WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.100 On a Sunday 2,000 years ago, Jesus rose from the dead. 00:00:07.179 --> 00:00:09.400 However, as we shall see in our reading today, 00:00:10.160 --> 00:00:11.779 while Jesus conquered the grave, 00:00:11.779 --> 00:00:15.839 he still had to conquer the doubts and fears of his closest friends. 00:00:16.859 --> 00:00:20.580 The human heart and mind are sometimes tougher, gloomier, 00:00:20.879 --> 00:00:23.179 and colder than the grave. 00:00:24.160 --> 00:00:28.060 Only an encounter with the risen Christ may open them up, 00:00:28.059 --> 00:00:33.159 and this makes it almost as miraculous as Jesus rising from the dead. 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:38.119 This is exactly what our portion today, the end of John, 00:00:38.700 --> 00:00:41.739 chapter 20, verses 19 and 31, portrays, 00:00:42.159 --> 00:00:46.280 by means of two events which happened right after Jesus rose from the grave. 00:00:46.980 --> 00:00:50.320 We are taught three important lessons in this reading, 00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:55.859 about both our daily life and our life trajectory as Jesus' followers. 00:00:55.859 --> 00:00:59.079 The resurrected Jesus comforts the fearful. 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:02.340 He also convinces the doubtful. 00:01:03.560 --> 00:01:08.299 And the reason is not what people often expect or think. 00:01:09.099 --> 00:01:12.319 First of all, the resurrected Jesus comforts the fearful. 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:19.340 Verses 19 and 23 portray an event on the same Sunday as when Jesus was resurrected. 00:01:19.960 --> 00:01:22.140 Mary Magdalene goes to Jesus' tomb, 00:01:22.299 --> 00:01:24.019 founds it empty, tells the disciples. 00:01:24.019 --> 00:01:26.219 Then Jesus appears to her. 00:01:26.700 --> 00:01:28.519 She goes and tells the disciples again, 00:01:28.899 --> 00:01:30.619 I have seen the Lord. 00:01:31.399 --> 00:01:34.500 And yet, they do not seem to believe her. 00:01:35.439 --> 00:01:37.459 They are gripped by fear instead, 00:01:37.859 --> 00:01:39.420 out of fear of the Jews. 00:01:39.519 --> 00:01:41.099 The Jewish leaders were after them. 00:01:41.640 --> 00:01:45.099 They did not want to end up on the cross just like their master had. 00:01:45.099 --> 00:01:49.979 So these brave men do exactly what brave men do in such situations, 00:01:50.179 --> 00:01:53.879 which is they bravely huddle together in an unknown location, 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:55.839 shut the door close, 00:01:56.500 --> 00:01:58.339 and hope that nothing will happen. 00:01:59.099 --> 00:02:01.979 The world history has just changed completely. 00:02:01.980 --> 00:02:02.579 Completely. 00:02:03.579 --> 00:02:07.000 But Jesus' closest friends either do not know it, 00:02:07.640 --> 00:02:10.860 or they are not ready to be its main protagonists. 00:02:12.000 --> 00:02:15.280 On the same night, however, their world was about to change for good. 00:02:15.879 --> 00:02:18.080 Jesus appears suddenly out of thin air. 00:02:18.560 --> 00:02:19.780 He does not knock on the door. 00:02:20.500 --> 00:02:24.080 He just appears out of thin air among them. 00:02:24.080 --> 00:02:27.460 And they are suddenly even more afraid. 00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:30.020 Instead of fearing the Jews, now they are fearing Jesus. 00:02:31.100 --> 00:02:33.640 And so he does two things to allay their fears. 00:02:34.000 --> 00:02:35.900 First he tells them, I come in peace. 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:37.080 Peace be upon you. 00:02:37.840 --> 00:02:39.020 I am not here in judgment. 00:02:39.820 --> 00:02:41.560 Though that is exactly what they deserved. 00:02:41.980 --> 00:02:43.500 They knew full well what they had done. 00:02:43.920 --> 00:02:48.020 They had disappointed him by abandoning Jesus on the cross. 00:02:49.160 --> 00:02:50.900 And their master was left alone. 00:02:51.740 --> 00:02:53.260 And they knew what they deserved. 00:02:53.259 --> 00:02:56.099 But he does not come to judge. 00:02:57.979 --> 00:03:00.340 And then Jesus tells them, touch me. 00:03:01.599 --> 00:03:06.399 He wanted to make sure that they could touch him and understand that he was no phantom. 