Jesus Is Here!

The Gospel of John

John 20:19-23

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - August 8, 2018

(Revised July 8, 2020)

BACKGROUND:

*Today in John 20 we continue to explore the most hope-giving day in history: The day that our crucified Savior Jesus Christ rose again from the dead! Last time we looked at the first Easter morning from Mary Magdalene's point of view. Tonight we will see what happened that evening when Jesus appeared to His disciples. Jesus was there with His followers on that first Easter Sunday, and by His Holy Spirit, He is here with us right now. Please think about this great news as we read John 20:19-23.

MESSAGE:

*Pastor Tom Long told about teaching three little girls in his church about special days in the Christian calendar. Of course, they talked about Christmas and Easter, but then the discussion turned to Pentecost.

*Pastor Long asked the girls if they knew what Pentecost was. Since none of them did, he told them that Pentecost was when the church was sitting in a group. And the Holy Spirit landed on them like tongues of fire on their heads.

*Two of the girls took that information in stride. But one girl's eyes got as big as saucers, and she said, "Gosh, Reverend Long, we must have been absent that Sunday." (1)

*Of course, the story of Pentecost is found in Acts chapter 2. And we may not have the tongues of fire today, but we have HIM. Jesus Christ is here. And this great Bible passage helps us understand this life-changing truth.

1. NOTICE FIRST THAT JESUS IS HERE TO STAND BY US.

*In vs. 19, "Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst. . ."

*The disciples were gathered together that night. And we ought to gather for worship every time we can. But they weren't gathered together that Sunday night because they were faithful members of their church. No. -- The disciples were there that evening, because they were scared to death. Jesus had been killed, and they thought they were next.

*John Phillips described the scene and said: "The day was our Sunday. The time was probably no sooner than 8 o'clock since the two disciples who met the Lord on the road to Emmaus had time to make the trip back to Jerusalem.

*That part of the story is found in Luke 24:13-36, and we can imagine the strong emotion in their conversation that evening. Some of the disciples were still skeptical about the Lord's resurrection. Mark 16:12-13 tells us they didn't believe those two disciples who met Jesus on the road to Emmaus. The Lord had also appeared to Mary Magdalene, and some of the other women. But testimony from women wasn't taken seriously in that day. Even so, the other disciples were convinced, in part because Luke 24:34 tells us that the Lord had appeared privately to Peter.

*Back and forth the disciples must have argued with emotions fired up by the terror they felt. They were naturally afraid that the Jewish rulers might at any moment send their police to arrest them. Maybe they heard that they were already being accused of stealing the Lord's body. And the men who had not hesitated to murder their Master, would not hesitate to kill them too. So, the door was firmly shut. At least that gave them a small sense of security." (2)

*Jesus had been killed. And the Lord's terrified followers thought they were next. But then something wonderful happened: Jesus showed up! And He stood by them. Again in vs. 19, "The same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst. . ."

*William MacDonald pointed out that this was a miracle. Jesus entered the room without opening the locked doors. It was just poof, and there He was! That's why at first. they thought Jesus was a ghost. Luke 24:36-40 says:

36. Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you.''

37. But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.

38. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?

39. Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.''

40. When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

*The Lord's resurrection body was a real body of flesh and bones. Yet He had the power to pass through barriers and act independently of natural laws." (3)

*Jesus simply appeared in that room. He was able to move "at the speed of thought." And Church: One day so will we, because we will have a body like His! (4)

*Jesus stood by them, and that made all the difference in the world! In Matthew 18:20, Jesus said: "Where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst of them," so Jesus is also here. And it's great to know that in the hardest times Jesus will stand right by our side.

*Pastor Joel Baker told the amazing story of how his grandmother came to America from Serbia. As a young teenage she was often terribly beaten by her abusive father. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore, so one day she ran away from home and caught a boat to America. But when she arrived at Ellis Island, this young Serbian woman had no papers, no family and no sponsor.

*As she stood in the long line, an immigration officer realized she had no papers, so he put a white "X" on her arm with chalk. She didn't know it, but that "X" meant she would be sent back home just as soon as she got to the entry desk.

*But after the officer moved away, the young man in line next to her reached over and wiped the "X" off her arm. When they got to the entry desk, the authorities asked for her papers. Of course she had none, but the young man put his arm around her shoulder and said, "She's with me."

*They were both welcomed to America, and a few weeks later they were married! Joel's grandfather-to-be stood by his future wife. He gave her a new life in a new land. And that is exactly what Jesus wants to do for us! He stands beside us. He washes away the "X" of our sin with the blood of His cross. Then Jesus says, "This one is with Me!" (5)

*That's why Revelation 1:5 calls Jesus Christ "Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood." Jesus stands close by to save everyone who will trust in Him. He takes us to a new life. And one day He will take us to a new home in Heaven.

