WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.120 We hope that you enjoy this teaching from Christ Church. 00:00:05.719 --> 00:00:09.540 This material is copyrighted and no unauthorized duplication, 00:00:09.900 --> 00:00:15.300 redistribution, or any other use of any part is permitted without prior consent from Christ Church. 00:00:15.300 --> 00:00:22.660 Please consider donating to this work in the San Francisco Bay Area online at ChristChurchEastBay.org. 00:00:22.660 --> 00:00:30.519 This is a reading from the Gospel according to John. 00:00:31.060 --> 00:00:38.740 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:43.519 Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you. 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:48.159 After he said this, he showed them his hand inside. 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:52.299 The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 00:00:52.659 --> 00:00:55.459 Again, Jesus said, Peace be with you. 00:00:55.559 --> 00:00:58.819 As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. 00:00:59.259 --> 00:01:03.780 And with that, he breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:01:04.099 --> 00:01:07.840 If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven. 00:01:08.159 --> 00:01:11.340 If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. 00:01:11.920 --> 00:01:14.500 Now, Thomas, also known as? 00:01:15.140 --> 00:01:15.819 Didymus. 00:01:16.120 --> 00:01:20.120 One of the twelve was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 00:01:20.120 --> 00:01:24.320 So the other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. 00:01:24.640 --> 00:01:34.200 But he said to them, Unless I see those nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. 00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:39.000 A week later, his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. 00:01:39.000 --> 00:01:45.760 Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you. 00:01:45.939 --> 00:01:48.739 Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here. 00:01:48.980 --> 00:01:49.939 See my hands. 00:01:50.079 --> 00:01:52.299 Reach out your hand and put it into my side. 00:01:52.819 --> 00:01:55.900 Stop doubting and believe, Thomas said to him. 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:58.099 My Lord, my God. 00:01:58.299 --> 00:02:02.299 Then Jesus told him, Because you have seen me, you have believed. 00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:06.480 Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed. 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:12.500 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which were not recorded in this book. 00:02:12.659 --> 00:02:23.560 But they were written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing, you may have life in his name. 00:02:24.500 --> 00:02:26.480 This is the Gospel of the Lord. 00:02:27.020 --> 00:02:28.759 Praise to you, O Christ. 00:02:29.920 --> 00:02:31.740 Hey, good morning, Christ Church. 00:02:32.060 --> 00:02:33.900 Happy second Sunday of Easter. 00:02:33.900 --> 00:02:39.520 Do any of you ever put out, you know, your outfit for the next day? 00:02:39.740 --> 00:02:43.080 You know, your first day of school, your first day at the new job. 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:43.840 Anybody do that? 00:02:44.480 --> 00:02:51.599 So I've got an outfit planned for tomorrow, and I just wanted you to know what I'm going to be wearing when I wake up tomorrow. 00:02:52.659 --> 00:02:53.099 Okay? 00:02:54.340 --> 00:02:55.780 I'm pretty excited about it. 00:02:56.640 --> 00:02:57.620 I'm pretty excited. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:03:00.879 Thanks to my neighbor, Elaine, for that awesome shirt. 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:09.719 I just want to start by saying I'm so grateful to be your pastor, to serve in this place, in this role. 00:03:10.299 --> 00:03:18.960 And I'm so grateful for our elders giving me this time to be away on the sabbatical and for our staff making that possible. 00:03:18.960 --> 00:03:27.960 Today, I feel like I'm crossing a finish line, a finish line from the past two years, which are kind of like dog years, 00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:32.740 and really the past eight years since my last extended time of Sabbath, 00:03:33.379 --> 00:03:38.260 and even the past 16 and a half years of just starting and sustaining Christ Church. 00:03:38.259 --> 00:03:44.000 And this finish line image has me thinking back to 2006. 00:03:44.259 --> 00:03:48.780 It's when we planted Christ Church, and it's also when I ran the Lake Tahoe Marathon. 00:03:49.679 --> 00:03:54.819 If you are thinking about running this race, you should know that it's a little bit hilly, 00:03:55.159 --> 00:04:00.280 and it involves heavy breathing because something about mountains and altitude and whatnot. 00:04:00.280 --> 00:04:07.539 So miles 15 to 19 in this race, you're running up to Emerald Bay and Inspiration Point. 00:04:08.140 --> 00:04:14.819 And then basically miles 20 to 26, which tend to be the hardest ones, I was in the woods. 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:17.259 There were no fellow runners. 