00:03:07.019 --> 00:03:11.959 He was not an apparition or something that they were making up in their minds because of their fear. 00:03:12.879 --> 00:03:14.979 But it was truly him indeed. 00:03:16.519 --> 00:03:19.699 Now it is interesting that Jesus was in a glorified body. 00:03:19.699 --> 00:03:24.000 And he did not need to bear the signs of crucifixion with him. 00:03:24.500 --> 00:03:26.560 After all, a glorified body is perfect. 00:03:26.780 --> 00:03:28.239 It is physical, but it is perfect. 00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:34.500 And yet Jesus chose to have and bear the signs of the cross forever with him. 00:03:34.500 --> 00:03:36.259 For maybe two reasons. 00:03:36.259 --> 00:03:39.819 One is to tell his disciples that it is truly me. 00:03:40.580 --> 00:03:48.419 But second, to tell them that the signs of the cross are not the signs of death, but the signs of victory over death. 00:03:48.960 --> 00:03:50.379 And now I have won. 00:03:50.939 --> 00:03:52.340 Death has been routed forever. 00:03:52.340 --> 00:03:57.659 This encounter with Jesus has been inserted in the Gospel of John intentionally. 00:03:57.900 --> 00:04:01.980 Because, first of all, it tells us something important about the apostles. 00:04:02.140 --> 00:04:03.280 That there were no dummies. 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:10.360 You see, we portray them today in the modern world as if they were illiterate and ready to believe anything that was told them. 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:12.719 But that is just simply not the case. 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:14.840 In fact, their skepticism is stunning. 00:04:15.340 --> 00:04:18.519 They have been with Jesus day and night for three full years. 00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:23.740 They have seen him miraculously heal impossible sicknesses instantly. 00:04:24.479 --> 00:04:28.879 They have seen how a cripple could walk straight after decades of lying down. 00:04:29.500 --> 00:04:37.359 And then they even saw once a man like Lazarus get out of the tomb after rotting in it for three full days fully alive. 00:04:38.759 --> 00:04:40.259 And this tells us something important. 00:04:40.459 --> 00:04:46.339 That our modern day portrayal of the apostles is wrong-headed and not historically correct. 00:04:46.339 --> 00:04:53.419 They may not know a lot about theology, but there were no naive simpletons. 00:04:54.739 --> 00:04:56.500 Now they saw the biggest miracle. 00:04:57.579 --> 00:04:59.879 And they still are in fear. 00:05:00.919 --> 00:05:02.379 But why did they not believe? 00:05:02.479 --> 00:05:04.199 Well, for maybe two reasons. 00:05:04.299 --> 00:05:09.399 Because, first of all, the apostles, like I said, they were first century Jews. 00:05:09.399 --> 00:05:16.799 But like most of the people in that world, they knew that when a dead person is interred in the grave, he normally stays there. 00:05:17.620 --> 00:05:18.419 Death is the end. 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:25.579 And secondly, and more importantly, they were molded by Israel's theology at that time. 00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:32.439 Most of the Jewish schools, they taught that there would be a resurrection of the dead, a physical one, a bodily one. 00:05:32.439 --> 00:05:36.879 But that would happen at the end of time when the Messiah would arrive. 00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:41.600 And it would happen to the whole nation of Israel, not to just one person. 00:05:42.899 --> 00:05:46.019 When the Messiah came, he would change everything. 00:05:46.180 --> 00:05:48.180 He would basically destroy paganism. 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:51.199 He would rout the foreign invaders of Israel. 00:05:51.519 --> 00:05:53.120 He would purify Israel's hearts. 00:05:53.459 --> 00:05:55.959 And all Jews would be resurrected to eternal life. 00:05:55.959 --> 00:06:01.359 However, the apostles were completely disappointed. 00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:03.419 This is not what had happened. 00:06:04.339 --> 00:06:05.259 Jesus had died. 