John 20:19-31
Purpose: To see how the resurrection changed the disciples.
Aim: I want the listener to love and serve Christ passionately.
INTRODUCTION: The southernmost tip of Cape Town, South Africa is Cape Point, which has experienced treacherous storms over the centuries. For many years no one knew what lay beyond that cape, for no ship attempting to round that point had ever returned to tell the tale. Among the ancient mariners it was known as the Cape of Storms, and for good reason.
But then a Portuguese explorer in the fifteenth century named Vasco De Gama successfully sailed around that very point and found beyond the wild raging storms, a great calm sea, and beyond that, the shores of India. The name of that cape was later changed from the Cape of Storms to the Cape of Good Hope.
Until the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, death was a dark and foreboding prospect. But, when Jesus rose from the dead He gave us a new hope for life beyond the grave. For the risen Christ says to us, "because I live, you will live also" (John 14:19).
That same powerful transformation can be yours today. As we look at what happened to the people in today's text (John 20:19-31) ask yourself, "Have I personally met the risen Christ? Has Jesus transformed my life?"
On one level it is amazing that these men were actually afraid. The women had already reported to them that Jesus was alive, and the two Emmaus disciples had added their personal testimony (Luke 24:33-35). In spite of that, Jesus continued to pursue these fearful, doubting disciples. It could be that Jesus is also pursuing you this morning.
Vs.19-23 I. Our Purpose is Fulfilled in Christ's Resurrection
Jesus came to earth because we need to be changed. His resurrection has the power to change despair into hope, fear into joy, and doubt into faith. "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Corinthians 5:17).
These verses show us that our deepest needs of joy and significance are satisfied in Christ.
Vs.19-20 A. The resurrected Christ gives joy
"The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord"
Vs.19 1. Jesus provides peace "Peace be with you"
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1).
Because Jesus controls all storms, He can calm any storm.
Vs.20 2. Jesus provides pardon "He showed them both His hands and His side"
"But the wounds meant more than identification; they also were evidence that the price for salvation had been paid and man indeed could have 'peace with God.'" [1]
The only "imperfect" thing in heaven will be the scars on the body of Christ: "And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain..." (Revelation 5:6).
Believers will live in a perfect body for all of eternity. Jesus will live in a scared body for all of eternity!
Is Jesus your joy? Is it a burden or a blessing to come to church where Jesus is preached? Is it a burden or a blessing to spend time in private prayer Christ?
Vs.21-23 B. The resurrected Christ gives life meaning
Here Jesus shows us how we can please Him.
Vs.21 1. Our duty is to go "I also send you"
We aren't supposed to JUST enjoy the majesty of Christ, we are to export the message of Christ. Notice that Jesus spoke these words to the Apostles, the other disciples and the women. In other words, this is a command that applies to all of us.
"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit' " (Matthew 28:18--19).
Vs.22 2. Our strength is from God "Receive the Holy Spirit"
God always enables us to do what He calls us to do.
"but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth" (Acts 1:8).
Jesus was promising spiritual life the same way we received physical life. "Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being" (Genesis 2:7).
Vs.23 3. Our message is the Gospel "sins have been forgiven"
We know that Jesus is NOT saying that we can forgive sin. "... who can forgive sins but God alone?" (Mark 2:7). Again, notice that Jesus said this to everyone present, not just the Apostles. If someone repents, we have the authority to say, "Friend, if you have repented of your sins and are trusting Christ to forgive your sins then on the authority of God's Word I can assure you that you are forgiven."
This proves that forgiveness is something that we can have NOW. We don't have to wait until we die to find out if we have been forgiven.
"Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
Vs.24-31 II. Our Faith is Founded in Christ's Resurrection
Thomas was right to insist that Jesus had to be raised from the dead before He could have faith in Christ. Later Paul said, "if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:14--17).
Vs.24-25 A. The problem is that faith must be personal "Unless I see..."
All of us them probably have doubted just like Thomas did they had not been there a week earlier when Jesus appeared to them.
Compare Luke's account when Jesus first appeared to the disciples: "While they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst and said to them, 'Peace be to you.' But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 'See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.' And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, 'Have you anything here to eat?' They gave Him a piece of a broiled fish " (Luke 24:36--42).
We don't know why Thomas was not with the disciples a week earlier, but we do know that he missed out. When God's people meet together, you never know what blessings you may miss. This is just another reason to "consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near " (Hebrews 10:24--25).
Vs.26-27 B. The solution is to reach out to Christ "Reach here... see"
Jesus invites us to examine Him. Later John wrote: "What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life" (1 John 1:1).
Although we have not seen the risen Christ, hundreds of witness did see Jesus after His death and many of them were willing to die rather than deny that it was true. Jesus appeared at least 11 times after His resurrection to over 500 people. Paul was able to include himself in that list as well. "He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James,[the half brother of Jesus] then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. " (1 Corinthians 15:5--8).
So, we can reach out by faith and know the resurrected Christ today. "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you " (James 4:8a).
"You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13).
Vs.28-29 C. The result is fervent worship "My Lord and my God!"
The fact that Jesus accepted this worship proves that He claimed to be God. If He was not God then He was either a LIAR or a LUNATIC. It is not contradiction to say that Jesus was both God and man. I can be a husband and a father at the same time.
After Jesus was taken back into heaven it says, "And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God" (Luke 24:52--53).
At the end of the age all believers will join together before the throne of God and "... fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created" (Revelation 4:10-11).
Vs.30-31 D. The reward is eternal life "you may have life in His name"
These two verses are the key that unlocks the whole book of John. Here we see why John wrote the book and why he included the miracles from Christ's life that he did.
Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).
"I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness " (John 12:46).
CONCLUSION: 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 [2]
As I close, let me ask you, "Have you personally met the risen Christ? Has Jesus transformed your life?"
[1]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Jn 20:19). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
[2]Henry M. Morris, Many Infallible Proofs (San Diego: CLP Publishers, 1974), 88. Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson's complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) (246). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