00:04:17.399 --> 00:04:18.699 We were all spread out. 00:04:18.860 --> 00:04:22.819 There was no crowd there, people to cheer us on. 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:24.000 There were no aid stations. 00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:25.800 There was no water. 00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:27.560 There was no nothing out there. 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:32.800 And I remember thinking to myself, I am going to die. 00:04:34.540 --> 00:04:37.379 If no one comes to help me, I'm going to die. 00:04:37.459 --> 00:04:42.879 I'm just going to be laying by the side of this trail, just a crumpled mass of human flesh, 00:04:43.340 --> 00:04:49.300 and bears are going to come eat me, and I'm going to end my life as a did-not-finish marathoner. 00:04:50.579 --> 00:04:56.279 But my valiant wife, Catherine, she ran to my rescue. 00:04:56.279 --> 00:05:00.199 Literally, I don't know how she found me, and I don't know how far she ran, but she ran, 00:05:00.639 --> 00:05:02.279 and she brought me Gatorade. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:05.659 She brought me some goo, and she was like, you got this. 00:05:06.299 --> 00:05:10.079 And, you know, I would have never made it out of the woods alive. 00:05:10.139 --> 00:05:13.699 I would have never made it across the finish line without her. 00:05:13.899 --> 00:05:15.459 And some of you are like, duh. 00:05:18.259 --> 00:05:21.659 Generally speaking, we don't know where you would be without her. 00:05:21.660 --> 00:05:30.320 But I just want to thank the people who have helped me through the woods and to the finish line of these past two years. 00:05:30.580 --> 00:05:31.800 Andrew, for sure. 00:05:32.380 --> 00:05:33.400 I don't even know where. 00:05:33.500 --> 00:05:34.080 He's disappeared. 00:05:34.380 --> 00:05:34.820 He's gone. 00:05:35.080 --> 00:05:36.240 He's making a video somewhere. 00:05:36.360 --> 00:05:37.240 I don't know where he is. 00:05:37.760 --> 00:05:42.700 But Jesse, our elders, our deacons, our staff, our volunteers. 00:05:42.780 --> 00:05:45.580 We have some volunteers here who work more than I do. 00:05:45.579 --> 00:05:58.159 Without your support and care and encouragement and counsel and accountability and prayers and faithfulness and generosity, 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:01.120 I would not have been able to keep going. 00:06:02.159 --> 00:06:05.659 And, in fact, some of our elders, that's just been their constant refrain. 00:06:05.819 --> 00:06:06.399 Keep going. 00:06:06.919 --> 00:06:07.519 Keep going. 00:06:08.019 --> 00:06:08.620 Keep going. 00:06:08.779 --> 00:06:09.779 Don't give up. 00:06:09.899 --> 00:06:10.759 You've got this. 00:06:11.060 --> 00:06:13.899 And that's just meant so much to me. 00:06:13.899 --> 00:06:23.079 And it really takes all the parts of the body of Christ working together to get to where we are right now today. 00:06:23.259 --> 00:06:25.399 So thank you, Christ Church. 00:06:26.539 --> 00:06:29.599 Thank you to the First Lady, Catherine. 00:06:34.239 --> 00:06:35.620 Thanks to my family. 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:38.879 Thanks especially to Constance, Scott, and Walter. 00:06:39.019 --> 00:06:42.479 No more church meetings at night for the next four months, okay? 00:06:42.479 --> 00:06:42.839 Woo! 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:43.279 Woo! 00:06:43.279 --> 00:06:43.560 Woo! 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:44.060 Yeah. 00:06:44.379 --> 00:06:44.959 Come on. 00:06:46.539 --> 00:06:48.259 So I love our Christ Church family. 00:06:48.359 --> 00:06:49.279 I love who we are. 00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:50.560 I love who we're becoming. 00:06:50.759 --> 00:06:53.959 I look forward to hearing about these next four months when I get back. 00:06:54.199 --> 00:06:56.259 So that's the sermon. 00:06:58.539 --> 00:06:59.219 All right. 00:06:59.339 --> 00:06:59.519 Yeah. 00:06:59.579 --> 00:07:00.399 Don't be too excited. 00:07:01.259 --> 00:07:02.319 Now, I do need to preach. 00:07:02.719 --> 00:07:04.859 And so we'll get to the sermon proper here. 00:07:04.860 --> 00:07:12.840 Do you remember what it was that happened that Easter Sunday evening? 00:07:12.839 --> 00:07:16.899 We talked about the morning last week, but the Easter Sunday evening. 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:25.839 We're told in verse 19 that on the evening of that first day of the week when the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, 00:07:25.839 --> 00:07:29.419 Jesus came and stood among them and said, peace be with you. 00:07:30.060 --> 00:07:36.060 And after this, he showed them his hands inside, and the disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 00:07:36.060 --> 00:07:42.199 So all the disciples were really excited about the resurrection, all except one. 00:07:43.519 --> 00:07:47.620 In verse 24, it says, Thomas, one of the 12 was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 00:07:47.699 --> 00:07:49.959 So the other disciples told him, we've seen the Lord. 00:07:50.759 --> 00:07:58.540 But he said, unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side, I will not believe. 00:07:58.540 --> 00:08:03.740 So during this week after Easter, there are 11 surviving apostles. 