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:08.500 It was probably the end of a disappointing mission for them. 00:06:09.599 --> 00:06:13.799 So they did not expect him as a single person to arise from the dead. 00:06:15.039 --> 00:06:19.439 Yet here Jesus was once again ruining their wrong expectations. 00:06:20.240 --> 00:06:22.259 His resurrection is real. 00:06:22.259 --> 00:06:27.839 And it is the harbinger of what will one day happen when he returns for his people at the end of time. 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:30.879 Now they see him and believe. 00:06:31.659 --> 00:06:34.959 His friends do not understand him completely yet. 00:06:35.560 --> 00:06:37.300 But they see him physically there. 00:06:38.120 --> 00:06:39.899 Their theology has been turned upside down. 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:42.319 But now they see Jesus in a new light. 00:06:43.060 --> 00:06:44.399 His death was not the end. 00:06:45.939 --> 00:06:48.740 Nor was it a defeat as they had feared. 00:06:49.719 --> 00:06:52.060 Christ's death was actually the triumph of God. 00:06:52.579 --> 00:06:55.480 His resurrection was the vindication of Jesus' mission. 00:06:55.639 --> 00:06:56.779 A brand new beginning. 00:06:58.399 --> 00:07:01.959 However, Jesus does not just appear to them to allay their fears. 00:07:04.539 --> 00:07:08.180 Nor does he just appear to them to basically say, 00:07:08.800 --> 00:07:10.560 Wow, this is me. 00:07:10.899 --> 00:07:11.420 Can you see? 00:07:11.779 --> 00:07:12.180 Believe. 00:07:12.819 --> 00:07:13.480 And that is it. 00:07:13.740 --> 00:07:16.000 Now you can go to heaven because you believe in me. 00:07:16.740 --> 00:07:17.060 No. 00:07:17.379 --> 00:07:19.980 He is there not only to show them who he is. 00:07:19.980 --> 00:07:22.640 But also to give them a new life mission. 00:07:23.100 --> 00:07:24.860 Something that they did not expect. 00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:29.480 This life mission is about living for Christ. 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:31.540 It is about representing Christ to the world. 00:07:31.540 --> 00:07:33.960 But how can they do that? 00:07:34.760 --> 00:07:35.780 They know their fears. 00:07:35.879 --> 00:07:36.620 They know their doubts. 00:07:36.760 --> 00:07:38.400 They know that they are not perfect. 00:07:38.700 --> 00:07:43.020 How can they convince the world about Christ when no one will see him? 00:07:43.019 --> 00:07:46.899 So he gives them two things. 00:07:47.539 --> 00:07:52.919 Or he does two things in order to give them the power to succeed. 00:07:52.920 --> 00:07:57.340 First of all, Jesus symbolically breathes on them. 00:07:57.400 --> 00:07:58.480 That is very important. 00:07:58.840 --> 00:08:05.439 Because it is to show them that it is the Holy Spirit who will give you the strength to witness to other people. 00:08:05.819 --> 00:08:08.819 So that they are convinced about their sin and about Christ. 00:08:09.840 --> 00:08:12.580 It is the Spirit that will ultimately convince the world. 00:08:12.579 --> 00:08:19.259 And second, the mission that he gives them is guaranteed in its success. 00:08:19.379 --> 00:08:20.159 It is authoritative. 00:08:21.959 --> 00:08:23.120 How do we know that? 00:08:23.279 --> 00:08:23.959 He tells them, 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:26.539 Whatever you forgive will be forgiven. 00:08:27.379 --> 00:08:31.500 Whatever you withhold will be withheld by God in heaven. 00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:37.860 Now this is interesting because whatever it means, and it is a difficult verse, 00:08:38.500 --> 00:08:43.720 it does not mean that it is the church that has the authority because of it being an institution. 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:49.200 This is language taken from the Jewish courts and from the synagogue. 00:08:49.820 --> 00:08:56.600 First of all, in the Jewish courts the judge would declare the accused either innocent based on the evidence and thus forgiven. 00:08:57.019 --> 00:09:00.480 Or he would consider him guilty as charged. 00:09:01.500 --> 00:09:03.419 And he would withhold his forgiveness. 00:09:04.220 --> 00:09:06.539 But this is language also used in the synagogue. 