Untitled Sermon (3)

Believe

John 20:19–29 (ESV)

Have you ever wondered how a small, rag tag group of society’s outcasts from 1st century Palestine literally change the world and the entire course of humanity over the past 2000 years?

Where did these first disciples of Jesus find the fearless/steadfast resolve/to share their message in the face of what proved to be relentless persecution…

· Persecution…Even to death without yielding or surrendering the truth they had come to know…

They had been witnesses to something so powerful that their lives would never… could never be the same…

· Their message so compelling, it would:

o shake the foundations of nations,

o change the course of generations,

o and impact every realm of human endeavor

What was their message? The Gospel

What was the spark that ignited that flame?

· What was it that was so powerful, so convincing that these handful of scared, confused, disciples…

o would suddenly, and quite unexpectedly

§ become emboldened

· to take that message across the entire known world?

IT WAS: The Resurrection of our Lord

It has been said

The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity is a false religion. If it did take place, then Christ is God and the Christian faith is absolute truth.—Henry Morris

This morning:

· Let us take a look together at one Biblical account of what happened to ignite that spark of unshakable belief in the hearts of the very first Christians:

-------------Read John 20:19-29----------------------------------------------------------------------

John says in v19 that

It was [19] … evening of that day…

That’s the very first Sunday, on the day of Christ’s resurrection

The disciples were gathered together…

· That would be the twelve, minus Judas, and on this evening- Minus Thomas

· But Luke’s account tells us that along with these future Apostles other followers… other disciples of Jesus were gathered in that room…

o And if you would, for our purposes this morning:

§ Imagine with me:

· Can you picture yourself in that moment?

o Gathered also in that room on that evening?

John says [19b]…the doors being locked … (WHY?- They are afraid) for fear of the Jews,

Jesus (their Master) had been betrayed, arrested..

· Subjected to false accusations and a mocking trial,

o Subjected to beatings/flogging,

§ the crown of thorns,

· the nails driven through his hands and feet,

· the crucifixion,

o the undeniable death of our Lord on the cross,

§ With a Roman spear piercing his side and into his heart

· Oh, he was dead, no doubt about it

John was an eyewitness to the crucifixion of Christ –he had seen the spear pierce the lifeless body and the blood poor from the wound:

· Jesus, whom he loved greatly, was unmistakably dead

For the disciples, their belief/their strength/their confidence which they had shown while walking with Jesus was also dead.

· they had been with him daily

o followed Him/spoken with Him

o been taught at His feet/befriended by Him

o loved him and were loved by him

§ They had lived alongside him during the past 3 years of his ministry

· But Their hope… had been entirely crushed out and buried with Him

o This at the hands of the Romans

§ but by the urging of the Jews- (the religious authorities)

· Who had gotten their religion so wrong that they actually opposed the God the claimed to obey

o These religious leaders could at any moment, send soldiers through those doors

§ To have the disciples crucified as well

o But FRIENDS…

§ Wicked humans often fail at rightly seeing and upholding the truth,

· Doesn’t make it untrue

o Only shows how badly sinful we are and how much we are in need of God grace to help us

They had heard that morning confusing, crazy, incredible stories….

· Of the empty tomb, reports that Jesus had been sighted….

AND…. Its at THIS moment, of paranoia and fear and uncertainty and confusion

THAT [19c]…Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

· We aren’t told how, the doors were locked and suddenly he was there

o But if the grave couldn’t hold him, neither would a simple locked door

· But, Isn’t that just like our Lord?

o Right when we are down and out, things can’t seem to get any more difficult and confusing…

o That is so often -exactly- when he shows up in our lives, in our hearts, in our minds

§ Psalm 23:4 (ESV) [4] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, WHY? for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Although, I know, this Scripture is not a Christmas story….

· Jesus did come that day bearing gifts for his people…

o Gifts you say? There are no wrapped boxes or anything else in his hands but the mark of the nails

But just the same:

And Jesus gives 5 VERY CRUCIAL GIFTS to His disciples, to the church… that evening…

· 5 essentials for ALL believers…. Individually… and the church for her great mission and ministry calling

#1 Assurance

He came and stood among them and greeted them

[20] …he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

· First they thought he was a ghost

o Then they thought that this couldn’t be happening

o But Jesus gives them Assurance

§ NO, their eyes are not tricking them

o Jesus says, “look its me!”…See my hands, see my side… It’s really me…

o In Luke’s account, Jesus said, “Touch me and see”

§ I’m flesh and bone/not a vision

· You saw what happened to me, and the evidence of that event still marks my body

· Jesus had told them repeatedly Mark 8:31 (ESV) [31] he began to teach them (and he would repeat himself many times) that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.

o He said it so many times in fact that, that even his enemies knew about his promise

§ While he was still in the tomb, the chief priests went before Pilate saying: Matthew 27:63 (ESV) [63] … “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’

· Much to their consternation, Jesus proved himself the real deal in his resurrection

o Friends… We can have assurance that His promises are true today

§ His appearance to his people gives us assurance that the Bible is true, God’s word did not/will not/and can not fail

§ He gives us assurance that when we place our faith in Christ, we are saved, our sins are forgiven, and our final destination will be eternal life in Him

#2 Peace

[21] Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.

