Not hardly. Jesus was no apparition or flight of their imagination. Jesus was resurrected and had sought them out to bring them incredibly good news.

First, He tries to put their fears to rest. He says, "Peace be with you!"

Fear and doubt: these are part of our lives and have been our companions since our birth. To be sure, the fears and doubts we had as children no longer trouble us, but other complications always arise, which leave us confused, sad and unsure how to proceed.

To help us in our distress we need someone who offers us a hand, someone who can protect us and really, truly give us lasting peace.

That Someone is the Savior. It is interesting to observe the loving way Jesus treated His disciples on Resurrection Sunday. In spite of all their fears and doubts, Jesus patiently reached out to them and assured them of the Father's love.

He knew these men were sinners who desperately needed His love, His grace, and His peace.

In a similar way, 2,000 years later, Jesus deals with us. He knows when difficulties arise in our lives we will be frightened, hopeless and distressed.

Jesus knows these things, and in His Word, He comes to us to bring us peace. To those who are given ears of faith, they will hear Jesus say to them: "Peace be with you! Do not be afraid, I am with you!" Amen.

(This devotion was written by Rev. Joenes Trams)