*But on the worst day of your life, Jesus will stand by you to give you the comfort and strength you need. We know this is true because in Hebrews 13:5, He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

2. JESUS IS HERE TO STAND BY US. HE IS ALSO HERE TO SPEAK TO US.

*As the Lord stood there in vs. 19, He said to His disciples: "Peace be with you." And when you need words of comfort, the Lord will speak to you too. There are many places in God's Word where He speaks words of peace and comfort to His people. Listen to this assurance from Psalm 121:

1. I will lift up my eyes to the hills from whence comes my help.

2. My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

3. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.

4. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5. The Lord is your keeper; The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

6. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

7. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.

8. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.

*The Lord will speak to you through His Word, and through the still, small voice of His Holy Spirit.

3. JESUS IS HERE TO SPEAK TO US. BUT HE IS ALSO HERE TO SHOW THE TRUTH TO US.

*In vs. 20, "When (Jesus) had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. . ." Jesus showed them His scars, and one day, He will show them to us. But even today, we can see them by faith. And Jesus didn't have to keep those scars, but He kept them to show us the truth.

[1] THE LORD'S SCARS SHOW US THE SERIOUSNESS OF OUR SIN.

*And we need to see the seriousness of our sin, because we all certainly sin. As Romans 3:23 says, "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." And Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages (or just payment) of sin is death. . ." That means eternal death, suffering forever in hell.

*The greatest men who ever lived saw the seriousness of their sin. In Psalm 38, David prayed:

1. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure!

2. For Your arrows pierce me deeply, And Your hand presses me down.

3. There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger, Nor is there any health in my bones Because of my sin.

4. For my iniquities have gone over my head; Like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me.

*When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, the great prophet cried out: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.'' (Isaiah 6:5)

*Here's part of the great prophet Daniel's confession of sin:

3. Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

4. And I prayed to the LORD my God, and made confession, and said, "O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments,

5. we have sinned and committed iniquity, we have done wickedly and rebelled, even by departing from Your precepts and Your judgments.

6. Neither have we heeded Your servants the prophets, who spoke in Your name to our kings and our princes, to our fathers and all the people of the land.

7. O Lord, righteousness belongs to You, but to us shame of face, as it is this day to the men of Judah, to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those near and those far off in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of the unfaithfulness which they have committed against You.

8. O Lord, to us belongs shame of face, to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, because we have sinned against You.

9. To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him.

10. We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets.

11. Yes, all Israel has transgressed Your law, and has departed so as not to obey Your voice; therefore the curse and the oath written in the Law of Moses the servant of God have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against Him. (Daniel 9:3-11)

[2] THE SCARS OF JESUS CHRIST SHOW US THE SERIOUSNESS OF OUR SIN. THEY ALSO SHOW US THE SACRIFICE OF OUR SAVIOR.

*Those wounds in His hands, feet and side are for us too! The cross was for us! And it shows us that Jesus loves us, that He cares for us, and that He will have mercy on everyone who will turn to Him and trust Him as Lord and Savior.

*The scars show us the sacrificial love of our Savior. Robert Allen told about a little boy who sat staring at his mother's hands one day. Finally, with the brutal honesty of a child he asked, "Mama, why are your hands so ugly?"

*Mom was quiet for a moment. Then, she said, "Jason, one day when you were almost 3 years old, you were playing in the backyard. Some older boys in the neighborhood were playing with matches in the alley. They built a fire and left it burning when they left.

*You toddled up to the fire and fell. The flames caught your shirt on fire. I heard you screaming. I rushed out of the house. I beat the flames out with my bare hands. You were scarcely burned, but my hands were burned and terribly scared. That's why my hands are so ugly."

*The little boy looked up at his mother with a big smile and said, "Mama, your hands aren't ugly, they're beautiful." (6)

*The scars on Jesus Christ will be among the most beautiful things in Heaven, because they will show us forever how much He loves us. And we will see those scars someday.

*Someone once asked Adrian Rogers this thought-provoking question: "Is there anything man-made in Heaven?" The answer was "yes," but the only man-made things in Heaven are the scars on the body of Jesus Christ. They were left there as an everlasting reminder of the love God has for us, and the price He paid for our salvation." (7)

*Jesus showed them His scars, and one day, He will show them to us. But even today, we can see them by faith. And the Lord has many more things to show us. That's why in Jeremiah 33:3, He says, "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know."

4. JESUS IS HERE TO SHOW THE TRUTH TO US. HE IS ALSO HERE TO SATISFY US.

*In vs. 20 Jesus "showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord." They were overjoyed when they fully realized that the Living Lord was there with them. And when we see Jesus by faith, He can turn our sadness into gladness. Jesus can satisfy our souls like nothing or no one else ever can.

