Living from Peace and Purpose

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INTRODUCTION

Get Our Bibles Ready John 20

In the past week, a few of us went on a trip and enjoyed sports. I looked at my phone and even overheard conversations about being careful in the streets because there will be political action, etc.

People are taking precautions, workplaces are asking people to work from home, people are rescheduling meetings, and people are staying behind locked doors and gates.

The atmosphere is thick, it's heavy, and there's fear and uncertainty in the air.

SERMON QUESTION:

The question that the moment demands from you and me is, how do we, as believers, live and respond in the midst of fears and uncertainty in this world?

SCRIPTURE

John 20:19–23 CSB

When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

MAIN POINT

Because of the resurrection of Jesus, believers live from a place of peace and purpose through the Holy Spirit.

Point 1: BECAUSE OF JESUS ’ RESURRECTION WE LIVE FROM PEACE WITH GOD

Point 2: BECAUSE OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION, WE HAVE A NEW PURPOSE

Point 3: BECAUSE OF JESUS ’ RESURRECTION, WE BECOME NEW PEOPLE

Point 4: BECAUSE OF JESUS ’ RESURRECTION, WE HAVE A NEW MISSION

CONTEXT/UNPACKING THE MOMENT

John 20:19 CSB

When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

What is happening here?

The followers of Jesus are in a room, locked behind closed doors, because they feared the Jews. WHY?

These followers are followers of Jesus. They have been walking with Him for three years; He has taught them, and they have given their lives to Him. Many left their jobs, many lost relationships, and did full-on career changes to follow this Jesus.

This Jesus was teaching and preaching a new way of life - that God's Kingdom is Here. (Early adopters)

Jesus became a political, religious, and economic threat to Jerusalem's ruling class - the rich aristocrats, the landowners, and the governing authorities. Jesus was a problem to them, and the Sanhedrin moved to silence him - and this would lead to his execution.

These disciples in this room have had their hopes shattered! What they thought they were building, a new way of living, a new life - gone!

Not only are they carrying hopelessness and fear, but some of them are also carrying guilt and shame because they denied, abandoned Jesus, and ran away. They are carrying the heavy weight of having flaked out.

And outside that room, on the other side of that door, is hostility, unrest, and people who are looking for the followers ofJesus. They are fugitives, enemies of the state. There is a looming threat of arrest and also their own executions.

And so, they are hiding, locked in a room. With fear and uncertainty all around them.

Questions: (Let’s Pause)

What are the things that bring fear and uncertainty or maybe shame and guilt in your life that are causing you to distance yourself/lock yourself away?

Is it the political, economic, and religious climate you are seeing around in our community and country now at the moment?

Is it the robots, the AI, and the technology changes happening rapidly?

Are the radicals of our time -politically, the manosphere, economics?

Is it a personal, strained relationship, or possible unforgiveness?

Shame and regret that you hold?

WHAT WE WILL SEE IS THAT BECAUSE OF JESUS, THERE IS HOPE

But WHEN is all of this happening?

John 20:19 CSB

When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

It was the evening of the first day of the week:

3 days before this, on what we would call Good Friday, Jesus was crucified.

3 days later, which is the day of this scripture - THIS MORNING - a few of the women disciples went to the tomb and found it empty. Jesus has risen.

THIS IS KEY!!! We are not dealing with BEFORE Jesus dying on the cross, but AFTER THE CROSS.

Jesus has died. AND Ressurected!!!

This moment has huge implications. For these disciples and my friends, for YOU!

POINT 1: BECAUSE OF JESUS ’ RESURRECTION WE LIVE FROM PEACE WITH GOD

John 20:19–20 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 says to them: PEACE BE WITH YOU.

In the middle of chaos, fear, uncertainty, pain, and guilt. Jesus words are not:

“Let's get revenge” - “I’ll be back” terminator vibes

It's not blaming them for abandoning them.

He doesn't even address those issues as the main pritority. He didn't even knock:

He says PEACE BE WITH YOU.

This wasn't the ordinary “howzit!” or “shalom” that they have been using all their lives.

This was the fulfillment of a promise.

He was making a declaration!!!

ILLUSTATION: The email saying you got the job. Getting your exam results. The Offer to Purchase went through.

John 20:20 ESV

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

They would have begun to click and connect the dots.

GENESIS RECAP:

As a church, we have been going through Genesis. You will remember that we ended on a cliff hanger at the end of Chapter 3 (don't worry we will carry on next term).

In Genesis 3 - Humanity rebels against God, and sin enters THE WORLD.

The sin brought brokenness to the relationship between God and man, brokenness between humans.

There was no peace betwen us and God. No peace between humanity.

WHEN JESUS WALKS INTO THE ROOM - HE IS WALKING IN TO MAKE A DECLARATION, AND HE BRINGS PROOF:

The wounds in his hands - and they remember the nails that went through his hands.

The wound by his ribs, they remember his taking the wrath and punishment.

And He’s standing right in front of them - ALIVE!!!

He defeated DEATH!!!!

The Old Testament scriptures that had been passed down over the years would begin to rush through their minds, the words of the prophets: They would understand the moment that they are in.

Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Psalm 22:16 “For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—”

Hosea 6:2 “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us that we may live before him.”

Isaiah 53:10–12 “Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul, he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.”

It is at that moment that they realize that the most important thing in the world has taken place. JESUS DEFEATED SIN AND DEATH, and THEY REJOICED!!!!

Everything was about to change!!!!