00:08:04.020 --> 00:08:05.439 Ten of them are believers. 00:08:06.060 --> 00:08:08.220 One of them is not. 00:08:09.120 --> 00:08:14.100 And a major reason for Thomas' unbelief is simply pragmatic. 00:08:14.480 --> 00:08:18.320 He was absent when Jesus met with the disciples on Sunday. 00:08:19.460 --> 00:08:22.920 And because he missed the meeting, he missed the blessing. 00:08:22.920 --> 00:08:29.220 Now, I had a little mini sermon here about the importance of regularly attending Sunday worship. 00:08:29.960 --> 00:08:32.240 But I edited that in the interest of time. 00:08:32.320 --> 00:08:34.740 Plus, you all showed up today, so you don't need that sermon. 00:08:35.399 --> 00:08:36.279 So congratulations. 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:45.379 And, you know, fortunately, Thomas did not repeat his absence and the blessing that he missed that first Sunday he got 00:08:45.379 --> 00:08:47.779 because he came back that second Sunday. 00:08:47.779 --> 00:08:54.740 So it's appropriate for us to talk on the second Sunday of Easter about Thomas and to take a closer look at what happened. 00:08:54.899 --> 00:09:08.019 And John 20 tells us that the resurrected Jesus, he turns our unbelief into worship and our worship into mission. 00:09:09.339 --> 00:09:11.319 That's what the risen Jesus does. 00:09:11.319 --> 00:09:17.120 He turns our unbelief into worship and our worship into mission. 00:09:17.779 --> 00:09:23.639 So let's think about this for a minute, how the risen Jesus turns our unbelief into worship. 00:09:24.579 --> 00:09:30.079 We're told in verse 26 that a week later, his disciples were in the house again and Thomas was with them. 00:09:30.139 --> 00:09:33.559 And though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 00:09:33.699 --> 00:09:35.220 Peace be with you. 00:09:35.220 --> 00:09:43.279 Thomas is confronted by this risen, and I imagine smiling, peacemaking, peace-offering Jesus. 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:47.179 Can you imagine what was going on in his mind and in his heart? 00:09:48.100 --> 00:09:52.679 All week, his friends have been saying, Tom, we have seen the Lord. 00:09:52.899 --> 00:09:55.379 And he's probably thinking, you know, could it be true? 00:09:56.279 --> 00:09:59.679 Isn't this just a devout wish, an ecstatic vision? 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:05.159 Aren't they just projecting their shattered hopes onto the screen of fantasy 00:10:05.159 --> 00:10:12.379 and inventing this resurrected Jesus in order to cope with their cruelly broken dream? 00:10:13.419 --> 00:10:18.600 And maybe you're here today as a sincere inquirer, an honest seeker, 00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:23.179 and you're feeling hesitant, you're asking similar questions like, 00:10:23.179 --> 00:10:25.719 What sort of person are we dealing with here? 00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:29.240 Isn't this all just a bunch of myth and legend? 00:10:29.419 --> 00:10:33.240 Could it be that the crucified one is alive? 00:10:33.240 --> 00:10:42.620 Well, the Oxford English Dictionary defines the word doubt as a feeling of uncertainty 00:10:42.620 --> 00:10:45.480 and an undecided state of mind. 00:10:46.340 --> 00:10:48.600 Now, does that apply to Thomas? 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:52.080 Is Thomas uncertain and undecided? 00:10:53.000 --> 00:10:53.500 No. 00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:55.940 He's absolutely clear what he thinks, 00:10:56.379 --> 00:11:01.259 that the wounds of Jesus ended in death and the resurrection is not possible. 00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:04.120 He says, I jolly well won't believe. 00:11:04.580 --> 00:11:09.279 And even if I did, I would have these massive conditions for believing. 00:11:09.379 --> 00:11:12.879 Unless I see, he says, the nail marks in his hands, 00:11:13.139 --> 00:11:16.740 and I put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side, 00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:18.700 I will not believe. 00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:22.100 He's determined, like some of us are determined, not to be taken in. 00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:25.639 And he stands on his rights to not believe anything 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:30.559 until he's got solid, empirical, verifiable evidence. 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:33.620 You are dead until you're proven alive. 00:11:34.600 --> 00:11:36.199 And I love what happens next. 00:11:36.899 --> 00:11:37.600 Verse 27, 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:39.139 Then Jesus said to Thomas, 00:11:39.799 --> 00:11:44.759 Put your finger here, see my hands, reach out your hand and put it into my side, 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:46.840 stop doubting and believe. 00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:48.439 Jesus gets straight to the point. 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:52.240 He knows Thomas' exact conditions somehow, 00:11:52.600 --> 00:11:56.180 and he meets his requirements to the letter. 00:11:56.280 --> 00:11:57.600 He says, Thomas, try me. 00:11:58.680 --> 00:12:01.120 Do your tactile investigation. 