JOHN 20: 19-23
ON MISSION WITH CHRIST
[John 17:13-23]
The Day of the Resurrection had been full of strange rumors and growing excitement. The news that Jesus was alive began to spread among His followers, hesitantly at first, and then with enthusiasm. Even the Apostles were not convinced by the first reports. Thomas even demanded hands on proof. But wherever believing people were confronted by the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, lives were transformed. That same transformation can be yours. Jesus is even now offering it to you.
Do you know what inspires me today? The fact that there are more people gathered to pray and worship here than were gathered at Pentecost. If we would let the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ inflame our lives we could change our world just as those 120 men and women changed theirs. The power is still here, and the challenge and authority are still with us. For the same power and authority that sent Jesus, is desiring to send us (CIT). Sentimentalism has been defined as enjoyment without obligation. Jesus was no sentimentalist and He insists that we, His followers, respond to our responsibility.
I. TURNING FEAR TO FAITH; 19-20.
II. TURNING ENDING TO BEGINNING; 21.
III. TURNING INADEQUACY TO ADEQUACY; 22-23.
In the year 1953 two mountain climbers for the first time conquered MOUNT EVEREST, the world’s highest peak. Overnight they became famous. Three years earlier two men had climbed the Himalayan mountain called Annapurna. At that time it was the first twenty-six thousand foot peak to be scaled right to the summit. When Frenchman Maurice Hertzog and his companion after their terrific struggle finally reached the top of Annapurna, they felt emotions which afterwards they tried to describe, but were virtually unable to do so. Hertzog said, "Our hearts overflowed with an unspeakable happiness and we found ourselves saying, ’If only the others could know. If only the others could know.’" In the hour of the text which I have just read, Jesus addressed the disciples behind closed doors. He was standing on a summit far higher than that of Everest or Annapurna. The ultimate conquest had been won. Life had triumphed over death. Holiness prevailed over sin. Satan’s worst was no match for God’s best. Heaven’s love had defeated Hell’s hate. All of the shame of the cross and the gloom of the grave were completely shattered with the majesty and wonder of the triumph of Jesus’ resurrection. In that very hour of triumph, Jesus looked searchingly into the faces of His followers and said to them, in effect, "Grab hold of what has taken place in My victory. It is not merely for your enjoyment, even as it is not for Mine. There is obligation tied to it. If only the others could know. If only everyone could know. As My Father has sent Me even so send I you."
I. TURNING FEAR TO FAITH; 19-20.
Let’s look at the context in which Jesus made this empowering command. Verse 19 begins the event. "When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week,
Our Lord’s body rested in the tomb on the Sabbath and He bodily arose from the dead on the first day of the week. The seventh day of the week, the Sabbath or Saturday, of the Old Covenant commemorates God’s finished work of creation (Gen. 2:1-3). The first day of the week, Sunday, the Lord’s Day, commemorates Christ’s finished work of redemption, His New Covenant and His new creation in Christ.
I’m sorry to say that the first day of the week or Sunday, for many people is a day reserved simply for recreation, watching sports events, catching-up around the house, or just loafing. For others, it’s a time to "sleep off" a hangover. But for believers all over the world it’s recognized as the day we gather together with our brothers and sisters in Christ for worship, fellowship, prayer, and instruction from God’s Word.
In mountain recesses and open plains, in huge cities and rural hamlets, in ancient cathedrals, and humble chapels, . . . wherever the Christian community exists, as a rule, there is found Christian worship on this day. From the snows of Labrador in the north to the Coral Islands in the south, from the plains of India in the east, to the mountains of Russia, across the deserts of Africa, from the rain forests of Brazil on to the Rocky Mountains of the far west, when the sun ushers in the Lord’s Day, it ushers in a day of worship . . . On this day tens of thousands of Christian ministers read from the Bible, and offer up prayer in the midst of millions . . . , while angels bear the mighty hallelujah chorus of praise rising from the earth to the throne of God."
Sunday is the start of a brand new week. But it’s much more than that, It’s the Lord’s day. Let it be special for you by giving it back to Him.
