Encountering Jesus: Peace, Doubt, and Restoration

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Manifests His Presence in Our Fear

When fear grips our hearts and we find ourselves hiding—whether from circumstances, people, or our own uncertainties—Jesus comes to meet us right where we are. He does not scold or shame us for our fear, but instead enters into our locked rooms, offering us His peace and showing us the marks of His love. He knows exactly what we need before we even ask, and He empowers us with His Spirit to continue His mission. No barrier, not even locked doors or anxious hearts, can keep the resurrected Christ from coming to us with comfort and purpose. [01:00:55]

John 20:19-23 (ESV)
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.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Reflection: Where in your life are you hiding out of fear, and how might you invite Jesus to meet you there with His peace today?

Day 2: Jesus Meets Us in Our Doubt

Doubt is not a barrier to Jesus; He comes to us even when we struggle to believe, just as He did for Thomas. Jesus is patient and personal, addressing our questions and uncertainties without condemnation. He invites us to bring our doubts into the light, offering us the blessing of faith even when we have not seen Him with our eyes. In our community, we are called to create safe spaces for honest questions, trusting that Jesus will reveal Himself and turn our doubts into declarations of faith. [01:08:06]

John 20:24-29 (ESV)
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Reflection: What is one doubt or question about faith you’ve been carrying—can you bring it honestly to Jesus and ask Him to meet you in it today?

Day 3: Jesus Restores Us After Failure

Failure is not the end of our story with Jesus. Even when we have fallen short, denied Him, or feel like we have nothing to show for our efforts, Jesus comes to restore us. He provides for our needs, serves us, and gently leads us back into relationship and purpose. Just as He restored Peter after his denial, Jesus offers us forgiveness and a renewed calling, reminding us that our failures do not disqualify us from His love or His mission. [01:22:34]

John 21:15-19 (ESV)
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Reflection: Is there a failure in your life that you need to bring to Jesus for restoration—what would it look like to receive His forgiveness and step back into His calling today?

Day 4: Jesus Calls Us to Follow Him Undistracted

In a world full of comparisons and distractions, Jesus calls each of us to follow Him with our eyes fixed on Him alone. When Peter wondered about John’s future, Jesus redirected him: “What is that to you? You follow me.” We are each given a unique path and mission, and Jesus invites us to trust Him with our journey, letting go of distractions, comparisons, and the temptation to measure ourselves against others. Our focus is to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, wherever He leads. [01:26:23]

John 21:20-22 (ESV)
Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who also had leaned back against him during the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?” Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”

Reflection: What is one area where you find yourself distracted by comparison or concern for others’ paths—how can you refocus today on simply following Jesus?

Day 5: Jesus Manifests His Presence Among Us as a Church

Jesus promises to continue manifesting His presence not only to us individually but also when we gather as His people. His presence is the foundation of our mission and the source of our unity and power. As we come together, He is in our midst—guiding, speaking, and equipping us for the work He has called us to do. We are invited to expect and welcome His presence, trusting that He will make Himself known and lead us forward as a church family. [01:28:56]

Matthew 18:20 (ESV)
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

Reflection: How have you experienced Jesus’ presence when gathered with other believers, and how can you intentionally seek and welcome His presence in your church community this week?

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on the living reality of Jesus’ presence—how He continues to manifest Himself to us both individually and as a church family. In the days following His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples not just to prove He was alive, but to reveal His heart and intentions for them in their fear, doubt, and failure. These encounters were not random; they were purposeful, designed to make the disciples “rock solid” in their belief that Jesus is the Messiah, and to prepare them for the mission ahead.

When the disciples were hiding in fear, Jesus didn’t scold or shame them. He entered their locked room, spoke peace over them, and showed them His wounds. He met them exactly where they were, knowing their needs before they could even voice them. In the same way, Jesus meets us in our fears, offering His peace and presence, and empowering us with His Spirit for the mission He’s given us.

With Thomas, who doubted, Jesus was patient and personal. He addressed Thomas’s specific doubts, inviting him to touch His wounds. Rather than rebuke, Jesus blessed those who would believe without seeing—a blessing that extends to us today. This teaches us to create safe spaces for honest questions and doubts, trusting that Jesus Himself will meet people in their searching.

In the midst of failure, as seen in Peter’s story, Jesus again manifested Himself—not to condemn, but to restore. After a fruitless night of fishing, Jesus provided abundance and invited the disciples to breakfast. He then gently restored Peter, asking three times if he loved Him, mirroring Peter’s three denials. Jesus’ restoration is thorough and personal, reminding us that no failure is too great for His grace.