00:12:01.560 --> 00:12:04.280 Carry out your empirical verification. 00:12:04.760 --> 00:12:07.100 Satisfy all of your questions. 00:12:08.460 --> 00:12:12.240 Now, does Thomas put his finger into Jesus' hands? 00:12:13.280 --> 00:12:16.480 Does he put his hand into Jesus' side? 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:24.539 Does he probe Jesus' wounds the way that Caravaggio's famous painting suggests that he does? 00:12:24.620 --> 00:12:25.460 We're not told. 00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:26.519 The text doesn't say. 00:12:27.399 --> 00:12:32.120 But I think when Thomas sees the wounds of this crucified sin bearer, 00:12:32.779 --> 00:12:37.120 and he sees the body of this resurrected death destroyer, 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:41.600 he realizes the audacity of his conditions. 00:12:42.759 --> 00:12:45.259 Unless I see, unless I touch, 00:12:45.259 --> 00:12:49.819 unless God, you'll explain this to me or promise that to me. 00:12:50.500 --> 00:12:55.399 God, I will believe you and I'll trust you and I'll obey you if you'll do X, Y, and Z. 00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:57.559 Any of us ever put conditions on God? 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:04.019 God, I will or will not believe this, and I will or will not do that. 00:13:05.259 --> 00:13:08.179 That means you're trying to stay in control. 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:10.480 You're trying to stay in the driver's seat. 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:11.840 You're trying to be God. 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:20.379 And Jesus comes to Thomas, and he shows him his wounds in order to heal in him the wounds of his unbelief. 00:13:21.320 --> 00:13:22.600 And Jesus says to him, 00:13:23.460 --> 00:13:25.220 Stop not believing. 00:13:26.420 --> 00:13:28.820 Do not persist in being an unbeliever. 00:13:28.940 --> 00:13:30.820 Start being a believer. 00:13:30.820 --> 00:13:33.700 And with those words, Thomas drops his conditions. 00:13:34.560 --> 00:13:36.080 And he says in verse 28, 00:13:36.440 --> 00:13:38.580 My Lord and my God. 00:13:39.540 --> 00:13:44.040 I imagine Thomas falling to his knees and putting his face on the ground. 00:13:45.080 --> 00:13:52.820 This disciple who's been the most unbelieving gives this most breathtaking statement of strong and adoring belief. 00:13:52.820 --> 00:13:59.100 He looks at this man who's recently died, whose wounds are still visible, and he says, 00:13:59.460 --> 00:14:00.320 You are Yahweh. 00:14:01.520 --> 00:14:03.240 You are God in the flesh. 00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:07.640 And he doesn't say, You are the Lord and you are the God. 00:14:07.700 --> 00:14:11.320 He says, You are my Lord and you are my God. 00:14:11.400 --> 00:14:18.220 There's this personal, individual, specific, experiential relationship of love and trust. 00:14:18.220 --> 00:14:30.759 And he's probably thinking to himself, How can I be in the presence of one who has given himself utterly for me without giving myself utterly back to him? 00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:37.100 Thomas is in the presence of life itself, and he's being filled with that life. 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:43.779 And now he's talking with Jesus as if he is in the center where God deserves to be. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:47.300 As if Jesus is this active, responsive person. 00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:48.599 And that's the question for us. 00:14:49.419 --> 00:14:51.219 Do you talk to Jesus that way? 00:14:52.159 --> 00:14:56.759 Do you treat Jesus this way as my Lord and my God? 00:14:56.819 --> 00:15:02.159 To be a believer is to say to the living Jesus, You are my Lord and my God. 00:15:03.240 --> 00:15:13.559 And unless we can make this definite, precise confession that's focused on God's Son, we cannot really claim to be Christians. 00:15:13.559 --> 00:15:20.839 Some of us might say, Well, yeah, yeah, it's easy for Thomas to believe because he's there. 00:15:21.579 --> 00:15:24.919 But it's not easy for me because I wasn't there. 00:15:25.659 --> 00:15:27.939 Well, Jesus doesn't see it that way, actually. 00:15:27.940 --> 00:15:40.220 It says that he gives Thomas what he demands, but he takes Thomas to task for demanding it, and he gives him this gentle, loving rebuke in verse 29 when he says, 00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:42.140 Because you've seen me, you've believed. 00:15:42.500 --> 00:15:45.940 Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. 00:15:45.940 --> 00:15:51.580 He's commending not faith without evidence, but faith without sight. 00:15:52.680 --> 00:15:58.760 Thomas, it should have been enough for you to hear the eyewitness testimony and the evidence of the apostles. 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:06.280 You knew that they were honest, sober, reliable people, not given to lies or hallucinations. 00:16:06.279 --> 00:16:15.860 In fact, if you were in a court of law and you had ten honest witnesses all testifying the same way, the verdict would be clear. 00:16:16.019 --> 00:16:21.759 In fact, it would be unreasonable and even irresponsible to not believe what they're saying. 