John (36)

Introduction: Last week, from John chapter 20, we discovered that Jesus was truly alive. His first eye witness was with Mary Magdalene. She had a conversation with Jesus and was sent to tell His disciples a message. She did so, and today we pick up in verse 19 of chapter 20 after Mary had given the report of seeing the resurrected Jesus.

Read: John 20:19-31

Today, we are focusing on results of the resurrection. We are coming face to face with Jesus’ activity and interaction after He was raised from the dead. We certainly do not know everything that Jesus said or did, but this text does offer us at least three key activities of Jesus. Notice.. The resurrected Jesus removes fear, empowers obedience, and blesses belief.

The Resurrected Jesus...

Transition: Follow with me as we move through each one of theses and offer some explanation and applications. First.. The resurrected Jesus…

Removes Fear

Explanation: On Sunday evening, the day of Jesus’ Resurrection, some of Jesus’ disciples had gathered together behind locked doors. Why? The text tells us it was because they were afraid of the Jews. The Jewish leaders had just formed a mob and arrested their rabbi, had been tried, crucified, buried, and now the report is that He had raised from the dead. Most of the disciples had fled the scene when Jesus was arrested. Jesus had prepared them for this moment, but by in large they did not understand. Now, as they secretly gather in fear of their own demise, Jesus all of a sudden stands before them.

He gives them a very common Jewish greeting. Shalom. Or peace be with you. We see that after they observe His scarred hands and side their fear is turned into gladness. Then, Jesus repeats His statement, peace be with you.

Application: By way of application we might ask...

Are these guys just a bunch of cowards? I’d say no. First, their scattering was recorded in prophecy long before they were ever born. As the Messiah, Jesus went to the cross alone, to incur the wrath of God for sinners.

No doubt, these guys were afraid, but its no reason to accuse them of cowardice. Even Peter, the one we remember who denied Jesus three times. This denial was prophesied by Jesus, but it doesn't make him a coward. No, these guys are rightly afraid. Their lives are truly in danger of being snuffed out because they are known disciples of Jesus. But notice, Jesus speaks peace to their frightened souls.

Even for Christians, fear has a way of hooking it’s talons into our hearts. What might begin as a legitimate concern for safety, can often take over and be a debilitating slavery that causes us to disobey Christ.

In the conclusion of his little book entitled, “Living without worry”, Timothy Lane unpacks a verse from Luke 12:32.. “Fear not little flock, for it is your father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Lane goes on to state that “While… (Read from page 138 of his book)

Church, it is inevitable that we will face temptations to fear. Even this morning, we should be ask ourselves, “What is it that I fear?” Usually, the answer to that question will reveal what we love. Which gets to the heart of fear… a mistrust that God is good and protecting us as He should.

The truth for us is that Jesus Christ removes fear and replaces it with His peace. In Christ, we can have a relationship of peace with God the Father. In Christ, we can enjoy the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. Are we walking in the peace of Christ today?

Transition: First, we notice that the resurrected Jesus removes fear. But as verse 21 continues we learn that the resurrected Jesus also empowers obedience.

Empowers Obedience

Explanation: After telling His disciples that “even as the Father has sent me, so I am sending you”… we are told that Jesus breathes on His disciples. Some have become discombobulated with what Jesus is doing here in verse 22. However, if we simply keep in mind the promises Jesus has made in chapter 14-16 about the coming Holy Spirit, and the purpose of John to present Jesus as the Son of God. It really comes down to this ; Jesus is demonstrating that He is God in the flesh by breathing on them , and commanding His disciples to receive the Spirit.

He breaths on them as a demonstration of the life that He creates through His breath. He is God. Just like Genesis 2:7. Like Ezekiel 37.

He gives them the imperative to receive the Holy Spirit. This is a snap shot of what Jesus is commanding them to do. He is giving them the command to actively take hold of the Holy Spirit. The word “receive” is a favorite in which John uses 45 times throughout this gospel. For example, in chapter 6:21 when Jesus walks on water and calms a terrible storm the disciples were glad to receive Him into their boat. It means to accept, seize, or take hold.

Why is Jesus giving this imperative? Because these apostles are being sent in the same way that Jesus had ben sent. Jesus is preparing them for His ascension, His departure back to heaven. These apostles will be His ambassadors on earth. They are going to preach the gospel so that sinners might be forgiven. The heart of the Christians gospel is the forgiveness of sins. You can have your sins forgiven.

The point here is, They are going to need the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to do this. Not their own strength, but the Holy Spirit whom, as Jesus promised in 14:17, will be in them.

Application: Jesus empowers us for the ministry he has commissioned us to do.

Church family, we are not without power to accomplish our mission. As those who belong to Christ the responsibility has certainly been extended to us to make disciples for the glory of God. This means being clear in speaking the gospel. It means being true in our transforming hearts. It means being bold in our witness. Being kind in our compassion. Being direct in our intentional efforts to take the gospel to the nations. And in all this.. we must be dependent upon the power of the Holy Spirit in us.

We cannot do this ministry in our own strength, efforts, and abilities. If the lives of those we interact with will ever be converted, and transformed it must be a work empowered by the Holy Spirit. If it is not, the work will not stand.

Illustration: The ministry of the kingdom that we have been given is effective or successful simply as the result of the gracious power of God to change lives. Like the parable Jesus told in Mark 4:26-29 (Read)

Mark 4:26–29 ESV

And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

When we speak the gospel in the power of the Spirit, God will bring about the results by His power. Are we serving Christ by His power today?

Transition: The resurrected Jesus removes fear, empowers obedience, and lastly…

Blesses Belief

Explanation: In verse 24 of John 20 we are told that Thomas was not with the disciples on the evening of Jesus’ resurrection. As a result, he says that, “unless he sees the mark of the nails in His hands, and puts his hand into His side, he will not believe.” This interchange is often why Thomas has been labeled the doubter. However, 8 days later Jesus shows up again in a very similar way that he did with the others. After again speaking a greeting of peace He directs His attention to Thomas. After this very personal interaction with Jesus , Thomas confesses, “My Lord and my God”.

Again, John has recorded this whole gospel for those who have not personally witnessed the resurrected Jesus. He is writing down the eye witness testimonies of those who did see Jesus alive after His death, so that those who have not might believe and have life in His name.

Point being: of those testimonies, there were some like Thomas who were not given to thrills, emotionalism, mysticism, or even the clear testimony of His own comrades. So, call him a doubter if you will, but the clear reason that Thomas is presented here is to further solidify that the resurrection was not some kind of hocus pocus story made up by Jesus followers. Even among his followers, there were those who failed to believe until they saw for themselves.

Application: However, the point point is clearly made by Jesus. “Blessed are those who do not see me and yet believe.” He fully knows that for years to come those who believe Him will be doing so without seeing Him. Which includes you and I today. And Jesus says they are blessed. How is this a blessing?

2 Corinthians 5:6-10 Courage for our earthly life, purpose as we are prepared for judgment (9-10)…

We are blessed to live by faith. It is a kind and gracious gift from God to do so.

Transition: The resurrected Jesus removes fear, empowers obedience, and blesses belief.

Conclusion: Anytime we read, we should be alert for what the authors’ intent is. This especially applies to reading.. but also to any form of media. Weather it be a blog post, twitter post, Facebook message, tv commercial, sports commentary, song, news real, or snap chat . We would be wise to remember that every form of communication has intention and motive behind it.

John tells us plain why he has written. Close by reading verse 30-31.

The testimonies have been given. So, do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Will you personally confess that truth as Thomas did, “My Lord and My God.”? So may it be true of each of us today.