Belief the Foundation of Faith

John 20:19–30 ESV

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;

Peace be with you

John 20:19–21 ESV

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Locked doors fear of the Jews

Crucified Christ when they coming to get us

Jesus appears among them resurrected with a similar but different body

got into locked room

Peace be with you

Here are my hands and side

the wounds that bought your forgiveness

Again I say Peace be with you

You are made right with God

As the father sent me I send you

I was the light the salt the revealer of God to you now you do the same to everyone else

Forgiveness of Sins

John 20:22–23 ESV

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Then Jesus makes a strange remark if you forgive the sins of any they are forgiven if you withhold it it is withheld.

Some take this to mean that the apostles were given authority to judge sins to forgive some and refuse forgiveness of others sins. Yet others claim that this ability was given to others such as the Pope. Yet I propose that this statement must be taken in light of its context. We have peace because of the blood of Christ and it is him alone who brings forgiveness. Thus when Jesus says we can say who is forgiven and who is not I believe He is speaking of our responsibility to share the Gospel and that we will see some accept it for truth and their sins will be forgiven and their lives will be radically changed yet others will reject the Gospel and will choose to remain the same and in doing so condemn themselves as their sins will not be covered b y the blood of the lamb.

Belief in Jesus

John 20:24–31 ESV

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Thomas was not present the first time Jesus appeared to the disciples

He refused to believe in the resurrection without physical proof

When Jesus appears and offers such proof he does not take it but responds with belief

Jesus says greater is the faith of those who believe without seeing.

John here gives us the purpose statement of his gospel

I wrote these thing that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ the son of God and that by believing you have life in his name.

Jesus is the Christ the messiah the promised one of Scripture The Redeemer and savior of Israel and all mankind

Jesus is the son of God- God in the flesh both man and God

And that by believing these things you may have life -real life eternal life

Remember eternal life is to know God

Thus John’s desire is that we would believe the truth of who Jesus is and in doing so we would place our faith our trust in him for salvation and thus receive life.