00:09:06.960 --> 00:09:11.019 Especially by the time when Jesus wrote this gospel which is by the 90s AD. 00:09:12.100 --> 00:09:18.539 The synagogue had started to excommunicate as heretics all those who believed in Jesus as the Messiah. 00:09:19.179 --> 00:09:23.120 There were heretics which had been living in Moses' day, 00:09:23.320 --> 00:09:27.799 they should have been stoned to death because of blasphemy. 00:09:27.799 --> 00:09:33.740 Now Jesus, interestingly, turns the world history upside down. 00:09:34.620 --> 00:09:37.659 What he is saying is that it is not the world that judges the church. 00:09:38.759 --> 00:09:40.620 After he was resurrected, 00:09:41.459 --> 00:09:46.319 it is the church's message of Christ that judges or saves the world. 00:09:46.320 --> 00:09:52.220 So on this night of the first Easter Sunday, 00:09:52.520 --> 00:09:56.680 Jesus appears to his disciples and allays their fears. 00:09:58.040 --> 00:09:59.280 But not only that, 00:09:59.680 --> 00:10:02.900 Jesus also convinces the doubtful. 00:10:04.300 --> 00:10:06.540 Which is in verses 24-29, 00:10:06.920 --> 00:10:08.700 we go on to the next Sunday, 00:10:08.980 --> 00:10:10.820 right after the first Easter Sunday. 00:10:10.820 --> 00:10:15.720 There was one person who wasn't present with the other disciples when Jesus came 00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:18.460 and stood in the midst of them in that room. 00:10:19.560 --> 00:10:23.140 His name is well known even by those who don't know the Bible 00:10:23.140 --> 00:10:28.840 because of a stigma that he bears with him for more than a thousand years, 00:10:30.560 --> 00:10:31.500 the doubting Thomas. 00:10:32.280 --> 00:10:34.840 Now this stigma is wrong because 00:10:34.840 --> 00:10:37.120 even though Thomas did doubt for a moment, 00:10:37.540 --> 00:10:39.360 this did not define his lifetime. 00:10:39.360 --> 00:10:42.860 And the Bible never calls him doubtful Thomas. 00:10:43.039 --> 00:10:44.539 It is the later church that did. 00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:47.720 He was by no means a fearful soul. 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:49.460 In fact, if you remember, 00:10:49.759 --> 00:10:51.200 by the middle of John's Gospel, 00:10:51.340 --> 00:10:54.519 when Jesus said he wanted to go back near Jerusalem 00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:56.360 in order to resurrect Lazarus, 00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:59.379 the disciples didn't understand what was going on, 00:10:59.419 --> 00:11:02.259 but they knew that he would be confronting the Jewish leaders 00:11:02.259 --> 00:11:03.720 and that meant certain death. 00:11:04.220 --> 00:11:05.480 And Thomas was the one who said, 00:11:05.779 --> 00:11:07.220 let's go and die with him. 00:11:07.220 --> 00:11:12.580 So Thomas was not afraid to die for what he could see and touch. 00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:17.379 But he seems to have been a hard person to convince unless he sees evidence. 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:20.800 He was driven, unlike the apostles, by emotion. 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.920 He was more driven by his mind. 00:11:22.919 --> 00:11:28.059 So Thomas says to the disciples, 00:11:28.299 --> 00:11:29.079 I wasn't here. 00:11:29.159 --> 00:11:29.899 I didn't see it. 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:30.919 I won't believe it. 00:11:31.259 --> 00:11:32.559 Unless Jesus comes here, 00:11:32.759 --> 00:11:33.719 I touch his wounds. 00:11:34.219 --> 00:11:37.219 And unless I see basically the sign of the nails, 00:11:37.360 --> 00:11:38.740 the hole in the light, 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:40.979 so the light shines through, 00:11:41.099 --> 00:11:41.779 I won't believe. 00:11:42.459 --> 00:11:45.579 So he throws down the gauntlet for Jesus to take up. 00:11:46.299 --> 00:11:47.299 And the next Sunday, 00:11:47.740 --> 00:11:48.059 thankfully, 00:11:48.699 --> 00:11:50.059 when Thomas is with the others, 00:11:50.059 --> 00:11:52.439 Jesus accommodates his request. 