John 20:19-29The Sunday Night Crowd

John 20:19–29 HCSB

19 In the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because of their fear of the Jews. Then Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 20 Having said this, He showed them His hands and His side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 After saying this, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 24 But one of the Twelve, Thomas (called “Twin”), was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe!” 26 After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.” 28 Thomas responded to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed. Those who believe without seeing are blessed.”

john 20:19-19

Sub: The Sunday Night Crowd

Intro:

On the first Easter, Christ appeared to individuals and groups. He appeared under all circumstances. Around 7:00 a.m., He appeared to Mary Magdalene just outside the tomb. Soon after, He appeared to a group of women near the tomb. In the late evening, He appeared to disciples on the Emmaus Road. After 4:00 p.m., He appeared to Peter alone. But for us, the most significant appearance was to the eleven disciples and other believers in the evening. It was probably in the same upper room where he had last taught them.

I. A SCARED TEN

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assemble for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

John explains when He appeared, why He appeared, the way He appeared, and what happened at His appearing. The Lord came to where the disciples were gathered and when they were gathered.

A. THE WHEN ...the same day at evening, being the first day of the week...

On the same day He was raised from the dead He appeared to His disciples. John tells us that it was evening. This was Sunday Night church. The Lord knew where His disciples were and when they would be there. John explains to us when the Lord appeared Christ appeared to the disciples on Easter Sunday night when the disciples were assembled together in a room.

B. THE WHY.... the doors were shut where the disciples were assemble for fear of the Jews...

The door was shut for “fear of the Jews.” The church may hid behind closed doors because of fear. Jesus came to show Himself alive from the dead and to comfort the disciples. The disciples were in a mess. The One they had followed and given everything up for had died. They were hid out for fear of the Jews. They reckoned that if the rulers could have Jesus crucified that their lives would be in danger too. The appearing of the Savior would have caused the disappearing of the fear of the disciples. The Bible tells us that the church was gathered together because they were fearful. They had the doors locked and were meeting together because of fear. The first disciples were hiding behind locked doors because they feared what the unbelieving world could do. They feared retaliation. The world that crucified their Lord might do the same to them. They feared misunderstanding. There was a rumor that they had stolen the body of Jesus. They feared observation. They did not want the world to see them in their confusion and weakness.

C. THE WAY... came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.20 Having said this, He showed them His hands and His side.

The appearing of the Lord to the disciples was clear to all. All those present at that Sunday evening service would have clearly seen and heard the Lord. His appearing was clear. The disciples were locked up in a room together and then came Jesus. He stood in the midst of the crowd. It is good when Jesus gets in the midst. Jesus came to church! He needs to come to every church. Churches of all shapes and sizes are in all kinds of conditions that's why churches need for Jesus to come to church. The appearing of the Lord to the disciples was clear to all. All those present at that Sunday evening service would have clearly seen and heard the Lord. His appearing was CLEAR. The disciples were locked up in a room together and then came Jesus. He stood in the midst of the crowd. It is good when Jesus gets in the midst. Jesus came to church! He needs to come to every church. Churches of all shapes and sizes are in all kinds of conditions that's why churches need for Jesus to come to church. Rick Coram said it well, “Every church needs Jesus. Dark churches need the light of Jesus, drifting churches need the leadership of Jesus, dead churches need the life of Jesus, and defeated churches need the love of Jesus.”

Jack Andrews said, “He ought to be in the midst of everything we do. He should clearly be seen in all that we do.

He should be in the midst: *Of the order of worship because He's the Master of ceremony.

*Preschool because He is the Lamb of God.

*Children's department because He is the Gentle Shepherd.

*Worship and Praise because He is the Everlasting Father. *Preaching because He is the Word of God.

*Singles because He is the Friend that sticks closer than a brother.

*Elderly because He is the Good Shepherd that leads us beside the still waters. *Service because He came to serve.

*Giving because He gave Himself to save us from our sins.

*Of the Business meetings because He is the Prince of Peace.

Jesus came and stood in the midst and pronounced peace to His people. The Bible says that He appeared in the midst out of nowhere. He came before the crowed and showed the proof of His resurrection. He showed them all His hands and His side. The Lord was faithful to show Himself to those who had followed Him.” D. THE WHAT....21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

As they sat there, Jesus was suddenly in their midst. He gave them the normal everyday eastern greeting: “Peace be to you.” In the Greek it means far more than: “May you be saved from trouble.” It means: “May God give you every good thing.” Then Jesus gave the disciples the commission which the Church must never forget.

He said that as God had sent him forth, so he sent them forth. Here is what we call Christ giving “The Charter of the Church.”

1. THE MASTER OF HIS COMMISSION

Ás the Father has sent me, I am sending you” (v.21)

As Jesus depended on the Father, we are to depend on Jesus. It means that the Church needs Jesus. A person who is to be sent out needs someone to send him; he needs a message to take; he needs a power and authority to back his message; he needs someone to whom he may turn to when he is doubt and in difficulty. Without Jesus, the Church has no message; without him the church has no power; without him the church has no one to turn to; without him the church has no enlightenment, no strengthen, and no encouragement. This means that the Church is dependent on Jesus.

