"Peace Be With You"

After The Resurrection

The time immediately after the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ was a time jam packed to 100’s of questions and observations.

The 11 Apostles were in hiding… Not because of their popularity but because of there association with Jesus.

The masses of people certainly were with Jesus and the Apostles and the many disciples.

That was until “the trial” if you could call it a trial. It certainly was not “fair” and “objective.”

Jesus was found guilty OVER the objection of the trial judge, Pilate himself.

I think that Pilate believed that Jesus was the “King of the Jews.” But when he presented his findings to the gathered crowds for Jews, Gentiles, soldiers along with the population of Jerusalem.

The gathered 100’s said “Crucify Him.” That’s exactly what was not expected.

What happened to Jesus being embraced by the Jews as their King.

What happened to Jesus Christ being the Savior of the World?

It seems the world in total was blind to the coming of the Savior of The World as well as our King… !

This was a COMPLETE turn around from just days before.

The crowds followed Jesus where ever he went, laying down their cloaks and palm bushes. Shouting loudly… “Jesus King of the Jews”

Jesus is the new guy but he had been among them for the last three years. And did more than enough saving, healing, miracles for the many that we read about but according to the Apostle John there were so many more healings and miracles that were done, the stories did NOT make the presses.

John 20:30–31 ESV

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

But now He was gone or was He???

I’d like to take a look at passages of scripture.

The first one is found in John 20.19-26. Page 906

But before I do…The BIG QUESTION. Do we believe even if we can’t see?

A battle is brewing even a spiritual battle. This battle is being fought on our knees in our bedrooms or wherever you pray.

The battle is this, as we have all gotten smarter, more science, more physics, more knowledge we have pushed our faith in Christ aside.

We have minimized Christ and maximized faith in the world and everything it gives.

IT’s time t return to simpler life, one that is less based on all of the good things around us to this

FAITH IN CHRIST IS SUFFICIENT FOR ALL YOUR NEEDS AND EVEN SOME OF YOUR WANTS

Now to the scripture of one of my favorite characters in Scripture.

The Apostle Thomas

John 20:19–29 ESV

19 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.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending 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 withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” 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.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 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.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Do you believe it!!!

You see we all get caught up things that we believe but aren’t true

The big guy in the red uniform

The great big bunny rabbit

Being a “good person” gets you to Heaven.

Remember December 31, 1999 @ midnight. Did you sleep or where you in your bunker?

There is a Biblical character that introduces us to idea of seeking, questioning, digging in and finally accepting.

That really captures the place that we find ourselves in.

We believe, but we also have doubts, questions and some head-shaking moments.

It’s the Apostle Thomas

Back in Luke 6 when all of the Apostles were being called, Thomas was there. Thomas is also called Didymos in a passage.

We have evidence of Thomas relocating to India. Bringing the Gospel to that sub-continent in AD30. He died some 70 years later. He was probably 85-90.

Even after witnessing, or at least being present Thomas still believed. He believed enough to pack up and relocate 1000 miles away.

Let’s get to the scripture

John 20:19 ESV

19 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.”

Through a door or wall, Jesus came to the 11. Two possible responses:

This is trick, we want to see this so badly we “make it up” so that it is true.

The Lord God is alive… HE IS ALIVE

I hope and pray that we can see that HE IS ALIVE!!!

Here’s the next that Jesus offered...

John 20:20 ESV

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

Thankfully, it was Jesus, he bodily rose on Easter Morning and he was now in front of His Apostles.

They were more than skeptical… Thomas was the doubter!

Jesus said… Proof, you want proof?

Here is my hands and side, oh well maybe you haven’t seen it before. As I recall, you all went and hid and missed it. The resurrection happened and your were fearfully hiding.

John 20:24–26 ESV

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” 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.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”

Often times we hide, afraid to step up and say, I know my Jesus and he is alive.

And even though I forgot, most of the time. He is able to move mountains, healing the sick and lame, he was dead but now he is alive!!

Jesus has this reoccurring statement...

“Peace be with you.”

Stop fighting

Stop allowing your soul to remain unsettled

Make peace where you don’t have peace

A relationship

With a partner

Within your family

In your community you want to a known person of Peace. A Peace that only comes from God.

In verse 20 and then again in 21 he says the same thing… “Peace with You.”

Why does Jesus preach “Peace”

John 20:21 ESV

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

The sending of the Apostles and Disciples is closely associated with “Peace.”

FAITH in Christ provides the fuel for being sent first locally, then around the world.

We have to do the little things with our faith… Then the big stuff will seem less impossible.

I’m going to say it again...

“Peace be with you.”

So what else… We have faith, that gives us the opportunity, maybe the time and space to really engage someone (family member, friend, co-worker, neighbor).

But there is still something missing...

John 20:21–23 ESV

21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending 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 withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Oh… So all this time that the Disciples followed and witnessed all of the things that Jesus did… The Holy Spirit was NOT with them!

Think about the Gospels and the Apostles and Disciples as they traveled with Jesus.

The HOLY SPIRIT was NOT present...

All of their doubts, all of their fears, all of their questions… With no one to answer them.

Go back to a time before you knew and actually acknowledged Jesus as Lord. If you were 4 that’s a little tough.

If you where like me… You were terribly burdened by your life, your choices, maybe you were dealing with the consequences of your choices.

Maybe you where looking at a long prison sentence, maybe a divorce, maybe your use of alcohol and drugs were finally catching up to you.

YOUR world was a mess and you could NOT keep the plates spinning… one, two, three then 4 & 5 crash to the ground all shattered. That may have been your life.

You needed Jesus and he found you… you were never lost in his mind. He was always present, even while you were still a sinner.

Romans 5:8 ESV

8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

So he loves us… unconditionally. We are His sons and daughters!

AND know we have the HOLY SPIRIT

The HOLY SPIRIT gives us the power, the words, the actions, EVERYTHING that we need to bring the Gospel to the WORLD.

The HOLY SPIRIT transforms us into something that is pleasing to The Father.

The HOLY SPIRIT empowers us to bring the Gospel to the world.

The BIG QUESTION. Do we believe even if we can’t see?

We are so technical, we are so doubting, we are an unbelieving generation. I now that’s harsh.

But True!

Thomas… one the Apostles said He could never believe

John 20:24–25 ESV

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” 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.”

Thomas stood firm in his believe. God did NOT strike him down, he did NOT smote him and send him to hell. What He knew was that Thomas was going to be vital in bringing the Gospel to the world.

John 20:26–28 ESV

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 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.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

This really answers our BIG QUESTION

The BIG QUESTION. Do we believe even if we can’t see?

Thomas did… Do you?

Jesus then left him with this

John 20:28–29 ESV

28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”