00:16:23.100 --> 00:16:27.779 And this is an encouragement to us who were not there, who would come in later generations, 00:16:28.399 --> 00:16:31.220 that faith is not wishful thinking. 00:16:32.480 --> 00:16:34.259 Faith is not a leap in the dark. 00:16:34.259 --> 00:16:37.519 Faith is not believing without evidence. 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:44.319 Faith is this intellectually robust engagement with eyewitness evidence. 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:53.600 Jesus is blessing us for believing on the basis of this written testimony of the apostles in the New Testament 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:59.919 who saw, heard, touched, and experienced the risen body of Jesus. 00:16:59.919 --> 00:17:13.740 Faith is based on the testimony about the empirically verified, established historical fact that the crucified Jesus is alive. 00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:17.680 So Jesus says, stop being an unbeliever. 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:20.980 It's unreasonable to go against the evidence. 00:17:20.980 --> 00:17:28.980 It's absurd not to trust in the Son of God, especially when he's offering you eternal life. 00:17:30.059 --> 00:17:37.039 Verse 31, these things, the Gospel of John, all these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:40.960 the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 00:17:40.960 --> 00:17:47.380 God's life, divine life, heavenly, eternal, abundant, everlasting life. 00:17:49.500 --> 00:17:53.340 The risen Jesus turns our unbelief into worship. 00:17:54.380 --> 00:17:55.360 You guys with me? 00:17:56.400 --> 00:17:57.660 A little nod, a little something. 00:17:58.279 --> 00:17:59.079 Help me keep going. 00:17:59.240 --> 00:17:59.420 Okay. 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:04.700 The risen Jesus turns our unbelief into worship, but he doesn't stop there. 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:08.740 He also turns our worship into mission. 00:18:09.500 --> 00:18:11.360 He turns our worship into mission. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:21.220 Any of you feel like, think like this label, doubting Thomas, is a bit of a misnomer, right? 00:18:22.000 --> 00:18:27.380 Because based on what we just read, he's not doubting Thomas, he's believing Thomas. 00:18:28.080 --> 00:18:29.500 He's confessing Thomas. 00:18:29.620 --> 00:18:30.900 He's worshiping Thomas. 00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:37.880 In fact, he's evangelizing Thomas, disciple-making Thomas, church-planting Thomas. 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:44.759 There's only one apostle missionary who went outside the bounds of the Roman Empire, and that was Thomas. 00:18:45.820 --> 00:18:47.019 Thomas went to the east. 00:18:47.120 --> 00:18:53.440 He went to Persia, to Iraq, and Iran, and he kept going to Kerala on the southwest shores of India, 00:18:53.800 --> 00:18:58.680 and he would be martyred in 72 AD in Madras, or what is today known as Chennai. 00:18:59.740 --> 00:19:00.880 Why did he do that? 00:19:01.580 --> 00:19:04.180 Why did any of the apostles do that? 00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:10.660 Well, just as Jesus sent Mary Magdalene that Easter morning to share the good news with the apostles, 00:19:10.840 --> 00:19:16.200 so he sent the apostles this Easter evening to share his good news with the world. 00:19:17.220 --> 00:19:20.460 And we assume that Jesus pulled Thomas aside and said, 00:19:20.540 --> 00:19:22.860 Hey, Tom, here's what you missed at last week's meeting. 00:19:23.360 --> 00:19:25.060 Let me bring you up to speed. 00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:29.500 And he shared with them the great commission that we find in verses 19 to 23. 00:19:29.500 --> 00:19:35.799 And there I see six aspects, six facets of Jesus' ministry. 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:43.380 And if you'll just allow me 30 minutes each, I think we could get to our nacho bar. 00:19:43.680 --> 00:19:44.099 Sound good? 00:19:44.099 --> 00:19:50.679 The first aspect of this mission is the presence of the resurrected Lord of life. 00:19:51.679 --> 00:19:54.099 The one who says, I am sending you. 00:19:54.199 --> 00:19:56.799 That I is the one who's conquered death. 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:59.559 So is there anything else that he cannot do? 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:07.059 We're told in verse 19 that on that evening when the disciples were together and the doors were locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, 00:20:07.559 --> 00:20:11.099 Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you. 00:20:11.099 --> 00:20:13.759 Jesus walked through closed doors. 00:20:14.599 --> 00:20:16.619 He walked through locked doors. 00:20:16.819 --> 00:20:18.619 Now, he could have knocked. 00:20:19.500 --> 00:20:21.419 He could have rung the doorbell. 00:20:22.179 --> 00:20:24.319 But instead, he just walks right in. 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:24.959 Can you imagine? 00:20:25.159 --> 00:20:26.599 Why did he do this? 00:20:27.259 --> 00:20:29.779 Because he's demonstrating his powers. 