The Jews outside were not the most important thing anymore.

Their guilt, shame, and fears were not the most important thing in the room anymore.

APPLICATION: As a Christian, PEACE WITH GOD is where you live from. Fear, uncertainty, guilt and shame do not have the final say in your life.

BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, YOU LIVE FROM PEACE WITH GOD!!!

POINT 2: BECAUSE OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION, WE HAVE A NEW PURPOSE

John 20:21 ESV

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

He says the Father sent Him.

(Hint: Jesus is modeling something. He's always modeling something.)

Jesus was sent into a broken world, government, and cities.

Jesus was sent to broken/sinful humans.

Jesus was sent to people who would hate and persecute him.

Jesus was sent to carry and speak the truth of the Kingdom.

Jesus used his entire life for the Kingdom of God - to bring light to this world.

Jesus came to bring us back into peace and a relationship with God.

This is why He was sent.

As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

He now sends out the disciples.

He is changing their purpose and identity. He is extending the mission He had to them and says go and do the same.

The disciples inherit the same:

Mission

Authority as his ambassadors

The relationship that Jesus had with God

APPLICATION: We are the disciples. Our priorities change. Our Mission changes. Our thinking changes.

BECAUSE OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION, WE HAVE A NEW PURPOSE

POINT 3: BECAUSE OF JESUS ’ RESURRECTION, WE BECOME NEW PEOPLE

John 20:22 ESV

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

Friends, please don't forget this - as preached last week - don't forget who Jesus is!! Jesus is God!

He is not merely their rabbi, teacher, or mentor.

Jesus is God become Flesh.

Jesus does something incredible - He breathes on them.

Genesis 2:7 ESV

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.

KEY: The God who breathed life into humanity in Genesis is now breathing new life into humanity again.

Paul would explain it later when he said in 2 Corinthians 5:17

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Friends, when Jesus breathed on them - everything changed. Humanity would change. YOU CHANGE!

The entire Godhead is involved in the new mission and purpose of the disciples:

The Father sends the Son

The Son sends the Spirit

The Spirit empowers the disciples

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS:

Christians are extensions of divine power - Spirit-empowered representatives of Jesus.

Christians have access to the Spirit's power because they cannot do the mission on human effort alone.

The Spirit grants Christians authority to act as God’s agents in this world.

The Spirit is the same spirit that allowed Jesus to teach, heal, speak boldly, and prophesy - this is the same spirit that dwells and lives in Christians.

QUESTIONS: (This is not hype) Church, is this how you see yourself? - This is how Scripture describes your identity.

BECAUSE OF JESUS ’ RESURRECTION, WE BECOME NEW PEOPLE, LIVING FROM PEACE AND NOW PARTICIPATE IN GODS MISSION.

POINT 4: BECAUSE OF JESUS ’ RESURRECTION, WE HAVE A NEW MISSION

John 20:23 ESV

If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

John 20:23 shows us what it means to bean ambassador of the Kingdom, sent by Jesus to represent Him.

Jesus came to save the lost.

Now that the mission is ours, as believers.

Jesus says If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

God is the only one who can forgive sins.

But in the same way that Jesus knew how people are to be forgiven (through repentance and their faith in Him), Christians now have that same authority to proclaim that truth/the gospel to the world.

Because we know the gospel/way for people to be reconciled with God - if someone says they believe in Jesus - we can confidently affirm to them that they are forgiven.

If someone says that they reject Jesus, we can truthfully tell them that they are still stuck in their sin.

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 ESV

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Friends, God is still reconciling people to Himself - He did it through Christ -but now, He is appealing to the world through us.

This is our purpose and mission on this earth.

We have the gospel. We know the way for people to be saved, forgiven, and live in a relationship with their Creator.

This is the Ministry of Reconciliation

We facilitate forgiveness between God and people by sharing the Gospel of Jesus and proclaiming repentance to them. (MINISTRY TRIP PUNT)

AND.....We also live out the ministry of reconciliation personally by how we handle the offenses of others against us. By refusing to forgive others, we embrace the person's sin and reject the person, keeping that person fully out of our lives and thus keeping the community fractured. By forgiving, we demonstrate faith in Gods abolity to restore and heal a sinner rather than us seeking retaliation and revenge.

CONCLUSION (THINGS TO THINK ABOUT)

QUESTION: As believers, how do we live in the midst of fears and uncertainty in this world?

I don't know what corner of the world you find yourself in today. Some of you

Have to navigate a world where you feel the weight of discrimination because of your gender/race/financial position.

Some of you are in the spaces where greed, violence, exploitation, creative accounting, and perverseness are the norm.

Some of you are at odds with government policy in various aspects

Some of you are feeling the pressure of the manosphere, herbivore men, incell culture

Some of you carry the pain of injustice and offense

Some of you are holding the weight of your sin, your shame, regret, abandoning Jesus, realizing that you cannot do this on your own.

My friend, can I remind you that:

Jesus sees your pain, your sin, your anger, disillusionment, uncertainty, and He is present with you in that locked room BUT know this

Your peace comes from your reconciliation with God

You have new priorities now, so lay those aside

You are a new person now, so you can choose to respond differently

You have a bigger calling on your life - to bring reconciliation where God has put you.

LETS STAND:

QUESTIONS:

Are you reconciled to God?

Do you live to represent the kingdom where you are?

Do you draw your strength from the Holy Spirit or live from yourself?

Have you accepted the mission of reconciliation from Jesus? Sharing the Gospel and personally forgiving others?