John 20:19-29
IN THE ROOM
Life of Christ #59
“In his book, THERE I GO AGAIN, Steven Moseley tells about Anna Pavlova, a Russian ballet superstar of the early 1900's. Ms. Pavlova has been acclaimed as the greatest ballerina of all time. Her most memorable performance, however, took place after her death.
“Anna was to play the role she made famous, the Dying Swan, at the Apollo Theatre in London. Tragically, she succumbed to pneumonia and died two days before the event.
“Still, on the appointed night, a crowd of her fans packed the Apollo Theatre. The orchestra began playing, the curtain rose, a spotlight flashed through the dark, and the entire audience rose to its feet. They all stood gazing at a pool of light wandering around the stage, accompanied by the orchestral theme. As the light danced and the orchestra played, they remembered Anna Pavlova. In their hearts they could see her on stage, dressed in white with flashing dark eyes. And when the music stopped at last, they gave the vanished Anna a thunderous ovation that echoed on and on in the night.
“An empty stage with only a spotlight, but in their hearts she was alive.” (Holwick’s Illustrations)
For Christians, the experience is similar. Christ’s tomb is empty but in our hearts He is alive!
The Lord Jesus was also alive to the Apostles and other followers that saw him at the resurrection. We have already studied Jesus’ appearance to certain women, including Mary Magdalene, and to two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
This week as we continue our studies in the Life of Christ we observe Jesus taking the doubts away from the Apostles by appearing to them twice in the Upper Room.
In John 20:19-29 we find Jesus doing things for the Apostles that He still does for us. These are things that make Him a wonderful Savior, Master, and Lord.
JESUS COMFORTS – Vss. 19-20
JESUS COMMISSIONS – Vss. 21-23
JESUS CONFIRMS – Vss. 24-28
JESUS CHALLENGES – Vs. 29
In our resurrection studies in the Life of Christ, we’ve already been “At the Tomb” and “On the Road” with the risen Lord. Now we are “In the Room”, the Upper Room, discovering that:
JESUS COMFORTS – Vss. 19-20
Vs. 19 – The doors were shut. This was a private, secret meeting. By now the Jewish leaders knew that the tomb was empty. It would seem very possible that the Jews would come looking for the Apostles to start persecuting them. The Apostles, no doubt feared for their lives.
Suddenly, Jesus appeared among them in the room. He hadn’t knocked. He hadn’t walked through the door. He hadn’t made any noise. He just appeared.
The first words out of Jesus’ mouth were the typical Jewish greeting, “Peace be with you.”
These words for these disciples were more than a typical Jewish greeting. It was Jesus’ plan for their lives that they would live in peace, no matter what was going on.
The disciples had much to be anxious about.
They most likely were:
· Anxious about their safety
· Anxious about the events of the day
· Anxious about having to face Jesus after running away from Him in his time of need
· Anxious about the future
Jesus comes and the first thing He says is “Peace”.
He gave no rebuke, or tirade.
He did not scream “How could you!”
He did not lay a “guilt trip” on them.
Instead, he says, “Peace.”
Things have not changed.
John Mitchell said, “The first experience for a person who accepts the Savior is peace. His sins are forgiven. Condemnation is past. Eternal life has been given as a free gift. He has been transformed from a child of wrath into a child of God. This brings peace.” John Mitchell, An Everlasting Love – A Devotional Study in the Gospel of John, (Portland, Oregon, Multnomah Press, 1982), p. 393
My dear friend, Jesus comes to give you peace.
Romans 5:1 - Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
John 14:27 - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 16:33 - These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
In the center of the whirlpool, while the waters rush around,
There’s a space of perfect stillness, though with turmoil it is bound;
All is calm, and all is quiet, scarcely e’en a sense of sound.
