Peace and Proof

Chapel Lesson: "Peace and Proof"

Text: John 20:19-31

Opening

(Begin with a short prayer) "Dear Jesus, open our hearts to Your Word today. Help us to see Your peace and believe in You more and more. Amen."

Introduction

(Ask the students) Question: Have you ever been really scared about something? (Give them a moment to respond.)

In today’s Bible story, Jesus' disciples were scared too. They had seen Him die on the cross, and they didn’t know what would happen next. They locked themselves in a room. But Jesus didn’t leave them in fear. He came to them!

Bible Reading

(Read parts of the text aloud or summarize for younger students.) John 20:19: "On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!'"

John 20:20: "After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord."

Key Points

1. Jesus Brings Peace

Jesus didn’t scold His disciples for being afraid. He spoke words of peace.

John 20:21: "Again Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.'”

Question: Why do you think Jesus said "Peace be with you" two times? (Possible answers: because they were scared, because He really wanted them to have His peace.)

Application: Jesus brings peace to our hearts too — peace that says, "You are forgiven, you are loved, you are mine." No matter what is going on around us, Jesus’ peace is stronger.

2. Jesus Shows Proof

Jesus didn’t just say "peace" — He showed them His hands and His side. He gave them proof that He was alive!

Later, Thomas wasn’t there when Jesus first appeared, and he didn’t believe the other disciples when they said they had seen Jesus.

John 20:25: "So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them, 'Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.'"

But Jesus cared about Thomas, too. John 20:27: "Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.'”

Question: If you were Thomas, would you have wanted to see Jesus for yourself too? (Give time for a few answers.)

Application: Jesus gives us proof too — in His Word! The Bible shows us everything we need to know about His love and salvation.

3. Jesus Calls Us to Believe

At the end, Jesus says something really important:

John 20:29: "Then Jesus told him, 'Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.'”

That's us! We haven't seen Jesus with our eyes, but we believe in Him because of His Word.

Question: How can we see Jesus today, even if we can't see Him with our eyes? (Possible answers: in the Bible, in baptism, in the Lord’s Supper, in the love of other believers.)

Conclusion

Jesus still says, "Peace be with you." He still shows us who He is through His Word. And He still calls us to believe and trust in Him!

John 20:31: "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."

Closing Prayer

"Dear Jesus, thank You for showing Yourself to us through Your Word. Give us peace when we are afraid, proof through Your promises, and help us believe in You every day. Amen."