Encountering the Real Resurrected Jesus

The Five Great Commissions: Message Four

John 20:19-23

ETS: Jesus appeared to the disciples as the real resurrected King Jesus to commission them.

ESS: We are commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ.

OSS: [MO: Consecrative] {SO: I want the hearers to obediently accept and enlist themselves in the fulfillment of the commission.}

PQ: What elements were present in this encounter?

UW: Elements

Intro.: Today’s text records for us a Christophony or an appearance of God. Though this is not “new” to us, this term might be. Simply put, the Gospel account we are studying today records for us a real encounter that the disciples had with the real resurrected Jesus Messiah. Gerald Borchert observed that there are three common elements of theophanies (Old Testament, appearances of God) which are also present in the current Christophony: “(1) fear, (2) the calming word of “peace” or “do not be afraid” from God or Christ, and (3) a word of commission for the task to be performed.” (Borchert, NAC, notes under 19-23). Today, I want us to examine together these elements as we study the disciples’ encounter with the real resurrected Jesus.

TS: Let us examine together the three elements of this encounter with Christ.

The first element was fear. (v. 19a)

The disciples were gathered behind closed, locked doors because they feared the Jews.

Gerald Borchert wrote in the NAC, “Fear of world forces can often seize Christians who focus not on God’s power but on worldly might.” (Borhcert, p. 304)

Colin Kruse (TNTC) explained that the disciples, having not realized that Jesus had risen, were afraid of what the Jews might be plotting against them for being followers of Christ. Thus, they met behind closed doors. (Notes under 19-20)

APPLICATION: Though not literally, so often, we are fearful behind the closed doors of our hearts. We fear rejection; we fear losing reputation; we fear losing friends; we fear. So, we close the doors of our hearts thinking that no one sees that we are afraid...

The second element was peace. (vv. 19b-21a)

Jesus, as we have studied, spoke to the disciples to cast out any doubt and assure them that it was Him, the resurrected Jesus, in their presence. Here, He said, “Peace be with you...” then He showed them the physical evidences of His physical body and suffering. Jesus, again, called peace to be with them.

Notice something about our study of the Great Commissions: in each record, the disciples had doubts and were troubled; in each record, Jesus acknowledged, recognized, affirmed, and calmed the doubts. In Matthew, Jesus assured them that it was Himself by stating, “all authority has been given to me...”; in Mark, Jesus rebuked their doubts and their hardened hearts; in Luke, Jesus affirmed and assured them by showing them His physical body and scars; in John, He calls peace upon them and shows them His physical body and scars. Regardless of your fear, Jesus sees it. He knows it. He affirms it. Jesus assures, He calms, and He calls peace over it.

Notice also, in v. 20b, the disciples response to Jesus’ assurance: they rejoiced. This is a fulfillment of Jesus’ earlier words to them recorded in John 16:20.

APPLICATION: Jesus sees our fears. He knows our doubts. His desire is to not leave even a single doubt without assurance. Jesus calls peace over our doubts as we encounter Him.

The third element was the commission. (vv. 21b-23)

Notice the difficulty in these verses: determining distinctly- what is the commission? It is being sent by Jesus? Is it to receive the Holy Spirit? Is it to forgive? Well, the commission is being sent by Jesus (in the same manner that He was sent by His Father) which is done through the empowering of the Holy Spirit upon receiving it, which in turn leads to the forgiveness of sins.

While this text does not specifically highlight the “content” of the commission, contextually, we understand their mission as being sent into the world “to harvest men and women for the kingdom by their witness to Jesus by word and deed, alongside the ongoing witness of the Spirit.” (TNTC, notes under 21)

Now, to answer the question, “But what about me? I am not one of the original disciples.” Kruse wisely wrote again, “While Jesus’ words about sending his disciples as the Father sent him applied primarily to the Twelve (Mark 3:13–19), there is a sense in which all believers are privileged to share in this commission in so far as they all are recipients of the Spirit whom he bequeathed to his disciples (see 20:22). With the particular enabling that Spirit provides, each plays a part in continuing the work and witness of Jesus.” (TNTC, Kruse, 375)

Lastly, notice the close connection of forgiveness to receiving the Holy Spirit. Both the NAC (Borchert) and TNTC (Kruse) agree that the emphasis is that it is God who forgives through the Holy Spirit. Note, though, what Kruse wrote about this, “It is noteworthy that Jesus’ statement ‘If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven’ is intimately connected with the (symbolic) bestowal of the Spirit (22–23), which is in turn related to the disciples’ being sent into the world as his witnesses (21–22; cf. 15:26–27). This supports the view that the way in which the disciples forgive sins and retain sins is by preaching the good news and declaring the effects of believing it (forgiveness) and rejecting it (no forgiveness). It is important to notice the passive voice used in the statements in this verse regarding the forgiveness and non-forgiveness of sins. They function as divine passives reminding us that God alone forgives sin (cf. Mark 2:3–12; Luke 5:17–26) and Jesus’ disciples declare what God does.” (TNTC, Kruse, 377).

APPLICATION: Jesus commissioned the disciples (and us) to go into the world with a mission: make disciples, preach the Gospel, proclaim Jesus Christ suffered, died, and rose again, repentance is required for sin. We have a part, as believers, in continuing to work of Jesus through our witness which comes when we receive the Holy Spirit and submit to the Lord Jesus’ will for our lives.

CONCLUSION:

Jesus, appearing to the disciples, calmed their doubts, provided peace, and commissioned them to go. He sent them in the same manner that God the Father sent Him. You and I, as believers, are a part of this commissioning. Sure, we have doubts. Have we allowed Jesus to calm them? Today, Jesus speaks over us, “Peace be with you.” Afterwords, He commissions us to go.

Perhaps its been a while since you have encountered Jesus. Not literally or physically as the disciples, but in a spiritually intimate way. For some reason, something is holding you back. You’ve allowed fear to fester. You’ve allowed it to push you behind the closed, locked doors of your heart and to deal with it in isolation. You’ve not sought the counsel of God, you’ve not sought the counsel of friends- you’ve just dealt with it on your own. Today, Jesus wants to encounter you- in a real, intimate way. No matter how hard you try to convince yourself that only you can see inside- Jesus knows what is inside. He knows your fears, so why not meet with Him and allow Him to assure you amidst them? Peace: He wants to give you. Peace, is yours today. Will you accept it? If so, will you then go? There’s a world who needs peace.