These post-resurrection encounters are not just historical events; they are patterns for how Jesus continues to reveal Himself today. He meets us in our fear, doubt, and failure, and He does so not just for our comfort, but to prepare us for His ongoing mission. As a church, our calling is to be a place where Jesus’ presence is real and transformative, where people can encounter Him and be sent out in His name.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus meets us in our fear, not with condemnation but with peace and presence. Even when we are hiding or uncertain, He knows exactly where we are and what we need, and He enters our locked places to bring comfort and commission us for His purposes. Our fears do not repel Him; they draw Him near, and His peace is the antidote to our anxiety. [58:58]
2. Doubt is not a disqualifier in the journey of faith. Jesus is patient with our questions and uncertainties, inviting us to bring them honestly before Him. He honors the process of moving from unbelief to belief, and He blesses those who trust Him even when they cannot see. As a community, we are called to make space for honest wrestling, knowing that Jesus Himself will meet people in their doubts. [66:45]
3. Failure is not the end of our story with God. Jesus seeks out those who have failed, not to shame but to restore, as He did with Peter. Restoration is not just about forgiveness, but about being re-commissioned for God’s purposes; Jesus entrusts His mission to those who know their need for grace. No matter how great our failure, Jesus’ restoration is greater still. [81:20]
4. The presence of Jesus is essential for both individual and corporate mission. It is not enough to have right beliefs or good strategies; we need the living reality of Jesus manifesting Himself among us. When we gather, He is in our midst, making Himself known, guiding, empowering, and sending us out. This is the foundation of our life together and the source of our effectiveness in God’s mission. [87:37]
5. Following Jesus requires undistracted devotion, especially in a world full of comparisons and distractions. When Peter asked about John’s future, Jesus redirected him: “You follow me.” Our calling is not to measure ourselves against others, but to keep our eyes on Jesus and walk in the unique path He sets before us. This focus frees us from envy and anxiety, anchoring us in the joy of personal relationship and obedience. [85:45]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[38:24] - Worship: Singing of God’s Goodness
[39:23] - Experiencing the Love of Christ
[40:08] - Receiving God’s Love and Faithfulness
[42:00] - Offering and Generosity
[43:55] - Mission Update: Dominican Republic
[45:20] - Prayer Requests for Haiti and the DR
[47:15] - Praying for the Mission Team
[49:01] - Introduction to Tim Cosby
[50:20] - Encountering Jesus After the Resurrection
[54:22] - What Does “Manifest” Mean?
[56:16] - Jesus Appears in Our Fear
[62:45] - Jesus Meets Us in Doubt
[70:45] - Jesus Restores Us in Failure
[79:15] - Peter’s Restoration and Calling
[87:04] - The Ongoing Manifestation of Jesus’ Presence
[89:36] - Closing Prayer and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

When Jesus appeared to the disciples who were hiding in fear, what were the first words He spoke to them? What did He show them? ([56:54])
How did Jesus respond specifically to Thomas’s doubts? What did He invite Thomas to do? ([01:04:04])
After a night of unsuccessful fishing, what did Jesus tell the disciples to do, and what was the result? ([01:12:02])
How many times did Jesus ask Peter if he loved Him, and what did Jesus command Peter to do each time? ([01:19:15])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus chose to enter the locked room and speak peace to the disciples instead of rebuking them for their fear? What does this reveal about His character? ([58:58])
What does Jesus’ interaction with Thomas teach us about how He views our doubts and questions? How does this challenge or encourage you? ([01:06:45])
In restoring Peter, why do you think Jesus asked him three times, “Do you love me?” How might this have impacted Peter’s sense of calling and forgiveness? ([01:19:56])
The sermon mentioned that Jesus’ post-resurrection encounters are patterns for how He meets us today. What are some ways Jesus might “manifest” Himself in our lives or church now? ([01:27:37])

Application Questions

Think about a time when you felt afraid or wanted to hide. Did you sense Jesus’ presence or peace in that moment? If not, what would it look like to invite Him into your “locked rooms” now? ([58:58])
Are there any doubts or questions about faith that you’ve been afraid to voice? What would it look like for our group or church to be a safe place for honest wrestling, like Jesus was with Thomas? ([01:06:45])
Have you experienced a failure that made you feel disqualified from serving God? How does Peter’s story of restoration challenge your view of God’s grace and your own calling? ([01:21:20])
The sermon said, “Our fears do not repel Him; they draw Him near.” Is there a specific fear or anxiety you’re facing right now? How can you bring it to Jesus this week? ([58:58])
Jesus told Peter, “You follow me,” when Peter was distracted by someone else’s story. Are there areas in your life where you’re comparing yourself to others? What would it look like to focus on your unique path with Jesus? ([01:25:45])
The presence of Jesus is described as essential for both personal and church mission. How can you be more aware of or responsive to Jesus’ presence in your daily life or when we gather as a group? ([01:27:37])
Is there someone in your life who is struggling with fear, doubt, or failure? What is one practical way you can reflect Jesus’ patience and grace to them this week? ([01:06:45] / [01:21:20])

