John 20:19-25

Please do also be thinking about reading the gospel of John 20: 19-25 (depicting the first appearance of the risen Lord to his disciples) in a language other than English, symbolising that the glorious resurrection of Christ is proclaimed to all the nations of the world, and let me know if you can read it out loud at the Agape Vespers on Sunday, April 16.

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.

21

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

22

And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

23

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

24

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

25

The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”