2. THE MEANING OF OUR COMMISSION is one of prolonging and continuing His work. We are not here to begin something new. Our only commission is to continue doing the things the Lord is always doing. It means that Jesus Christ needs the Church which is exactly what Paul meant when he called the Church “the body of Christ.” Jesus had come with a message for all men and now he was going back to his Father. His message could never be taken to all men, unless the Church took it. The Church was to be a mouth to speak for Jesus, feet to run upon his errands, hands to do his work.

3. THE METHOD OF OUR COMMISSION is to use all of us, every one of us. The relationship between Jesus and God was continually dependent on Jesus’ perfect obedience and perfect love. Jesus could be God’s messenger only because he rendered to God that perfect obedience and love. It follows that the Church is fit to be the messenger and the instrument of Christ only when the church loves him and obeys him. The Church must never be out to spread its own message; the church must be out to spread the message of Christ.

II. A SKIPPIN THOMAS

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

But Thomas missed the meeting-the first Sunday night service. Maybe he didn’t want to be around anything or anyone who would remind him of the loss of Jesus’ friendship. Maybe he was alone, pouting in despair. Maybe he was trying to escape a possible arrest. We aren’t sure. But one thing is for sure-Thomas missed out!! We do not know why he missed, but he doubtless had his excuses, for excuses are a dime a dozen for missing Sunday night services. The important thing is that he missed. And because he missed the meeting, he was filled with unbelief. What he missed would have encouraged faith and discouraged unbelief.

A. HE MISSED PEACE

At the meeting Jesus said, “Peace be unto you” (&21). The very first words Jesus spoke to the disciples after His death: “Peace be unto you.” This was the regular greeting of the Jews of that day, but it had a very special significance now. The disciples needed peace, the peace that only He could give. Unbelief does not thrive in spiritual peace. But Thomas did not have peace because he missed the Sunday night service.

The Greek word Jesus used for peace means=a state of freedom from anxiety and inner turmoil-peace, freedom from worry.

The kind of peace Jesus gives is an inner peace in an outer storm.

II. The picture of peace (a bird sing in a storm).

B. HE MISSED PROOF

At this meeting Jesus “showed unto them his hands and his side” (). ”Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it”

Thomas spoke for the whole world: “Give me proof and I’ll believe!”

Thomas demanded proof to believe. Do you blame him? His hopes and dreams dashed, Thomas was drowning in depression and doubt no way he could believe the unbelievable, not without proof.

These were the very things Thomas said he wanted to see if he was going to believe. But, by missing the Sunday night service, he missed the very thing he demanded to see.

Thomas reminds me of some of our Baptist members always demanding to see what they could have seen if they come to church.

C. HE MISSED PRAISE

“Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord” ().

Saw in the Greek means more than mere sight. It is seeing with understanding. Indeed, were they ever glad? But Thomas did not sound glad when he met up with the disciples later, for he was complaining about not believing until he saw the hands and side of Christ. Missing the Sunday night service does not add to your joy. No worldly happiness will make up for the spiritual joy you will miss when you miss worship.

D. HE MISSED PURPOSE

At this meeting Christ commissioned the disciples for service. He said, “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (). Missing Church will hurt your opportunity for service. And if you lack a commission from God, you will lack purpose. So much of the world is wandering about looking for meaning and purpose in life. Their problem is a result of disregarding God’s purpose in their lives.

E. HE MISSED POWER

Christ also said at this first Sunday night meeting, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (). Thomas was weak in the faith, not strong in the faith. He lacked power and strength spiritually because he missed the first Sunday night service. You miss church and it will hurt you.

III. A SECOND TRIP

Jesus comes back to church eight days later which mean He came back the next Sunday.

A. A TRIP TO CHURCH

It is significant that Christ waited until Thomas was with the disciples before He revealed Himself to Thomas. Christ did not appear to Thomas, at home, on the job, walking down the street, or in his sleep. He waited until he came back to church. This action of Christ reminds us that missing church will cause you to miss many spiritual blessings. Christ does not give you a special visit if you are not willing to be present with the saints in church. If Thomas had missed this meeting, he would be walking in doubt and misery the rest of his life.

B. A TRIP OF COMPASSION

Verse 27 starts by saying, “Then saith he to Thomas.” It is evident that the primary purpose of this visit was to bring Thomas back into the fold of believers. That Christ would make a special visit to help Thomas, and that He would address Thomas here especially is indeed a demonstration of the great compassion of Christ. Thomas is restored because of Christ Compassion.

IV. A SURE TESTIMONY

Christ gave affirmation of the resurrection:

A. HE SHOWS UP

First He appears in the midst of them and nobody opens the door. Christ came into the room in spite of the fact that the doors were shut. This miracle indicates that the resurrected body did not have the limitations that the human body does. It could pass through the doors or walls and it could vanish instantly.

B. HE SPEAKS UP

“Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see…and when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet” (, ); “He showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord” ().

CLOSE

There are some things I may not know,

There are some places I can not go,

But this one thing that I am sure,

God is real for I can feel Him in my soul.

Some folk may doubt,

Some folk may scorn,

All may desert and leave me alone,

But as for me,

I’ll take God’s Pardon,

For I know He’s real, Yes He’s real,

Because I feel Him in my heart.

The Jack Andrews Expository Studies - The Jack Andrews Expository Studies – Wonder Worker, The.