What a glorious moment it was when the disciples saw their risen Lord for the first time! How thrilling to see Him! How amazing to commune with Christ right after having been raised from the dead. What questions they must have had of their Teacher! How fascinating to have been in the upper room with Him that evening!
Does it not seem unusual that Jesus began His first visit with His disciples by showing them His hands and side? Why did He do that? Was it so they would recognize Him? Of course, except for John, none of the disciples had witnessed Jesus’ wounds. That would not have been something they could have identified.
Could it be that Jesus showed them the wounds of His crucifixion so His disciples could see that they did not need to fear the world and what it could do to them? They were hiding behind locked doors for fear of their enemies. Yet their enemies had done their worst to Jesus and yet there He stood triumphantly before them. The world had used its cruelest execution. It had subjected Jesus to death, humanity’s most invincible foe. The bulwarks of hell had imprisoned Him. Yet there He stood. Victorious.
Could it be that we need to take a fresh glimpse of the resurrected Jesus as well? Do we need to be reminded that there is nothing on earth that the risen Christ cannot overcome and decisively conquer? What is it you fear that may be holding you back from courageously living for Christ?