LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
By Pastor Mensa Otabil

Monday 6th April 2026

JESUS SHOWS UP

 Scripture Reading: John 20
 
Then, the same day in the evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”_ John 20:19
 
After the night of Jesus’ arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, most of His disciples had been in hiding. It was now the evening of the resurrection day. So much had happened since earlier that morning. It had started with news from the women who had reported that they had seen Jesus alive. Peter and John had gone to Jesus’ burial place and found His burial clothes in an empty tomb.
 
As the day turned to evening, the disciples gathered to reflect on all that had happened. This meeting might have taken place in the upper room where they had met for the last supper. The room was full of tension, a mixture of fear and faith. They were afraid of what the Jews would do to them after the crucifixion of Jesus. At the same time, their faith in the resurrection of Jesus was gradually growing.
 
Have you ever been in a similar situation where both fear and faith were competing for your heart? On one end, you were afraid of the worst happening; on the other end, you’re confident that God will show up for you. That is where the disciples of Jesus were.
 
Then came Jesus standing in their midst. He spoke ‘peace’ to all their fears. The Lord entered the room without opening the doors. His resurrected body was a real body of flesh and bones. Yet He had the power to go through barriers and otherwise act independently of natural laws.
 
The doors could not keep Jesus out. He came through the doors to show His disciples that He would be with them in all places and at all times. Nothing could keep Him out of their lives.
 
Today, that same Jesus comes to each one of us in all situations and whispers, “Peace be with you”. The peace He gives is the peace of God which is beyond all understanding.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you for the reality of Christ’s resurrection. I receive your peace into my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.