The Apostolic Ministry

John 20:19-31

He is risen! This scene of the night of Jesus’ resurrection recorded here by John in 20:19-23 is one of the climatic moments in John’s Gospel. Despite Peter and John having seen the empty tomb (Jn 20:5-10) and despite the testimony of Mary Magdalene that she had seen the Lord (Jn 20:18), the disciples are hiding behind closed doors “for fear of the Jews” (v 19). Thomas gets a bad rap, we in the church today remember him as doubting Thomas. We don’t refer to doubting Peter, or doubting John, but on that first night of resurrection the entire company of the Apostles were in Thomas’ position. On Good Friday, when Jesus life blood drained from him upon the cross all the disciples hopes were dashed, their movement had come to an end, and their faith in Jesus died with the Lord.

And so it was on the day or the resurrection that they hide, locked themselves away in fear. Despite two of them having seen the empty tomb and Mary and the women’s testimony they could not believe. From a worldly perspective, the disciples have good reason to fear. Just three days before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish council, by means of the Roman authorities executed Jesus. The Jews here are representative of the whole darkened world opposed to God that did not receive Jesus (Jn 1:10-11), who stand condemned by God for their unbelief (Jn 3:17), and who do the work of their father the Devil, who is a murder and liar from the beginning (Jn 8:44). So the disciples hid, because they feared that they would be next. They thought that death had won, that the powers of darkness had claimed the victory. But then in the midst of this trembling group of disciples on the very night of the resurrection appears the crucified and risen Lord Jesus. He shows the disciples his hands and his side, He demonstrates his authority and victory over death, proving what he said was true, “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (Jn 10:18). Death is not Lord, sin is not master, the devil is no longer the ruler of this world but Christ is King. He is risen! Death is not Lord but Christ is Lord indeed.

But this was not necessarily good news for the disciples, for they had all betrayed him. Sure it was Judas who had sold Christ for 30 pieces of silver, but Peter had denied him three times and the rest, they fled in the Lord’s hour of greatest need. Perhaps they thought if Christ had truly risen, he’d come in judgement, his wrath kindled by their faithlessness. But instead Jesus standing in their midst bearing the marks of his atoning death and sacrifice. He stretches out his nail pierced hands and proclaims “Peace be with you.” For this is the reason that he died, not to bring judgement or wrath but to suffer God’s judgement and wrath for the sake of mankind. He suffered and died so that there could be true peace between God and man. Upon seeing him and hearing his words “the disciples were glad.” The fear melted away. Here indeed was the Lord and they need not fear, because he has conquered death. He is life himself, and he comes to give them peace and to give them life.

Yet Jesus does not leave it there, he has not only come to bring peace with God to his apostles but to the whole world and so he says “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you” and “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Here Jesus establishes the office of the Holy Ministry, he sends them out with a mission to forgive sins in his stead and by his command. It is not their ministry, but it is his ministry of forgiveness. And by his authority they will go out and bring the message, they will proclaim “Peace be with you” so that all the world may know that Jesus is risen, that Jesus has conquered death, and that Jesus has brought you peace with God by his atoning death and sacrifice.

Thomas was not there that night, he does not immediately believe. Christ does not rebuke him but says, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Upon seeing, and hearing, and touching our Lord, Thomas believes and confesses “My Lord and my God!” Thomas is doubting Thomas no more, but it believing Thomas. And Jesus says, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Blessed are they indeed who have not seen yet believe. For because of Thomas’ witness, and the witness of all the apostles, and the witness of the Holy Ghost through their words you dear Christians have heard and you believe. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me will live a new life.” You my dear friends have heard his word, God’s peace is upon you, his forgiveness has been given to you, and his life is your life. Though you die, you shall never die for you are in Christ and on the Last Day you will be raised like he has been raised. Christ is risen! Amen!