00:11:53.019 --> 00:11:53.319 Again, 00:11:53.399 --> 00:11:55.119 he appears suddenly, 00:11:55.479 --> 00:11:56.899 without needing to open the door. 00:11:57.819 --> 00:12:01.699 And he also knows what Thomas had said the previous week. 00:12:02.419 --> 00:12:03.399 And he tells him, 00:12:03.939 --> 00:12:05.459 look at me, 00:12:05.859 --> 00:12:06.379 touch me, 00:12:06.799 --> 00:12:07.679 and believe. 00:12:09.599 --> 00:12:10.119 Now, 00:12:10.199 --> 00:12:13.419 we are not told that Thomas touched Jesus' wounds 00:12:13.419 --> 00:12:14.259 and was convinced. 00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:15.259 Even though what, 00:12:15.740 --> 00:12:16.860 that's what most of us, 00:12:16.899 --> 00:12:17.620 if not all of us, 00:12:17.639 --> 00:12:18.860 tend to think at times. 00:12:19.299 --> 00:12:19.679 Actually, 00:12:20.000 --> 00:12:21.159 John only tells us that 00:12:21.159 --> 00:12:23.599 it was enough for Thomas to actually see Jesus, 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:24.419 standing there, 00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:25.819 talking to him personally, 00:12:26.599 --> 00:12:27.899 inviting him to touch him. 00:12:28.319 --> 00:12:29.079 That was enough. 00:12:29.620 --> 00:12:31.439 The presence of the resurrected Christ 00:12:31.439 --> 00:12:33.679 was enough for Thomas to be convinced. 00:12:35.199 --> 00:12:35.620 And so, 00:12:36.699 --> 00:12:39.000 Thomas turns from his doubts 00:12:39.000 --> 00:12:41.360 into something completely different. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:44.899 He blurted out in total awe and adoration 00:12:44.899 --> 00:12:49.220 the clearest confession about Jesus' nature 00:12:49.220 --> 00:12:52.100 in all of the New Testament. 00:12:53.100 --> 00:12:54.519 He looks at Jesus and says, 00:12:54.680 --> 00:12:56.220 my Lord and my God. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:12:57.139 Now, 00:12:57.220 --> 00:12:59.500 these words are not meant as an expression of amazement 00:12:59.500 --> 00:13:00.680 to God on high, 00:13:01.680 --> 00:13:03.919 but to Jesus in the room. 00:13:05.180 --> 00:13:06.759 Thomas said to him, 00:13:06.980 --> 00:13:07.259 Jesus, 00:13:07.480 --> 00:13:08.800 my Lord and my God. 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:09.959 You see, 00:13:10.319 --> 00:13:11.240 Jesus' appearance 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:15.139 changed the disciples' worldview completely. 00:13:16.219 --> 00:13:18.299 Even though they didn't understand everything, 00:13:18.819 --> 00:13:20.659 suddenly they had greater clarity. 00:13:21.759 --> 00:13:22.559 Suddenly they knew 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:23.839 what the scriptures of Israel 00:13:23.839 --> 00:13:25.679 really taught about God and the Messiah. 00:13:27.139 --> 00:13:28.179 And Thomas' confession 00:13:28.179 --> 00:13:31.719 is not one of doubt at all, 00:13:31.879 --> 00:13:33.059 but of complete conviction. 00:13:33.740 --> 00:13:35.559 Jesus is both human and God. 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:37.899 He is the ruler of life 00:13:37.899 --> 00:13:39.479 and the creator himself. 00:13:41.019 --> 00:13:42.979 Thomas does not deny monotheism, 00:13:43.099 --> 00:13:44.619 but he sees it in a clearer, 00:13:44.979 --> 00:13:46.659 more complete light 00:13:46.659 --> 00:13:49.399 because of who Jesus was. 00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:51.279 Now, 00:13:51.819 --> 00:13:53.959 that's a statement that we know 00:13:53.959 --> 00:13:55.779 and we're used to. 00:13:56.259 --> 00:13:57.639 And for 2,000 years, 00:13:57.719 --> 00:13:58.479 we know this story. 00:13:59.219 --> 00:13:59.779 And so, 00:13:59.859 --> 00:14:00.819 we're not too surprised 00:14:00.819 --> 00:14:01.879 at who Jesus was. 00:14:02.379 --> 00:14:03.779 But for Thomas to say that 00:14:03.779 --> 00:14:05.299 and for the disciples to believe 00:14:05.299 --> 00:14:06.179 what Thomas said 00:14:06.179 --> 00:14:07.519 was revolutionary, 00:14:08.279 --> 00:14:09.019 dangerous, 00:14:10.299 --> 00:14:11.419 almost blasphemous. 00:14:12.019 --> 00:14:15.240 Because if they said this sentence, 00:14:15.939 --> 00:14:17.439 Jesus is Lord and God, 00:14:18.120 --> 00:14:19.100 they would be confronted 00:14:19.100 --> 00:14:20.579 and they were confronted 00:14:20.579 --> 00:14:22.399 with two important fronts. 