John 20:19-23

Introduction

Shoutout to Emma for 1st mothers’ day

Read John 20:19-23

Explanation

Our peace comes with proof. (v. 19-20)

It always takes faith, but for me it’s like a leap across a puddle instead of the Grand Canyon

[some basic apologetics]

Peace doesn’t come from the absence of troubles, but from the promises of Jesus.

Here he shows the fulfillment of his promise that he would be alive

The problem with Peter wasn’t the existence of the wind and the waves, but the fact that he took his eyes of Jesus

What if God doesn’t want to give you release from your troubles, but clarity of his presence in the middle of them?

—can lions swim across the ocean?—

You can’t free yourself from hardship, but you can remind yourself of the ultimate truth of the resurrection, which reshapes your hardship.

Our purpose comes with power. (v. 21-22)

Doesn’t this contradict Acts 1-2? Two best options…

The 12 receive the Spirit here, the rest of the 120 later (and then the 12 speak in tongues with them)

Jesus breathes not to bestow the Spirit but to prove his life, and gives another promise of the Spirit (with a command to receive, not resist)

What’s clear is that there’s no expectation of obedience to the commission without power from on High

There is no command from God the Father or commission from God the Son that is not equally met by capability from God the Spirit.

[examples of difficult things we think we can’t do]

When we are seeking to be obedient, we need to know that we are equipped for the task

[Dr. Miller saying I wasn’t relying on the Spirit + me needing to when I first went out for fall blitz]

Part of the reason we aren’t filled with the Spirit is we aren’t trying to be obedient to the Son

Our preaching comes with pardon. (v. 23)

v. 23 can be a bit confusing, similar to Matthew 18:18

Jesus is not giving them authority to forgive in themselves, but to pronounce forgiveness in light of the response to the message

What an incredible responsibility!

Romans 10

People’s sins can’t be forgiven until they understand they can be forgiven (otherwise, how will they repent?)

They can’t understand they can be forgiven until someone tells them that they can be forgiven (and explains how & why).

What an incredible relief!

Our job is not to save, but to share.

[Sydney waiting for someone to invite her]

We receive peace, are sent with purpose, and ought to preach the good news of the forgiveness of sins.

Exhortation

Do you need peace? Look at the proof. Do you need power? Live in your purpose.

Receive prayer after communion

Do you need pardon? Come to Jesus.

John 1:29 — Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world!

Communion

Those of us who have been baptized are getting ready to take communion together.

We are looking to the cross, where Jesus took away our sins.

We are looking to the empty tomb, where Jesus overcame death.

We are looking to his return, and living in the power of the Spirit until then.