So with us—despite the conflict—when in Christ His peace is found. Mrs. Charles E. Cowman Springs in the Valley (Los Angeles: Cowman Publications, Inc., 1939), 148. Morgan, R. J. 2000. Nelson's complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) . Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville
Vs. 20 – In the Upper Room, it was time for “show and tell”. The Lord Jesus showed them the wounds. I imagine that he even invited them to touch, to feel, to see, that indeed he had died, but now he had risen from the dead.
…Then were the disciples glad when they saw the Lord.
Of course they were glad. Their master, whom they knew had been dead was now alive!
My friend, you too will be glad when you see the Lord!
First, you need to see Him as your Savior, trusting Him for forgiveness and eternal life. That will make you glad!
Then on a daily basis you will be glad as you see the Lord!
Look for Him as you pray.
Look for Him as you read your Bible.
Look for Him as you worship in church.
Look for Him as you listen to a sermon.
Look for Him as you visit with friends.
Look for Him in nature.
The more you see the Lord Jesus Christ in your daily life the happier you will be.
The Lord Jesus wants it to be that way.
Jesus has even sent a resident “Comforter” to help you.
John 14:15-18 - If ye love me, keep my commandments. [16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. [18] I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
JESUS COMFORTS – Vss. 19-20
JESUS COMMISSIONS – Vss. 21-23
Vs. 21 – Jesus again wishes peace on his disciples. This is my own personal opinion, but I believe that Jesus repeated the wish of peace because of the challenges that were ahead for the disciples and us. Sharing the Gospel and facing the opposition will often be dangerous and/or frustrating, but when we are going for Jesus, we go in His peace.
…As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
· The Father sent the Lord Jesus from the comfort of Heaven.
· The Lord Jesus sends us from the comfort of our own little world.
· The Father sent Jesus to a lost and dying world.
· The Lord Jesus sends us to a lost and dying world.
· The Father sent Jesus to represent the Father.
· The Lord Jesus sends us to represent Him.
· The Father sent Jesus to those who would accept Him.
· The Lord Jesus sends us to those who will accept Him and us.
· The Father sent Jesus to those who would reject Him.
· The Lord Jesus sends us to those who will reject Jesus and us.
· The Father sent the Lord Jesus with the Gospel.
· The Lord Jesus sends us with that same great Gospel.
John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Mark 16:15 - And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
So send I you-by grace made
strong to triumph
O'er hosts of hell, o'er darkness, death, and sin,
My name to bear, and in that name to conquer-
So send I you, my victory to win.
So send I you-to take to
souls in bondage
The word of truth that sets the captive free,
To break the bonds of sin, to loose death's fetters-
So send I you, to bring the lost to me.
So send I you-my strength to
know in weakness,
My joy in grief, my perfect peace in pain,
To prove My power, My grace, My promised presence-
So send I you, eternal fruit to gain.
So send I you-to bear My
cross with patience,
And then one day with joy to lay it down,
To hear My voice, "well done, My faithful servant-
Come, share My throne, My kingdom, and My crown!"
"As the Father hath sent Me, so send I you." E. Margaret Clarkson
Vs. 22 – Jesus did something very interesting here. There is much controversy as whether the words of Jesus were fulfilled right then or at Pentecost. Actually, it really doesn’t matter, but I feel that it was at Pentecost.
I believe that Jesus was symbolically telling the disciples what was going to happen. God, the Holy Spirit would be the power behind the ministry of his followers, both the disciples and us.
Acts 1:8 - But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Galatians 5:16 - This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Ephesians 5:18-21 - And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; [19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; [20] Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; [21] Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Vs. 23 – This verse is not telling the believer that he has the authority to decide who is forgiven and who is not forgiven of their sins.
The Christian as he goes and shares the Gospel with others can and should announce that a person is truly forgiven of sin if he or she has turned to Christ and trusted Him as Savior.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: [9] Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
We also have the authority to tell the person who refuses to trust Christ as Savior that their sins are not forgiven.
