IMAGINE THAT YOU'RE ONE OF CHRIST'S FIRST FOLLOWERS...YOU SAW HIM PUT TO DEATH  THREE DAYS AGO...YOU'RE HIDING OUT BECAUSE YOU'RE AFRAID...SUDDENLY JESUS IS IN THE ROOM...WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

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Jesus Appears to His Disciples

¹⁹That evening, on the first day of the week, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! "Peace be with you," he said. ²⁰As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his side. They were filled with joy when they saw their Lord!

²⁹Then his disciples said, "At last you are speaking plainly and not in parables. ³⁰Now we understand that you know everything and don't need anyone to tell you anything. From this we believe that you came from God." ³¹Jesus asked, "Do you finally believe? ³²But the time is coming--in fact, it is already here--when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. ³³I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

TODAY'S SCRIPTURES PROVE THAT JESUS IS LORD.  HE ALWAYS KEEPS HIS WORD.  HIS PROMISES ARE FOR ALL OF HIS FOLLOWERS.  HOW WILL YOU APPLY THIS?

Put yourself in the sandals of the disciples.  You've been hiding out for a few days since the crucifixion of your Master, wondering if maybe you're next?  You're devastated because you don't know if everything Jesus told you is really going to happen?

Then suddenly, there's Jesus standing next to you - alive from the dead!  Aren't you sort of glad to hear the words, "Peace be with you."?  If you passed out, maybe Jesus repeats these great words when you wake up!

AT WHAT POINT, DO YOU THINK THE DISCIPLES REMEMBERED WHAT JESUS TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PEACE HE COULD PROVIDE IN A TROUBLED WORLD?

The words spoken by Jesus in John 16:33 now took on new meaning, because Jesus had risen from the grave!  We too should have courage in spite of life's troubles, because Jesus will not abandon us to go it alone.  If we remember that Jesus defeated death and hell, we can count on the peace of Christ in the most difficult times of life.

Remember that He promises us that we can find peace in Him - no matter what happens in our lives - because He has overcome the world!

Thank God that the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that we can count on the promises that Jesus gave - including His peace.  Tell your Heavenly Father right now whatever is troubling you the most.  He already knows, but He wants you to come to Him for comfort and strength.  Thank Jesus that even though your trials and suffering may not go away, He won't either.  His victory over Satan will eventually bring you peace.  Praise Jesus that you can leave everything in His...

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• Make of a list of your troubles and prayerfully give it up to Jesus every day.  Wait on the Lord to give you peace and write down what He teaches you, right next to each problem.
• Memorize John 16:33 to remind you of Christ's victory and peace.
• Use today's Daily Devo to encourage another follower of Christ or your youth group, or small group, or as a conversation starter with a friend who needs to know Christ.

Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG.  Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college.  He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.