There were at least five Resurrection appearances of our Lord on that first day of the week: to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18), the other women (Matt. 28:9-10), Peter (1 Cor. 15:5 and Luke 24:34), the two Emmaus disciples (Luke 24:13-32), and the disciples minus Thomas (John 20:19-25). The next Sunday, the disciples met again and Thomas was with them (John 20:26-31). It would appear that the believers from the very first met together on Sunday evening, which came to be called "the Lord’s Day" (Rev. 1:10). The early church met on the first day of the week to worship the Lord and commemorate His death and resurrection (Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:1-2).
As they were gathered together on the "first day of the week verse 19 continues, "and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, "Peace to you."’
Those first disciples were gathered together in fear of the possibility of Jewish attacks. Jesus turned fear into faith by coming to them. Jesus entered the room without opening the door! He had a solid body that could be touched and could hold and eat food (LK. 24:41-43). It was a different kind of body though, one not limited by our natural laws. So Jesus steps into their locked room as He has stepped into so many fearful and locked lives ever since. He suddenly appears to them and greets their fears with shalom--peace. He did not rebuke them for their cowardliness and unfaithfulness, but ministers peace to them. He still does today if you will seek Him in your fear. He will come to you with peace, in peace.
After they were calmed and aware it was He, Jesus proves unmistakable proof to them in verse 20 that He was risen from the dead. "And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Not only did Jesus come to them but He assured and reassured them that no matter how much He had been transformed it was Him. He thus showed them His pierced hands and side so they would know it was really Him and not a phantom.
The wounds meant more than identification; they also were evidence that the great price for salvation had been paid so that man indeed could have "peace with God." The basis for all our peace is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He died for us, He arose from the dead in victory, and now He lives for us. He has paid the price of entry into any and every life if we would but call and invite Him into our life. Neither our fears or our unbelief can lock Him out.
Notice that the disciples rejoiced when they saw Him. Their joy and Jesus’ presence expelled their fear. Jesus’ presence will not be locked out by our fears and failures. If we would but turn to Him in humble recognition of His victory over death and the grave, great joy would once again be ours.
II. TURNING ENDING INTO BEGINNING, 21.
Jesus wants His disciples assured of His identity so they will be certain who it is that is commissioning them to continue His mission and ministry in verse 21. So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."
Now that joy of the Lord was theirs once more, He again speaks His peace to them. The reason is because He wanted their souls quiet within them so that they could take hold of their commissioning. Jesus tells those whom He loves as the Father loves Him (JN. 15:9, 17:26) that He was sending them.
What Jesus is saying is that He came to them where they were. Now we must go to others where they are. He entered into and lived in a world of sinful people. He reached out to sinful and broken people with love and healed their pains. Now He asks you to go to a world of sinful people and let Christ incarnate His ministry in you that you might reach them. In this breath taking declaration Jesus ask us to partner with God. Will you join Him in this life and death mission? Jesus was animated in His command. He had just visited death, the grave, and as many believe, Sheol or Hades, the abode of the unjudged dead and knew the horror that the lost dead would soon face.
Let me read you a vision that the compassionate artist, poet, and missionary to India Amy Carmichael recorded. It may seem harsh to this age that has so watered down what it means to be lost.
A VISION OF HELL
I stood on a grassy slope near which was a precipice. I looked and saw no bottom, only clouds, black and furiously coiled, and great shadow shrouded hollows and unfathomable depths. Back I drew, dizzy at the depths. And then I saw forms of people moving single file along toward the grass. They were moving toward the edge. There was a woman with a child holding onto her dress. She was on the verge. And then I saw she was blind. She lifted her foot for the next step. It trod air. She was over and the child with her. Oh, the cry as she went over. And then I saw more streams of people pouring from all quarters. They were blind, stone blind. All made straight for the precipice’s edge. There were shrieks as they suddenly discovered themselves falling and tossing up a helpless arm, catching and clutching at empty air. Others went over quietly and fell without a sound. Then I wondered with a wonder that was simple agony why no one stopped them at the edge. Then I saw that along the edge there were sentries at intervals, but the intervals were far too great. There were wide unguarded gaps between. Over these gaps the people fell in their blindness without warning. The green grass seemed blood red to me and the gulf yawned like the mouth of hell. And then I saw a group of people under some trees with their backs toward the gulf. They called what they were doing church work. It appeared to me that they were making daisy chains. Sometimes when a piercing shriek cut the quiet air and reached them it disturbed them and they thought it a rather vulgar noise. If one of their number started up and wanted to go and do something to help, all of the others would pull them down and say, ’Why should you get so excited about it? You haven’t finished your daisy chain yet. It would really be selfish to leave us to finish the work alone.’