00:20:30.740 --> 00:20:38.179 He's demonstrated the power of his new, glorified, transphysical, spiritually energized, immortal body, 00:20:38.180 --> 00:20:40.320 saying, Nothing can impede me. 00:20:40.600 --> 00:20:42.220 Nothing can hold me back. 00:20:42.320 --> 00:20:44.200 Nothing can limit me. 00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:50.200 And when the disciples saw this in verse 20, they were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 00:20:50.200 --> 00:21:00.400 I think they had a surge of wild delight because they were beholding the recreative power of God. 00:21:01.320 --> 00:21:06.580 The one who claimed to be the resurrection and the life has emptied the tomb. 00:21:06.579 --> 00:21:09.699 He's brought death to death. 00:21:09.899 --> 00:21:11.279 What else can he not do? 00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:14.199 Can he not conquer the world? 00:21:15.019 --> 00:21:17.279 That's the first aspect of the mission. 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:23.740 But the second aspect of the mission is the peace that was won by Jesus' wounds on his cross. 00:21:23.839 --> 00:21:25.500 Two times here he says, Shalom. 00:21:25.740 --> 00:21:26.139 Shalom. 00:21:27.119 --> 00:21:29.159 And what action is he performing? 00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:32.079 What sign is he showing when he says that? 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:37.720 He gives this word of God's peace, but he also gives the sign of his wounds. 00:21:38.919 --> 00:21:39.079 Right? 00:21:39.659 --> 00:21:41.879 Verse 19, he says, Peace be with you. 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:45.399 And after this he showed them his hands and his side. 00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:51.159 Basically saying, Look, these wounds of my crucifixion, 00:21:51.160 --> 00:21:59.940 these are death-defeating, life-giving, peace-making, shalom-creating wounds. 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:02.519 Do you want to have peace with God? 00:22:03.440 --> 00:22:08.279 Do you want to have peace in your mind, peace in your heart, peace in the world? 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:09.580 Ponder the wounds. 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:12.180 Study the scars. 00:22:12.180 --> 00:22:19.580 Meditate on the marks of my decisive battle with evil and sin, 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:22.640 because this is how you have the peace of God. 00:22:22.700 --> 00:22:24.539 It's a hard-won peace. 00:22:25.380 --> 00:22:27.580 It's a blood-bought peace. 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:33.799 And just a heads up, that if you're going to follow me as a peacemaker in this world, 00:22:34.060 --> 00:22:35.700 you too are going to encounter evil. 00:22:36.420 --> 00:22:37.680 You too are going to suffer. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:42.500 You too are going to bear the marks of my wounds and my cross. 00:22:43.080 --> 00:22:47.860 But as you do, remember the words I spoke to you in that upper room. 00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:53.980 John 16, Jesus says, I've told you these things so that in me you may have peace. 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:56.620 In this world, you're going to have trouble. 00:22:57.600 --> 00:22:58.360 But take heart. 00:22:59.220 --> 00:23:01.160 I've overcome the world. 00:23:01.160 --> 00:23:08.720 The third aspect of this mission is the model of the way that the Father sent Jesus. 00:23:09.040 --> 00:23:11.420 Verse 21, he says, peace be with you. 00:23:11.500 --> 00:23:15.440 And then he says, as the Father sent me, I am sending you. 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:21.980 And that word as is key because our mission to the world is modeled on Christ's incarnation. 00:23:23.340 --> 00:23:27.980 The Father sent his Son not to stay safe in the immunity of heaven. 00:23:27.980 --> 00:23:33.819 Rather, he emptied himself of his glory and he entered our world. 00:23:33.940 --> 00:23:36.039 He entered our nature. 00:23:36.180 --> 00:23:43.640 He took it upon himself so that he could experience our sorrows and bear our sins and die our death. 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:47.440 Jesus identified himself with us completely. 00:23:47.440 --> 00:23:53.039 And that means that our mission is to identify ourselves with others. 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:58.279 To put ourselves in loving sympathy inside of their doubts. 00:23:59.220 --> 00:24:00.420 Inside of their questions. 00:24:00.620 --> 00:24:03.500 Inside of their loneliness and their needs and their desires. 00:24:03.500 --> 00:24:05.940 Just as Jesus did for us. 00:24:06.799 --> 00:24:11.920 And when he did that, when he came among us, how did he carry out his mission? 00:24:12.860 --> 00:24:14.059 What was his pattern? 00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:18.899 You guys are sick of us saying this, but it bears repeating. 00:24:20.379 --> 00:24:22.519 Jesus would look up to his Father. 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:27.119 He would look into the disciples whom he was training to make disciples. 