This is the state of being and a state of mind…

§ Jesus told us John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

This is the peace Paul tells us is

§ Philippians 2:7 the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, (that) will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

o The is the peace that comes, despite and in the face of the world’s troubles

§ Where for the first time, we are right with God

· That our rebellion and our enmity against God has been put away

o And the God of All Creation is with us, by our side and watching over us

--I can remember my life before as an unbeliever

§ Being terrified of many things… with the realization that we have so little control over the events that happen around us

o That we are left all alone to fend for ourselves

--AND the great sense of peace that comes into the life of the believer when you realize by faith, that you don’t stand alone…

§ That God Almighty is for you and has not forgotten you

o That he cares for you and will see you through

§ The very worst this old world can do is send you faster to your eternal reward

#3 A Mission

[21}…As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

§ Jesus said Luke 19:10 “the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost”

o Jesus came down from heaven, God the Father sending God the Son

§ On a rescue mission, to calling sinners to repentance and faith unto salvation

§ Church, we do not come to Christ to simply wait here until he calls us home

o He has a great work for his people while still on earth….

§ he sends us out as a continuation of His same mission

· Pointing to his great light in the midst of a darkened world

o Matthew 28:18–20 (ESV) [18] The last words of Christ to the disciples recorded by Matthew were: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Go thereforeand make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

This mission is not something we have the ability to complete on our own,

§ In fact, the Bible says that we can do nothing without him

o Certainly this means that we need Him to help us do any lasting work of eternal significance for the building up of the Kingdom to the Glory of God

#4 The Holy Spirit

V22, John tells us something else very strange indeed happened at that moment

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

§ The Holy Spirit is God’s presence with us, Jesus would ascend to the right hand of the Father, but as promised, he does not leave us alone

o But sends the blessed person of God the Holy Spirit into our lives, into our hearts, into our minds

§ To open our understanding to the Scripture

· To bring awareness of Sin and power to overcome it

· The Spirit also leads us into obedience to the will of God

o Growth in Christ-likeness

· He helps us, guides, and direct our paths

§ The word “Spirit”here is the word pneuma, which means breathing out, blowing or breath

o It can also be used to refer to something that “animates the body, or gives life to body”

o This can be seen going all the way back to:

§ Genesis 2:7 (ESV) [7]… 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.

o But you say, these disciples were already alive, they weren’t lifeless bodies right?

§ I think we see in Jesus -breathing on them- that:

· He was making an intentional point

o a symbolic connection of the giving of the Holy Spirit as the one who brings NEW Spiritual LIFE to the disciples

· This was pointing to the new birth in Christ

o This dying to self and living as Born Again Believers in the newness of life

§ That is received by Faith in Christ

#5 Authority

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

§ We can not take one verse out of the context of the rest of the Bible

o We do not have the ability to forgive sins like Oprah hands out gifts to her audience

§ “your sins are forgive, and YOUR sins are forgiven, and your sins are forgiven”

· NO!

o And we know that only God can forgive us our sin

§ So what does Jesus mean, what is Jesus giving to his followers?

o He is giving the Church the authoritative message to proclaim as heralds of the King

§ We can preach and share this Gospel promise of salvation by Faith in Jesus

· And we can share that message with ABSOLUTE/unshakable confidence in the offer

o The offer of salvation that was signed/sealed/and delivered by the pouring out of His blood for us

And that brings us to Thomas

[24] Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came.

You see Thomas was not there when Jesus appeared, he had not gathered with the others on that resurrection Sunday.

· Thomas never saw the risen Christ, he did not hear the words of restoration and peace from our LORD,

o and his heart was not lifted and made glad by the sight of the Savior.

· And therefore, he is still in his doubts/disbelief/despair/shame/and fear

o He was still in that miserable emotional state or worse perhaps - as the other disciples had been - before Jesus came

o Thomas missed out on the blessing, he missed out on seeing the LORD, and remained in his doubts.

§ We too are in danger of missing out on a great blessing and Spiritual encouragement when we for whatever reason/do not come and gather in fellowship.

[25] So the other disciples told him (this word “told” here in the Greek has a sense of a continual action/a repeated telling, they are saying over and over to him/trying to convince him), “We have seen the Lord.” We saw him Thomas, He’s alive Thomas! We saw the marks of the nails! He ate with us! Thomas you have to believe, it’s true! Really, actually/legitimately true! But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

Haven’t you had that response before from a friend/ family/ coworker? What’s that old saying? I’ll believe it when I…What?…. see it.

What is the problem with that?

· 2 Corinthians 4:18 We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

· 2 Corinthians 2:5 We walk by faith, not by sight.