*Are you satisfied with Jesus tonight? Don't let your life stay bogged down by bitterness, anger, envy, regret or shame. And maybe you are satisfied right now. But are you satisfied with Jesus? Today, people all around us are satisfied with the wrong things, -- not necessarily bad things, but the wrong things, things that can never satisfy forever.

*Not being satisfied is bad. Being satisfied with the wrong things is worse. We must let Jesus Christ be the greatest source of our satisfaction. Hymn-writer Helen Lemmell, put it like this:

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face,

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,

in the light of His glory and grace." (8)

5. JESUS IS HERE TO SATISFY US. AND HE IS HERE TO SEND US.

*In vs. 21-23:

21. Jesus said to them "As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.''

22. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "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."

*Jesus sent them out. And today the Savior wants to send us out.

[1] NOTICE THAT WE ARE SENT IN THE SAME MANNER.

*Jesus said, "AS the Father has sent Me, I also send you.'' But how did the Father send the Son? -- In love, humility, service and righteousness.

[2] CHRISTIANS, WE ARE SENT IN THE SAME MANNER, AND WE ARE SENT WITH THE SAME MIGHT.

*In vs. 22, Jesus "breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit.'"

*Now, all of us who have received Jesus have received His Holy Spirit. In John 15:5, on the night before He went to the cross for us, Jesus told His disciples: "Without Me, you can do nothing. . ." And Church, that is still true today! Without Him we can do nothing! But we have the power of His Holy Spirit working in us and through us.

[3] WE ARE SENT IN THE SAME MANNER, WITH THE SAME MIGHT, AND WE ARE SENT WITH THE SAME MESSAGE.

*in vs. 23 said this to His disciples: "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Here the Lord reminds us that there is only one way for people to be saved, and that is through the good news about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

*There is no other way for people to be saved. There is no other hope for mankind. And God has placed this life-saving message in our hands.

*One of the most inspirational people I met at seminary was a young lady from Russia. Her named was "Irene," and it's a miracle that she was ever born. Irene's grandfather was a Baptist preacher when that Communist monster Joseph Stalin ruled Russia. Stalin murdered millions of people.

*Irene's grandfather and his wife had 12 children, and one prized possession: A Bible. Irene's grandfather used to hide it under the bed to protect his family. But the KGB found out about it and forced the family to move. It was in the dead of winter. They had to travel by horseback and on foot to a place near Siberia. They had no winter clothes.

*Six of the twelve children died on the way. Irene's father was only 3 years old, and they thought that he was dead too. But when they laid him on a pile of bodies, he cried out and was rescued.

*Irene knew that she is only alive by the grace of God. And when the Soviet Union fell back in the early 1990's, Irene and her sister decided that they would do everything they could to serve the Lord. They came here to learn how to become church planters back home in Russia.

*We can look at Irene's life and say: "Her life is precious. God's got a purpose for her!" But I want you to know that our lives are just as precious and special to God. He's got a great purpose for us too! God wants to send us just as surely as He sent Irene and her sister, maybe not around the world, but all around our world: Where we live, work and play.

*God wants to send us out with the great message of Easter. Tell people about the cross, and all that it means to you. Tell them that love is alive, hope is alive, and goodness is alive, because Jesus is alive!

CONCLUSION

*The Risen Savior is here! -- Do you know Him? Jesus loves you. He came into the world to die on the cross for our sins. He rose again from the dead on the first Easter Day. And now Jesus offers eternal life to everyone who will receive Him as Lord and Savior.

*Call on the Lord to save you. You can do that right now, as we go to God in prayer.

(1) Thomas G. Long, "Shepherds and Bathrobes," CSS Publishing Co., Inc. - 0-89536-869-2 - 1987, p. 15 - Source: "Dynamic Preaching" May-June, 1997 - p. 21 - Sermon "A Firm Grip on Your Balloon" by King Duncan - Acts 2:1-21 - Pentecost

(2) Adapted from EXPLORING JOHN by John Phillips, Kregal Publications, Grand Rapids - "His Peace - Triumphant in All Situations - John 20:19-20

(4) EXPLORING 1 CORINTHIANS by John Phillips, Kregal Publications, Grand Rapids - "There Will Be a Change of Dimension" - 1 Corinthians 15:36-42a

(5) Thanks to Vic Pentz, Protestant Hour, August 18, 2002 - Source: Sermons.com sermon "Looking into the Eyes of the Risen Christ" by James Moore - John 20:11-18

(6) Sermons.com sermon "Let Me See Your Hands" by Robert Allen - John 20:19-29

(7) Heard on the radio Dec. 2008 - "Love Worth Finding" with Adrian Rogers - https://www.lwf.org/

(8) "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" - Words & Music: Helen H. Lemmel, 1922 - http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/u/turnyour.htm