The Handing Off of the Baton

INTRODUCTION.

John 20:19–23 LSB

19 So while it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and while the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with 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, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

MESSAGE.

The HANDOFF of the Mission.

John 20:21 LSB

21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

God Sent Jesus to save the world.

Jesus came loving. John 13:34.

John 13:34 LSB

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

Jesus came to save the world.

John 12:47 LSB

47 “And if anyone hears My words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

Jesus sends us to save the world.

We are love. John 13:34-35.

John 13:34–35 LSB

34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

We are to be on mission sharing Jesus. John 20:21.

John 20:21 LSB

21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

The ENABLING of the Mission.

John 20:22 LSB

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

The power needed to fulfill the mission.

Jesus recieved the Holy Spirit at the beginning of His ministry.

All four of the gospels begins with the baptism of Jesus and the Holy Spirit descending from heaven and landing on Jesus. john 1:32.

John 1:32 LSB

32 And John bore witness saying, “I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He abided on Him.

We receive the Holy Spirit at the beginning of our ministry.

We can not be on mission with out Christ.

We receive the Holy Spirit when we are saved. acts 2:38.

Acts 2:38 LSB

38 And Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The PRONOUNCEMENT of the Mission.

Jesus came proclaiming the forgiveness of sins. luke 6:32.

Luke 6:32 LSB

32 “And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

We are to proclaim that there is forgivness of sin in Jesus Christ. acts 13:38-41.

Acts 13:38–41 LSB

38 “Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and that in Him, everyone who believes is justified from all things which you could not be justified from through the Law of Moses. 40 “Therefore watch out, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you: 41 ‘LOOK, YOU SCOFFERS, AND MARVEL, AND PERISH; FOR I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS, A WORK WHICH YOU WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD RECOUNT IT TO YOU.’”

CONCLUSION.