John 3:17-18 - For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. [18] He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Our theme this month is “Reaching Our World”. This is certainly what the Lord Jesus is calling us to do.
You can help reach our world for Christ and are commanded to do so. Here are some suggestions to help reach our world with the Gospel:
· Pray for the unsaved.
· Ask for and look for opportunities to witness and to invite folks to church, and do so when the opportunities arise.
· Pray for our missionaries.
· Give to our Missions Faith/Promise program.
· Be available to go if God wants you to.
JESUS COMFORTS – Vss. 19-20
JESUS COMMISSIONS – Vss. 21-23
JESUS CONFIRMS – Vss. 24-28
Vs. 24 – Thomas missed church! Look what He missed! J
We don’t know why Thomas was absent. Some people handle grief differently than others. Perhaps Thomas felt too miserable to be around others.
Vs. 25 – You can image the joy with which the disciples share with Thomas, whose name means “twin”, that they had seen the Lord.
You can also imagine the sadness they experienced when Thomas responded with the words, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
Thomas was a loyal disciple, and perhaps a pessimist.
John 11:16 - Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.
But was Thomas any different from the other disciples? Not really. Most of them struggled with unbelief as well, before they saw the risen Lord.
Vs. 26 – I find it interesting that the Lord Jesus did not appear to Thomas immediately. He had to wait 8 days before Jesus would give him his wish.
Perhaps Thomas needed 8 days for heart preparation so his heart would be soft when Jesus did appear to Him.
When the Lord confirms things to us, he doesn’t always do it immediately.
Sometimes He will delay in giving us directions, or speaking the specific word of comfort, or giving the “sign” that we need.
I believe He does it that way so that we have time to think, pray, and trust Him, even if we don’t have an immediate answer.
When Jesus did appear, He began by again assuring the disciples, including Thomas, of His bequest of peace.
I’m so glad that the Lord Jesus through His Word, His Spirit, and Christian friends is constantly reassuring us of His peace, even in times of stress.
Vs. 27 – Jesus invites Thomas to do exactly what He said he wanted to do in order to believe. “Come, Thomas help yourself! Examine my wounds! Stop being faithless! Start believing!”
If you are truly a believer, Jesus will confirm His presence to you.
Sometimes he’ll do it through a friend.
Sometimes He’ll do it through the witness of the Holy Spirit in your heart.
Sometimes He’ll do it through an event that He causes to happen in your life.
Often He will do it through the Scriptures, a Bible lesson, or a sermon.
Sometimes He’ll do it through an answer to prayer.
The Lord is very creative, and will do what He needs to do to confirm to you that He is here and has not forsaken you!
Vs. 28 – Give Thomas credit. When the risen Christ became real to Him, the Lord Jesus had his total allegiance.
Whether he actually placed His hands in the side and hands of the Lord Jesus, nobody knows for sure.
But what we do know is that Thomas was totally convinced of the resurrection and totally committed to Christ’s deity and Lordship.
When the Lord Jesus confirms that He is alive and well, and a vital part of your life, your response should be the same, “My Lord and my God!” He is worthy of total allegiance on our part.
JESUS COMFORTS – Vss. 19-20
JESUS COMMISSIONS – Vss. 21-23
JESUS CONFIRMS – Vss. 24-28
JESUS CHALLENGES – Vs. 29
Vs. 29 – This challenge is not for Thomas, it’s for us!
Thomas believed because he saw.
We have the blessing of believing without seeing Jesus Christ literally raised from the Dead.
There is a special joy given to each of us when take that step of belief, based on what the Word of God says.
Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
1 Peter 1:8 - Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Have you experienced the joy that comes with believing without seeing? This morning is your morning of opportunity to trust Christ as your Savior, if you have never done so before.
JESUS COMFORTS – Vss. 19-20
JESUS COMMISSIONS – Vss. 21-23
JESUS CONFIRMS – Vss. 24-28
JESUS CHALLENGES – Vs. 29