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:23.299 First, 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:26.319 this was ranked blasphemy 00:14:26.319 --> 00:14:27.879 for the Jewish religious elites 00:14:27.879 --> 00:14:28.919 to say that a man 00:14:28.919 --> 00:14:30.279 was equal to God. 00:14:30.279 --> 00:14:32.740 It was the worst sin 00:14:32.740 --> 00:14:34.799 that could be committed 00:14:34.799 --> 00:14:35.559 against God. 00:14:36.679 --> 00:14:37.399 And for that reason, 00:14:37.539 --> 00:14:38.120 like I said, 00:14:38.500 --> 00:14:39.740 you would be excommunicated 00:14:39.740 --> 00:14:40.480 from the synagogue, 00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:41.639 but not only that. 00:14:42.059 --> 00:14:43.000 By 90 AD, 00:14:43.939 --> 00:14:45.339 you would have been separated 00:14:45.339 --> 00:14:46.480 from your friends and family. 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.600 They wouldn't talk to you 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:49.720 and you would be officially dead 00:14:49.720 --> 00:14:51.699 as a heretical son or daughter. 00:14:52.819 --> 00:14:53.919 But this also meant 00:14:53.919 --> 00:14:55.879 that you could not work anymore 00:14:55.879 --> 00:14:57.799 because most of the children 00:14:57.799 --> 00:14:59.480 would work in their parents' trade. 00:15:00.279 --> 00:15:01.899 And you would be separated 00:15:01.899 --> 00:15:03.159 mentally, physically, 00:15:03.419 --> 00:15:04.720 from your closest families 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:05.439 and friends. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:08.559 It was the worst form 00:15:08.559 --> 00:15:09.159 of suffering 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:11.519 and self-isolation 00:15:11.519 --> 00:15:12.699 while being alive. 00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:14.679 However, 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:15.879 when John wrote his gospel, 00:15:16.419 --> 00:15:17.419 there was another front 00:15:17.419 --> 00:15:19.240 that was even more dangerous 00:15:19.240 --> 00:15:20.159 than what the Jews 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:22.620 did to the heretics. 00:15:22.620 --> 00:15:25.159 If you said, 00:15:25.240 --> 00:15:26.500 Jesus is Lord and God, 00:15:27.060 --> 00:15:28.360 you were going against 00:15:28.360 --> 00:15:29.139 the grains 00:15:29.139 --> 00:15:30.620 of the most powerful, 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:33.279 most cruel empire on earth, 00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:34.159 the Roman one. 00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:35.440 Interestingly, 00:15:35.960 --> 00:15:36.980 by the time when John 00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:37.759 wrote his gospel, 00:15:38.200 --> 00:15:38.700 Domitian, 00:15:39.179 --> 00:15:39.899 the emperor, 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:42.720 had asked people 00:15:42.720 --> 00:15:43.500 to call him 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:45.580 Dominus et Deus Noster, 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:47.580 which in English 00:15:47.580 --> 00:15:48.460 would be exactly 00:15:48.460 --> 00:15:49.240 what John said, 00:15:49.899 --> 00:15:50.399 Lord, 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.000 our Lord and God. 00:15:52.620 --> 00:15:53.980 And so that meant 00:15:53.980 --> 00:15:54.840 that if you declare 00:15:54.840 --> 00:15:55.519 another person 00:15:55.519 --> 00:15:56.299 as Lord and God, 00:15:56.700 --> 00:15:57.440 you were committing 00:15:57.440 --> 00:15:58.159 high treason 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:00.200 against the Roman Empire 00:16:00.200 --> 00:16:01.360 and you would be crushed. 00:16:02.720 --> 00:16:03.200 Normally, 00:16:03.399 --> 00:16:04.060 you would die 00:16:04.060 --> 00:16:05.000 by crucifixion. 