The Risen Christ

The Risen Christ

John 20:19-23

Main idea: This sermon explores the profound spiritual discovery of experiencing the peace of the Risen Christ and actively participating in God's divine plan.

Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before You today with humble hearts and open minds. We thank You for Your living, Word, which is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we delve into Your Scripture, we pray for wisdom and understanding. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock, and our Redeemer. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Risen Lord, we pray. Amen

Introduction

Johns Gospel is not a life of Christ; it is a powerful argument for the incarnation, a conclusive demonstration that Jesus was and is the very heaven-sent Son of God and the source of eternal life. In every chapter Jesus’ deity is revealed. Titles such as, Word, only begotten, Lamb of God, Son of God, true Bread, Life, Resurrection, and Vine are attributed to Him. The greatest sign, of course, is the resurrection, and John provides a stirring eyewitness account of finding the empty tomb. Then he records various post-resurrection appearances by Jesus.

Today let’s examine one of those occurrences!

Turn with me to the Gospel of John, chapter 20, verses 19 through 23:

"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked in fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you!' After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again, Jesus said, 'Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' And with that he breathed on them and said, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.'"

In these verses, we find the essence of our faith, the cornerstone of our belief, and the foundation of our hope. We encounter the Risen Christ, the embodiment of peace, the source of power, and the compass of our purpose.

As we embark on this spiritual expedition, let us not forget that we are not mere tourists in the kingdom of God, but active participants in His divine plan. We are called to experience His peace, embrace His power, and engage with His purpose.

Now, my dear friends, let us turn our hearts and minds to the first main point of our message today: Experiencing the Peace of the Risen Christ.

Experiencing the Peace of the Risen Christ

In the midst of our chaotic world, we find a beacon of tranquility in the person of Jesus Christ. His words, "Peace be with you," echo across the centuries, reaching us in our present struggles and fears. This peace, however, is not merely the absence of conflict or the cessation of turmoil. It is a profound, all-encompassing serenity that permeates every aspect of our being. It is a peace that transcends our understanding, a peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

This peace is not a fleeting emotion or a transient state of mind. It is a steadfast assurance, a firm conviction that no matter what we face, God is in control. It is a peace that stems from a deep-seated trust in God's sovereignty, a peace that is anchored in the unchanging nature of God. It is a peace that remains constant, even during life's storms.

In the Gospel of John, we see this peace embodied in the Risen Christ. After His resurrection, Jesus appears to His disciples, who are huddled together in fear. He greets them with words of peace, dispelling their fears and filling them with joy. This encounter illustrates the transformative power of Christ's peace. It can turn fear into joy, doubt into faith, and despair into hope.

The peace of Christ is not just for the disciples in the upper room, but for all who believe in Him. It is a gift that He freely gives to us. As we receive this gift, we are called to be channels of His peace, extending it to those around us. We are called to forgive as we have been forgiven, to love as we have been loved, and to extend peace as we have received peace.

In our daily lives, we often encounter situations that threaten to rob us of our peace. We face trials and tribulations, challenges and obstacles, disappointments and setbacks. Yet, during the trials, we are reminded of Christ's words, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." This assurance fills us with a peace that is not dependent on our circumstances but is rooted in our relationship with Christ.

As we walk with Christ, we discover that His peace is not a destination, but a journey. It is a process of growing in our understanding of His love, deepening our trust in His promises, and surrendering our lives to His control. It is a journey marked by prayer and meditation, by reading and reflecting on God's Word, and by living out our faith in practical ways.

So, the peace of Christ is not a passive state of being, but an active pursuit. It requires us to seek God, to trust in His promises, and to surrender our lives to His control. It involves extending forgiveness, showing love, and sharing peace with those around us. As we experience the peace of the Risen Christ, we become channels of His peace, bringing hope and healing to a broken world.

Embracing the Power of the Risen Christ

As we examine the Gospel of John, chapter 20, verses 19 through 23, we see that the Risen Christ is not only a beacon of peace but also a source of immense power. This power is not of the worldly kind, characterized by dominance and control. Instead, it is a divine power, marked by love, grace, and transformation.

The first glimpse of this power is seen when Jesus appears to His disciples, with the doors locked, and stands among them. This is not a mere display of supernatural ability but a profound demonstration of the power of the Risen Christ that defies the laws of nature and transcends the barriers of the physical world. It is a power that brings hope during fear, comfort in the face of despair, and presence in the throes of loneliness.

This power is further manifested when Jesus shows His disciples His hands and side. Here, we see the power of the Risen Christ that triumphs over death and sin. The wounds on His hands and side are not symbols of defeat but badges of victory. They are tangible proof of His sacrificial love, His redemptive work, and His victorious resurrection. This power is not to be feared but to be embraced, for it is through His wounds that we are healed, through His death that we have life, and through His resurrection that we have hope.

Yet, the power of the Risen Christ is not confined to His physical presence or His victorious resurrection. It is also evident in His words and actions. When Jesus says, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you," He is not merely offering a greeting or making a statement. He is imparting a divine commission, backed by divine authority and divine power. This power is not for personal gain or selfish ambition. Instead, it is a power for service, for mission, and for the advancement of God's kingdom.