· What is Thomas doing? Thomas is walking by sight instead of faith

This is not delicate language from Thomas, this word “place”here, v25

“Unless I …place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side…” is often translated “shove”as it is in the KJV

· It’s a very low thing/disrespectful of him to say in regards to Jesus

· Like he’s saying, “Ya right, unless I can jam my finger in the nail prints, and shovemy hand into the wound on his side, I’m not going to believe.”

It’s also disrespectful to the other disciples:

Does Thomas have any legitimate excuse for not believing his friends? Is there any reason at all that these folks would lie to him?

· Then what is the reason for his disbelief? Look at the last thing he says to them in v25… “Unless I …place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side…, I will never believe.”

· It is not a matter of impossibility but a matter of the will, he has no excuse just as anyone who hears the gospel has no excuse to not believe

o He had heard the promises from Jesus, he had seen the miracles proving the power of Jesus, and he had heard the message from credible witnesses

· So it is a matter of the will here, and it is a matter of the will for all who believe or do not believe.

o The evidence, the testimony, the proof is in, the message is clear.

§ The resurrection of Jesus is the most attested to event in all of history

· It is able to withstand even the greatest of honest scrutiny

§ And if it is true/the resurrection, then He lives, the Bible is true, and you can/must believe it and receive it/obey it.

o Disbelief is a matter of willful disobedience /a slap in the face to God/a despising of the message and messenger/disparaging rejection of the free gift of eternal life paid in full by Jesus at the infinite /incalculable cost to himself

[26] Eight days later (the next Sunday, a week after the resurrection), his disciples were inside again, and Thomas (this time) was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

Here they are gathered again on the Lord’s day, the doors are locked/probably still fearful somewhat of the Jews who were after them, and Jesus/God the Son appears again right in their midst.

· Speaking to them word’s of Peace.

He turns to Thomas, who I’m sure is in absolute stunned silence

[27] Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

This is clearly “challenge accepted”here by Jesus.

· Do you see anything interesting about the words of Thomas v25 & Jesus’s words to Thomas in v26?

· Thomas V25…Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails

· Jesus V26…see my hands

· Thomas v25…and place my finger into the mark of the nails

· Jesus v26…Put your finger here. ”Put”(literal translation in the Greek “bring”) –Thomas, bring your finger

· Thomas v25…unless I place (shove) my hand into his side

· Jesus v26…Thomas bring your hand and place it in my side

· Thomas v25…I will never believe

· Jesus v26…Do not disbelieve, but believe.

o Thomas do not number yourself among the unbelievers but believe and receive the truth.

· Point by point, step by step, word for word, even choosing the same specific words that Thomas had used.

o Jesus addresses all of Thomas’objections/even allowing for his unreasonable requirements to overcome his willful doubts

What does this tell us about the nature of Jesus as God? How did he know what Thomas had said?

· He knows all things, hears all things, he knew the words/doubts/fears of Thomas

o He knows our hearts just as well, our doubts/fears/hangups/failures / faults/ and yes our sins –even those hidden/secret ones

What does this tell us about the mercy and grace of God?

· Jesus is patient, Jesus is kind, Jesus is so loving and gentle to Thomas

o And we can be sure of his willing patience and grace that he has extended to us in our moments/times of disbelief

· Jesus is willing/able/and ready to meet you right where you are at, he comes down to Thomas offering his wounded hands and side.

o Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 (ESV) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

Now, it is not said if Thomas actually put his finger in the print of the nails or the wound in his side. But I just can’t imagine that Thomas actually would have been so hardened by disbelief.

[28] Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

Thomas, the doubter, right then and there gives the highest possible confession of faith to the risen savior. “My Lord and my God”

· Lord – meaning master, owner, the one with authority

· God – meaning deity, the creator, the eternal self-sustaining/existing one, Jehovah/Yahwey, the almighty

This sceptic/pessimistic doubter, now confesses Jesus –standing before him – as Lord and God. Is it significant that he say’s “My”in front of each? My Lord and My God?

· Not only is Jesus Lord and God but Thomas has received him as his personal Lord, his master, the one with authority over him.

· Receiving him as his God and creator, the one who made him and owns him and ultimately will be accountable to him as God for everything.

· This is a confession to who Jesus is and a humble submission to Him

o Thomas is laying down his will and coming under His rule

Is that significant for us? Do you think it important to live under his authority?

· Jesus said that we will be known by our fruits, that the good tree can not bear bad fruit.

o If you say that Jesus is Lord but aren’t obedient/bearing fruit/walking with him

§ If you haven’t come under submission to this authority as Lord of your life

· Then you are just fooling yourself and aren’t truly his.

§ The demons can say and believe that Jesus is Lord but that doesn’t make them saved or obedient to him.

· Doubting Thomas doubted no more!

o Thomas’ life after his confession bore much good fruit for the kingdom, he is listed among the other Apostles in the book of acts, he received the Spirit at Pentecost.

o Church history says he preached his way to India, performed many miracles, and was finally was martyred there –killed with the spear of an angry pagan priest