00:16:06.379 --> 00:16:06.799 Yet, 00:16:07.120 --> 00:16:07.919 Jesus, 00:16:08.100 --> 00:16:08.700 when he comes, 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:10.179 he convinces 00:16:10.179 --> 00:16:10.980 the doubtful 00:16:10.980 --> 00:16:11.580 and before, 00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:13.080 he also gives comfort 00:16:13.080 --> 00:16:14.060 to the fearful. 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:16.080 And the disciples 00:16:16.080 --> 00:16:16.560 are ready 00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:17.740 to believe 00:16:17.740 --> 00:16:18.539 and go forth 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:19.539 in his name. 00:16:19.539 --> 00:16:21.319 and John 00:16:21.319 --> 00:16:22.019 also inserts 00:16:22.019 --> 00:16:22.679 a sentence 00:16:22.679 --> 00:16:23.240 from Jesus 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.099 that the other 00:16:24.099 --> 00:16:25.120 gospels have not. 00:16:25.539 --> 00:16:26.419 Thankfully for us, 00:16:27.319 --> 00:16:29.120 he quotes Jesus 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.839 as saying, 00:16:30.819 --> 00:16:30.959 you, 00:16:31.120 --> 00:16:31.339 Thomas, 00:16:31.439 --> 00:16:32.019 believe because 00:16:32.019 --> 00:16:32.500 you saw me, 00:16:32.579 --> 00:16:33.079 but happy 00:16:33.079 --> 00:16:33.620 and blessed 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.099 are those 00:16:34.099 --> 00:16:34.559 who believe 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:35.379 without seeing me. 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:36.819 And that's you 00:16:36.819 --> 00:16:37.120 and me. 00:16:38.699 --> 00:16:39.339 And that is, 00:16:40.019 --> 00:16:40.879 in other words, 00:16:41.879 --> 00:16:42.519 you and I 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:43.199 are no lesser 00:16:43.199 --> 00:16:43.899 than the apostles 00:16:43.899 --> 00:16:45.000 for not being able 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:45.759 to see Jesus. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:46.419 In fact, 00:16:46.500 --> 00:16:47.080 they saw him 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:48.340 and they didn't believe. 00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:49.960 And Jesus 00:16:49.960 --> 00:16:51.279 will bless us 00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:51.759 immensely 00:16:51.759 --> 00:16:52.759 for believing 00:16:52.759 --> 00:16:53.659 without seeing. 00:16:55.179 --> 00:16:55.700 You see, 00:16:55.799 --> 00:16:56.559 what Jesus 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:57.360 said to Thomas 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:57.799 was, 00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:58.419 Thomas, 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:01.159 believing when you see 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:01.740 is good, 00:17:02.360 --> 00:17:02.919 but believing 00:17:02.919 --> 00:17:03.639 without seeing 00:17:03.639 --> 00:17:05.279 is infinitely better. 00:17:07.539 --> 00:17:08.220 Now, 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:09.259 the purpose 00:17:09.259 --> 00:17:10.220 of the gospel 00:17:10.220 --> 00:17:10.660 is given 00:17:10.660 --> 00:17:11.700 in verses 00:17:11.700 --> 00:17:12.680 13 and 31. 00:17:12.680 --> 00:17:14.500 Jesus 00:17:14.500 --> 00:17:15.600 convinces 00:17:15.600 --> 00:17:16.600 the doubtful 00:17:16.600 --> 00:17:17.600 and comforts 00:17:17.600 --> 00:17:18.019 the fearful, 00:17:18.560 --> 00:17:19.539 but the purpose 00:17:19.539 --> 00:17:20.080 and the reason 00:17:20.080 --> 00:17:20.840 he does so 00:17:20.840 --> 00:17:21.720 sometimes 00:17:21.720 --> 00:17:23.200 is misconstrued, 00:17:23.620 --> 00:17:24.140 is not what 00:17:24.140 --> 00:17:24.880 people think 00:17:24.880 --> 00:17:25.620 it is. 00:17:26.480 --> 00:17:27.320 We have two 00:17:27.320 --> 00:17:27.740 misconceptions 00:17:27.740 --> 00:17:29.220 about these 00:17:29.220 --> 00:17:29.759 two verses, 00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.759 13 and 31, 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:31.519 the purpose 00:17:31.519 --> 00:17:32.320 of John's gospel 00:17:32.320 --> 00:17:33.120 and the purpose 00:17:33.120 --> 00:17:33.740 of what Jesus 00:17:33.740 --> 00:17:34.140 did. 00:17:35.400 --> 00:17:36.180 At first sight, 00:17:36.340 --> 00:17:37.539 the passage 00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.240 is absolutely 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:38.680 clear. 