In the original Greek text, the word for "send" is "apostello," which means to send forth, to dispatch, or to set apart. This is the same word used in Matthew 10:5 when Jesus sends out the twelve apostles, and in Luke 10:1 when He sends out the seventy-two. In these instances, the sending is not merely a physical departure but a spiritual commissioning. It is a sending forth with a purpose, with a message, and with the power of the Risen Christ.

The power of the Risen Christ is also evident in His act of breathing on His disciples and saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit." This is not an ordinary breath but a divine breath, reminiscent of God's breath in Genesis 2:7 that gave life to man. It is a breath that imparts the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, who empowers, equips, and enables believers to live out their faith and fulfill their divine commission.

Finally, the power of the Risen Christ is seen in His authority to forgive sins. When Jesus says, "If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven," He is not delegating His authority but sharing His mission. It is a mission of reconciliation, of restoration, and of redemption. It is a mission that requires the power of the Risen Christ, the power to forgive, the power to heal, and the power to set free.

It is a power that defies the laws of nature, triumphs over death and sin, backs a divine commission, imparts the Holy Spirit, and forgives sins. It is a power that is not to be feared but to be embraced, for it is through this power that we are transformed, equipped, and sent forth to be ambassadors of Christ in a world in need of His love, His grace, and His power.

Engaging the Purpose of the Risen Christ

As we continue to immerse ourselves in the divine wisdom of John 20:19-23, we find ourselves standing on the precipice of a new understanding, a fresh revelation, and a renewed commitment to our faith. We have experienced the peace of the Risen Christ, we have embraced His power, and now, we are called to engage with His purpose. This, my dear friends, is where our faith meets action, where our belief intersects with our behavior, and where our love for Christ translates into our love for others.

The Risen Christ, in His infinite wisdom and boundless love, did not merely rise to bring us peace or to demonstrate His power. He rose with a purpose, a divine mandate, a heavenly mission. And that purpose, dear friends, is not a secret hidden in the heavens, but a truth revealed in the Scriptures, a truth that beckons us, invites us, and compels us to rise with Him.

The first aspect of this purpose that we must understand is that the Risen Christ calls us to a life of service. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus Himself tells us that "the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). This, dear friends, is the heart of Christ's purpose - a life of selfless service, of sacrificial love, and of humble generosity. To engage with His purpose, therefore, is to mirror His example, to follow His footsteps, and to embody His love in our daily lives. It is to look beyond our own needs, desires, and ambitions, and to see the needs, the hurts, and the hopes of those around us. It is to extend a helping hand to the weak, a comforting word to the hurting, and a beacon of hope to the lost.

As we ponder on this, let us remember the words of the respected Christian writer, C.S. Lewis, who once said, "The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God." This, dear friends, is the transformative power of Christ's purpose. It is not merely about doing good deeds or performing religious rituals. It is about becoming - becoming more like Christ, becoming more loving, more compassionate, more selfless, and humbler. It is about a radical transformation that starts in the heart and radiates outward, touching every aspect of our lives and every person we encounter.

The second aspect of Christ's purpose that we must grasp is that the Risen Christ calls us to a life of witness. In the book of Acts, we read that "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). This, dear friends, is the call of Christ's purpose - a call to be His witnesses, to share His love, to proclaim His truth, and to spread His Gospel. To engage with His purpose, therefore, is to embrace this call, to rise to this challenge, and to commit to this mission. It is to speak of His love with our words, to show His love with our actions, and to shine His love with our lives. It is to be a beacon of hope in a world of despair, a voice of truth in a world of deception, and a vessel of love in a world of indifference.

As we reflect on this, let us be reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul, who wrote, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16). This, dear friends, is the conviction of Christ's purpose. It is not merely about sharing a message or spreading a religion. It is about bearing witness to a truth, a truth that has the power to transform lives, to heal hearts, and to save souls. It is about a conviction that is so deep, so strong, and so real, that it cannot be silenced, it cannot be suppressed, and it cannot be ignored.

So, dear friends, as we stand in the light of the Risen Christ, as we bask in His peace, as we marvel at His power, let us also rise with His purpose. Let us rise to serve, let us rise to witness, let us rise to love. For in rising with Christ, we do not merely rise from the grave of sin and death, but we rise to a new life of peace, power, and purpose. A life that is not defined by what we have, but by what we give. A life that is not measured by our success, but by our service. A life that is not marked by our achievements, but by our witness. This, dear friends, is the call of the Risen Christ. This is the purpose of His resurrection. And this is the mission of our faith. So, let us rise, dear friends. Let us rise with Christ. Let us rise with peace, power, and purpose.

Conclusion

As we prepare to close this time of worship, let's take a moment to reflect on the profound truth we've encountered today. We've stood in the presence of the Risen Christ, felt His peace wash over us, and been empowered by His Spirit. We've been reminded of our divine calling, not just to be passive observers, but active participants in God's grand plan.

But let's not forget, this isn't just about what we've received today. It's also about what we're called to give. We're called to share the peace of Christ, to extend forgiveness as we've been forgiven, and to carry the light of His love into the world.

And remember, we don't do this alone. We have the Holy Spirit, our Helper and Guide, to empower and equip us. And we have each other, our brothers and sisters in Christ, to encourage and support us along the way.

So, as we go to our various homes in various communities, let's carry the message of the Risen Christ in our hearts, on our lips, and in our actions. Let's be bearers of His peace, agents of His forgiveness, and ambassadors of His love.