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:32.579 And he would look out to the crowds who needed to hear him and be healed by him. 00:24:32.639 --> 00:24:35.639 He looked out to the people he wanted to touch and teach. 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:39.619 He was always looking out to show and tell the gospel. 00:24:39.960 --> 00:24:43.119 In deeds of compassion and words of truth. 00:24:43.119 --> 00:24:48.500 And Jesus is saying, as the Father sent me to live this up, in and out life. 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:52.279 So I am sending you to reproduce that life in you. 00:24:52.399 --> 00:24:55.199 And to replicate it in other people. 00:24:56.639 --> 00:24:58.000 Fourth aspect of mission. 00:24:58.419 --> 00:25:00.059 I'm going fast, so don't worry. 00:25:00.559 --> 00:25:01.319 We got nachos. 00:25:02.159 --> 00:25:05.139 The fourth aspect of mission is the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:25:06.279 --> 00:25:10.819 Can you imagine if Peter, James, and John had gone out on their own and in their own power? 00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:14.079 I'm thinking they're looking around in this moment. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:15.879 Jesus has just said he's sending them out. 00:25:16.039 --> 00:25:19.279 And everybody's looking at Peter like, hey, didn't he just deny you? 00:25:20.379 --> 00:25:25.119 They're looking at James and John like, weren't they just arguing about who's the greatest among us? 00:25:25.619 --> 00:25:26.539 You're sending them? 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:36.279 But Jesus, it says in verse 22, it says that with that he breathed on them. 00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:38.799 And he said, receive the Holy Spirit. 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:41.200 Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:25:42.180 --> 00:25:46.159 You might think back to Genesis 2 where God breathed life into Adam. 00:25:46.160 --> 00:25:56.519 Or you might think to Exodus or Ezekiel 37 where God breathed life into that valley of dry bones and formed them into a holy army. 00:25:57.560 --> 00:25:59.380 That's what Jesus is doing right here. 00:25:59.460 --> 00:26:07.380 He says, you must receive my resurrection life through the Holy Spirit by whose power alone the mission can be carried out. 00:26:08.140 --> 00:26:11.680 Because mission without the Holy Spirit is a contradiction. 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:14.960 Mission without the Holy Spirit is an impossibility. 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:19.600 But I'm sending you out not as ambassadors of an absent king. 00:26:19.700 --> 00:26:22.680 I'm sending you out with my sacred breath on your faces. 00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:26.440 I'm sending you with my Holy Spirit in your hearts. 00:26:26.539 --> 00:26:29.920 I'm sending you with my life dwelling in you. 00:26:30.759 --> 00:26:41.460 So when you go, remember that the Spirit of Jesus will be the one to drive the words of Jesus into the hearts and minds and consciences and wills of the people who are listening to you. 00:26:41.460 --> 00:26:52.779 And remember that it's the Holy Spirit who convicts sinners of sin and who bears witness to Jesus and who enables anyone to say, Jesus is Lord. 00:26:52.779 --> 00:27:04.240 It's the Holy Spirit's job to bring about the new birth from above, to assure us that we're the children of God, and to conform us to the image of Jesus. 00:27:04.379 --> 00:27:05.279 That's not our job. 00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:06.240 That's his job. 00:27:07.000 --> 00:27:09.440 Our job, church, is to be full of the Spirit. 00:27:10.220 --> 00:27:13.599 Our job is to rely upon the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:27:13.599 --> 00:27:15.019 Amen? 00:27:15.740 --> 00:27:22.419 The fifth aspect of mission is our great privilege to proclaim the forgiveness of God. 00:27:23.439 --> 00:27:26.059 Verse 23, Jesus says, 00:27:26.459 --> 00:27:32.699 If you forgive the sins of anyone, their sins are forgiven, and if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven. 00:27:33.859 --> 00:27:40.859 The apostles and the apostolic church are sent out as messengers of the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 00:27:40.859 --> 00:27:51.419 And we are to preach the gospel of salvation with authority and with power, and we're to tell people the terms upon which they are forgiven of their sins. 00:27:52.659 --> 00:28:08.379 That is, we're to declare the good news of Jesus' life, crucifixion, and resurrection, and we're to tell people that God's forgiveness comes only to those who will repent and believe, who will turn from themselves and trust in Jesus. 00:28:08.380 --> 00:28:13.500 Now, this is a high privilege, and it's also a high responsibility. 00:28:14.260 --> 00:28:22.120 Because with it comes the responsibility to warn people that self-centeredness is a serious and deadly disease. 00:28:22.840 --> 00:28:27.260 And that to remain in your sin will bring death and judgment. 00:28:28.300 --> 00:28:33.660 We're to tell people how wonderful it is for God to remove the sin off of you by the blood of Jesus, 00:28:33.660 --> 00:28:41.880 but we're also told, we're also to tell people how awful it is to die under the curse of sin and not be forgiven. 