He Lives #2256

19 Then, the same day at 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.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord (John 20:19–20, NKJV).

The “same day” He was resurrected, Jesus appeared to His apostles and assured them He had overcome sin and death. Their fear of the Jews put them behind closed doors. But Jesus had not given up on them. Soon, Jesus would send them into the world to preach the good news of His death, resurrection, and our salvation from sins (John 20:21; Mark 16:15-16; 1 Cor. 15:1-11). Jesus did two things that evening that assures us God has not given up on us, either. (1) Jesus said, “Peace be with you.” Fear is replaced with the gladness of faith when we believe Jesus is alive (John 16:22). Do not live your life in fear, fellow Christian. “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1:7). (2) Jesus showed them His wounds. It was really Jesus. He died for the whole world (Heb. 2:9; 1 John 2:2). He bore our sins in His body on the tree as a sacrifice for sins (1 Pet. 2:24; Heb. 10:10; Isa. 53:4-6). His resurrection assures us of God’s amazing grace and love (Rom. 5:8). Man’s sinful hatred killed the Son of God. But Jesus arose with forgiving love for all who will believe in His name (John 1:11-13; 3:16). We are saved because Jesus lives (Rom. 5:10).

Faithful are the wounds of a friend #439

5  Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. 6  Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. (Proverbs 27:5-6)

An open rebuke, designed to warn us of our error and sin, is preferred over professed love that remains silent when it sees us in danger. We are led to believe that true love will not reprimand another person, yet genuine love will not withhold wise rebuke. Being rebuked may hurt for a moment, but a true friend knows its temporary pain can produce a good outcome. So, when a friend rebukes your sin do not become angry, be thankful for their love. That is the friend who truly loves you. Feigned love remains silent and acts out of self-interest. True love knows what sin does to its friend, and so brings a rebuke intended to save the soul (read James 5:19-20). To pretend to love while refusing to rebuke sin is the action of an enemy, not a friend.