There was another group made up of people whose great desire was to get more sentries out, but they found that very few wanted to go. Sometimes there were no sentries set for miles along the edge. Once a girl stood alone in her place waving the people back, but her mother and other relatives called and reminded her of family responsibilities. She must not break the rules. Being tired and needing a change, she had to go and rest for a while, but no one was sent to guard her gap. Over and over the people fell like a waterfall of souls. One teenager caught a tuft of grass that grew at the very brink of the gulf. He clung convulsively. He called out, but nobody seemed to hear. Then the roots of the grass gave way, and the teenager went over, two hands still holding tight to the clump of grass. The girl who had longed to be back at her gap thought she heard the cry and sprang up and wanted to go. They reproved her reminding her that no one is really necessary anywhere. The gap would be well taken care of they were sure. Then they sang a hymn and heard a sermon. Through the hymn came another sound like the pain of a million broken hearts wrung out in one full drop, one sob, and a horror of great darkness was upon me, for I knew what it was: the cry of blood on our hands.
If you understand this vision, please don’t be like the man who gave swimming advice to a drowning man from the safety of the seashore, but dive into their situation and help save them out of it. But maybe you feel ill-equipped or unable to help the lost souls God wants you to reach. Let’s look at our next point;
III. TURNING INADEQUACY TO ADEQUACY, 22-23.
Having commission them Jesus bestows the equipping necessary to fulfill their commission in verse 22. "And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."’
Christianity lives by the supernatural to achieve the impossible. What is utterly impossible from man’s point of view becomes possible by the power of the Holy Spirit. This reminds us of Gen. 2:7 where God’s breath gave physical life. Here Jesus breathed on His new creation, both individually and collectively, but this time gave them spiritual life.
Jesus says, "I’m sending you, and I’m going to give you the very same Spirit that My Father gave Me when He sent Me." There may be varied opinions as to what happened at Pentecost. I like the way Paul Reese put it when he said, "It’s not so important that we be exegetical finicky as it is that we be experientially filled." Sometimes we’re so anxious to split hairs over phrases that theological argument can virtually become a covering for our spiritual impotence. Then the cause of missions and evangelism suffers extensive damage.
There may be some things we don’t know about Pentecost, but we do know beyond a doubt that after that day men and women alike were filled with the Holy Spirit. We do know that in that hour they who had been timid and shrinking suddenly became bold as lions and vocal for the Crucified and Risen Savior. We do know that the disciples who were given to a good deal of bickering and jealousies between themselves were suddenly overwhelmed by the love of God shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. We do know that the disciples who were hesitant in their commitments, ready to return to the old way of life, began risking their life for the new way of life. We do know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the men who were confused, fearful, and frustrated suddenly had a sense of direction nothing could confound. Somebody has said, "If Christianity is not an blazing fire, it will become a dull habit." I say to you today in the mission to which God has called you, if you do not know the life of the Spirit, Christian service to you will become nothing more than a dull habit with no acute fever. He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit."
Sometimes we tremble before the proposed gift of Calvary. We shrink from taking the priceless possession offered by the hand that was pierced to purchase it. And sometimes, just as we by faith reach forth our hands to grasp it, we shrink back saying, "I am not worthy; it is too much for me." You too may feel unworthy to live such a Spirit filled life.
In the Soviet Union, the dazzling RICHES OF THE RUSSIAN CZARS are displayed in the armory at the Moscow Kremlin. Listen to a story of the great Emperor Alexander. On one occasion, in the presence of his bodyguard, he turned and presented to one of his humblest, most menial servants a magnificent golden cup. The poor subject drew back and said, "Your Majesty, it is too much for me to take." The Czar hesitated and then, thrusting the chalice into the hand of his servant, replied, "But it is not too much for me to give!"