00:28:43.860 --> 00:28:49.340 John chapter 3, right after that most famous verse, John 3, 16, it says, 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:56.880 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them. 00:28:56.880 --> 00:28:59.840 But Jesus says two chapters later, he says, 00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:09.220 Very truly, I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged, but is crossed over from death to life. 00:29:09.360 --> 00:29:17.760 And these great promises and these great warnings, that if you refuse Jesus, you'll be condemned, and if you accept Jesus, you'll be acquitted. 00:29:18.220 --> 00:29:21.820 That's been entrusted to us. 00:29:21.819 --> 00:29:25.759 And there's a sixth aspect of mission. 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:30.079 The presence of the resurrected Lord of life. 00:29:30.980 --> 00:29:34.240 The peace won by Jesus' wounds on the cross. 00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:37.659 The model of the way that the Father sent the Son. 00:29:38.339 --> 00:29:40.019 The power of the Holy Spirit. 00:29:40.799 --> 00:29:43.539 The privilege to proclaim the forgiveness of God. 00:29:44.059 --> 00:29:45.720 And the last thing, number six. 00:29:47.200 --> 00:29:48.000 Jesus says, 00:29:48.939 --> 00:29:51.299 Not I am sending you singular. 00:29:51.819 --> 00:29:53.220 He says, 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:55.379 I am sending y'all. 00:29:57.000 --> 00:29:58.220 It's in the Greek. 00:29:59.779 --> 00:30:01.500 He said it in Aramaic. 00:30:02.119 --> 00:30:05.480 He was in southern Israel, so he must have said it that way. 00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:09.500 I am sending y'all. 00:30:10.460 --> 00:30:14.460 This is not a task assigned to isolated, autonomous individuals. 00:30:14.759 --> 00:30:18.639 It is, in fact, an identity conferred upon a community. 00:30:18.640 --> 00:30:32.100 Jesus launches his church as a movement into the public life of the world to draw all people to Christ, who has cosmic authority and universal power. 00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:45.059 And our job, Christ's church, is simply to show the world in our life together what it means to submit to the lordship of Jesus and how good it is. 00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:50.559 And to share with other people our joy and our freedom and to say, come on in, y'all. 00:30:51.639 --> 00:30:53.279 The water is fine. 00:30:54.159 --> 00:30:57.839 Come and taste and see that the lord is good. 00:30:57.839 --> 00:31:02.379 This, friends, is Christ's mission for his church. 00:31:03.480 --> 00:31:06.539 It's what moved Thomas from the Middle East to India. 00:31:06.539 --> 00:31:14.159 It's what compelled him to go from the safety and comfort of Jerusalem out to the place where he would die in Chennai. 00:31:14.879 --> 00:31:18.259 And I hope it's what will move you as well. 00:31:19.039 --> 00:31:24.619 As you're studying and teaching at the number one public university in the world, go Bears. 00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:26.859 The Athens of the West. 00:31:26.960 --> 00:31:30.740 As you're working in this urban triangle of Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco. 00:31:30.740 --> 00:31:39.900 As you're living among friends, neighbors, and colleagues in the East Bay, I hope that you will move out into these spaces as a people who are sent. 00:31:40.019 --> 00:31:40.740 A sent people. 00:31:41.420 --> 00:31:45.079 As the father sent me, so I am sending y'all. 00:31:45.960 --> 00:31:50.720 You've been sent to live out Christ's mission in Christ's way. 00:31:51.720 --> 00:32:00.039 And I just want to celebrate as we come to our 16th birthday as a church, thanking the lord that he sent me here. 00:32:00.740 --> 00:32:01.920 I don't deserve to be here. 00:32:02.500 --> 00:32:04.500 Thanking the lord that he sent you here. 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:05.720 You don't deserve to be here either. 00:32:06.799 --> 00:32:16.720 Thanking the lord that he's put us together at this time and given us the privilege to be part of this mission past, present, and dare I say future. 00:32:16.859 --> 00:32:20.039 I hope we'll have many celebrations to come. 00:32:20.299 --> 00:32:21.519 Assuming you'll have me back. 00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:24.519 Assuming Andrew doesn't work me out of a job. 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:28.400 This is my prayer for us. 00:32:29.420 --> 00:32:35.779 That the risen Jesus would turn our unbelief into worship, passionate worship. 00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:40.960 And that the risen Jesus would turn our worship into mission. 00:32:41.819 --> 00:32:42.779 Sacrificial mission. 00:32:44.160 --> 00:32:47.559 May he do it in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:32:48.359 --> 00:32:48.619 Amen. 00:32:48.619 --> 00:32:48.740 Amen. 00:32:48.740 --> 00:32:48.819 Amen. 00:32:48.819 --> 00:32:48.839 Amen. 00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:48.859 Amen. 00:32:48.859 --> 00:32:48.879 Amen.