Get into Jesus' club

Lots of kids start clubs with their friends. You might think of a secret password to get into your club or make up things you have to do at every club meeting.

In a way, Jesus' followers were like a club. They followed Him around and listened to the rules He gave them. But when He died, they didn't know what to do! In this week's Gospel (John 20:19-23), Jesus comes back to give them some ideas.

After Jesus died, the Apostles hid in a locked room to get away from those who killed Him. Suddenly, Jesus was in the room with them! "Peace be with you," He said, showing them the cuts in His hands and side to prove it was really Him. "Receive the Holy Spirit," He added, and gave them the power to forgive sins.

When Jesus wanted to get into the locked room where the Apostles were, He knew just what password to say: "Peace be with you!" Jesus was God, so He could get in without knocking or having a key, but He wanted them to know it was Him. So He said a "password" that would calm them down, and proved it was Him by showing them the places He'd been hurt.

It's no fun being in a club if you don't get something good out of it. Some clubs take trips together or work on a project everyone likes. Sometimes, it's fun just hanging around with other people in the club.

For the Apostles, being in Jesus' "club" meant something really special: When Jesus came back, He gave them the power to forgive other people's sins!

Jesus wanted His club members to do more than just play and hang out together. He wanted them (and us) to go out and ask everyone in the world to join His club!

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK: Jesus, help me remember there's one club I'm always a member of: the children of God! Amen.

(05-20-99)