We also shrink from taking the precious gift of the Holy Presence, saying, "I am not worthy; this calling is too much for me." But Jesus, with His nail-pierced hands stained with the blood that purchased this gift for us, presses the gift into our hands saying, "Take it! Take it! It is not too much for Me to give." Let us look up into the face of our Savior and say, "O blessed Lord Jesus, unworthy though I am, I received it." The gift of the Holy Spirit is forever ours for the receiving.
Those filled with Spirit are given authority to forgive the sins of those who accept Christ and retain the sins of those who reject Christ in verse 23. "If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained."
Oh I trust that you’ll be able to see through the problems of the passage to the purpose of Christ’s mission in the world. He says here, "I’m sending you so that people might know forgiveness of their sins. I’m sending you that you might have a ministry of reconciliation. I’m sending you that people might experientially know what it is to be cleansed of sin’s awful guilt and penalty." Jesus said, "I’ve come to seek and to save those who are lost:" and "as My Father has sent Me, even so I send you."
I realize that we may have the necessity of building bridges and using other means before people will listen to the message of God’s forgiveness, but you must never lose sight of the fact that, wherever you minister in His name, your basic objective is to lead people to saving faith in Jesus. You are given life in order to meet the supreme need of humanity, the need of life eternal offered by Jesus. If you’re not committed to this task, you have every right to wonder whether you’re obeying your call at all. Ask yourself this question. If I cannot talk to others about Christ and His forgiveness, what eternal good am I to them, and what real good am I to Christ? [Sam Shoemaker] The text says the objective of our mission is that their sins be forgiven.
[THE BOOK OF HEAVEN] In 1832 four Indian chiefs from the western part of our nation walked the streets of the city of St. Louis, Missouri. The wearied, wasted manner of their appearance demonstrated the fact that they had come a long way. General George Rogers Clark was military commander at St. Louis then and he had been commissioner of Indian affairs. He took the Indians under his care and did everything he could to accommodate them. He escorted them to museums, all kinds of shops and entertainments. He fed them every kind of food and introduced them to all kinds of people. He was a devout Roman Catholic himself, so he took them frequently to Roman Catholic churches. But these four chiefs had heard of the white man’s "Book of Heaven" and they had come to ask that teachers be sent to their tribes. On the last evening before their departure, General Clark gave a banquet. At the banquet they were laden with gifts from well-meaning people and well-wishers gave them a good push on the way. But at the banquet one of the Indians stood and he made this revealing speech. In typical Indian oratory he said,
"I came to you over the trail of many moons from the setting sun. You were the friends of my fathers who have all gone the long way. I came with an eye partly open with hope for my people who sit in darkness. I go back with both eyes closed. How can I go back blind to my blind people. I made my way to you with strong arms through many enemies and strange lands that I might carry much back to them. I go back with both arms broken and empty. Two fathers came with us. They were braves of many winters and wars. We leave them asleep here by your great water and wigwams. They were tired by many moon and their moccasins were worn out. My people sent me to get the white man’s Book of Heaven. You took me to where you allow your women to dance, as we do not ours; the book was not there. You took me to where they worship the Great Spirit with candles; the book was not there. You showed me images of the good spirits and pictures of the good land beyond; but the book was not among them to tell us the way. I’m going back the long trail to my people in the dark land. You make my feet heavy with gifts and my moccasins will grow old in carrying them, yet the book is not among them. When I tell my poor blind people after one more snow in the Big Council that I did not bring the book, no word will be spoken by our old men or by our young braves. One by one they will rise up and go out in silence. My people will die in darkness and they will go along paths to other hunting grounds. They will go with no white man’s book to make the way plain. I have no other words."
CONCLUSION
Our world still yearns for the message of this "Book of Heaven." The basic message of this book is that sinful man can be right with God through the redeeming work of Jesus. The needy world awaits your message.
The text I read was spoken to an infant church which was still in hiding. The aged church is in hiding once again. May God grant that these words bring the church out of hiding once again. "As My Father has sent Me, even so I send you."
Will you join with Christ, receive His power and continue the ministry He came to fulfill?