Sermon Clips

They had to be bound together in unassalable belief in the truth that Jesus was the Messiah the son of God that was like key that's a nonnegotiable for Jesus and so that's what he's doing here in John 20 and John 21 [00:52:41]

Able to understand what it means and how essential it is for Jesus to manifest his presence in your life and then corporately I would like for you to understand and see how essential it is for Jesus to continue to manifest his presence in our mission together actually [00:53:20]

This I think is one of the the dominant characteristics of new life it's it's actually one of the reasons that we came here several years ago is because of your your belief in the presence of God in the midst of the church and the fact that when we come together Jesus is in our midst he He's here he manifests his presence to us and that is so important for me and I [00:53:55]

So I was thinking of a teacher on the playground if a teacher just appears on the playground and stands there then she or he is has just appeared they're there present but if a child is in trouble or misbehaving or has fallen and gotten hurt or whatever um now that person that leader is going to come and manifest [00:55:23]

These manifestations of Jesus uh I'd like to invite you to come and see how Jesus deals with three things fear, doubt and failure and just asking the Lord to help you make application to this as we go through this to hear the Lord speak what he wants to say to you so the the first manifestation is in [00:56:24]

Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them "Peace be with you." And when he had said this he showed them both his hands and his side the disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord so Jesus said to them again "Peace be with you as the Father has sent me I also send you." [00:57:08]

He met them right where they were he knew what they were afraid of so without them even asking he showed them his hands and his side luke adds that he showed them his feet too because he knew what they were thinking and it appears that the disciples then recognized and accepted him and they were overjoyed john said when when they saw the Lord [00:59:23]

He knows where you are and he knows why you're hiding that should be a comfort to you yeah he knows right where you are he knows exactly why you might be hiding jesus manifests himself even when we're hiding out of fear and some of us here [01:00:49]

Your fear is not going to keep him away doesn't matter that actually attracted him because he understood them i think that's important here secondly he knows what we need before we ask they didn't ask him to show them his hands and side and feet he knew that [01:01:23]

Now they may not have understood at this point how essential it was for Jesus to manifest himself to them in this way i don't know what they realized at this point but obviously John thought it was important enough to include three stories about it so it was it was very important and the third observation is just that we're empowered by the Holy [01:01:49]

The second manifestation is come and see how Jesus manifests himself to us when we're doubting and here we are in John 20 beginning at verse 24 but Thomas one of the 12 called Ditimus was not with them when Jesus came so the other disciples were saying to him "We have seen the Lord." Just imagine this scene [01:02:39]

He knows right where you are and he can meet you right where you are that should be comforting to us i think um the demands of Thomas may appear on the surface to be unreasonable i don't know why didn't he just take the word of the rest of the disciples we don't know but Jesus meets him right [01:05:04]

Let's be patient with doubters, make a safe space for people to express their doubts i wonder what it was like with the disciples after they heard Thomas express his doubts and I think that in the future maybe even in the present we will have those in our midst who doubt they might even doubt that Jesus is the Christ that's what John was focusing on here i'd say let's be patient [01:07:33]

Because I believe that in the future God is going to bring many people to Christ through the united witness of the churches who gather here he's already doing that but Jesus gives a blessing to those who will not see him but will believe him and that's that's everyone who is going to come to know him and I think the Lord [01:09:04]

So Jesus is going to continue to manifest himself to us individually and corporately so that we can follow him boldly and glorify him and I don't have time to get into this part right here but if you go into the book of Acts I challenge you to just do this maybe this afternoon look up all the times that Jesus manifested himself in the book of Acts [01:26:35]

When the body gathers together when the church family gathers together Jesus is there in the midst he manifests his presence he shows up he wants to say something he wants to do something and that was a life-changing moment for me gotta say and like I said that's one of the reasons that we started coming here and I told John that the first time I met him it's like one of the reasons [01:27:37]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

What does it mean for Jesus to manifest Himself?

How does Jesus restore believers after failure?

In what ways does Jesus address doubt and fear?