00:17:39.840 --> 00:17:40.380 It's in two 00:17:40.380 --> 00:17:40.720 parts. 00:17:41.759 --> 00:17:42.360 All of this 00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:43.000 has been written 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:43.759 so that we 00:17:43.759 --> 00:17:44.339 may believe 00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:44.879 in Jesus 00:17:44.879 --> 00:17:45.779 as the Messiah 00:17:45.779 --> 00:17:46.299 and the Son 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:46.679 of God. 00:17:47.339 --> 00:17:48.259 And by believing, 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:50.000 we'll have life 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:50.699 in his name. 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:52.240 But we have 00:17:52.240 --> 00:17:53.519 two misconceptions 00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:54.339 that we need 00:17:54.339 --> 00:17:55.139 to take care of 00:17:55.139 --> 00:17:56.179 before we actually 00:17:56.179 --> 00:17:57.359 understand this verse. 00:17:57.719 --> 00:17:58.299 And it's to do 00:17:58.299 --> 00:17:59.179 first 00:17:59.179 --> 00:18:01.119 with what Jesus 00:18:01.119 --> 00:18:01.879 does and why, 00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:02.979 and second 00:18:02.979 --> 00:18:04.459 with the meaning 00:18:04.459 --> 00:18:05.259 of the word life. 00:18:06.799 --> 00:18:07.240 You see, 00:18:07.859 --> 00:18:08.359 when talking 00:18:08.359 --> 00:18:08.919 about Jesus 00:18:08.919 --> 00:18:09.740 and the resurrection, 00:18:10.219 --> 00:18:11.099 often in our 00:18:11.099 --> 00:18:11.659 world today, 00:18:12.359 --> 00:18:13.559 even as Christians, 00:18:13.959 --> 00:18:14.679 in apologetics 00:18:14.679 --> 00:18:15.139 sometimes, 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:16.519 we speak 00:18:16.519 --> 00:18:18.339 as if Jesus 00:18:18.339 --> 00:18:18.939 is the one 00:18:18.939 --> 00:18:19.500 who is supposed 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:20.079 to give us 00:18:20.079 --> 00:18:20.959 evidence for who 00:18:20.959 --> 00:18:21.439 he is. 00:18:21.799 --> 00:18:22.419 And we speak 00:18:22.419 --> 00:18:23.259 in such a way 00:18:23.259 --> 00:18:24.219 because he does 00:18:24.219 --> 00:18:25.039 give evidence 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:25.659 to his friends. 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:26.659 That's important. 00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:27.939 He does comfort 00:18:27.939 --> 00:18:28.159 them. 00:18:28.219 --> 00:18:28.719 He does give 00:18:28.719 --> 00:18:29.299 them joy. 00:18:29.819 --> 00:18:30.619 He does come 00:18:30.619 --> 00:18:31.319 to make us 00:18:31.319 --> 00:18:31.799 believe. 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:33.299 But it's as if 00:18:33.299 --> 00:18:34.359 we are the center 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:35.039 and Jesus 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:36.339 is revolving 00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:36.979 around us. 00:18:37.419 --> 00:18:38.319 And the way 00:18:38.319 --> 00:18:39.099 we talk about 00:18:39.099 --> 00:18:40.179 when we give 00:18:40.179 --> 00:18:41.159 evidence about Christ, 00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:41.960 it's as if 00:18:41.960 --> 00:18:42.940 Jesus is on 00:18:42.940 --> 00:18:43.800 trial and 00:18:43.800 --> 00:18:44.400 about to be 00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:45.360 condemned by us 00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:46.220 who are the 00:18:46.220 --> 00:18:46.600 judges. 00:18:47.640 --> 00:18:48.060 Now, 00:18:48.140 --> 00:18:48.600 that's not what 00:18:48.600 --> 00:18:49.120 the New Testament 00:18:49.120 --> 00:18:49.840 is all about. 00:18:49.940 --> 00:18:50.560 And it's not 00:18:50.560 --> 00:18:51.460 how Jesus 00:18:51.460 --> 00:18:52.640 construed his 00:18:52.640 --> 00:18:53.040 ministry. 00:18:55.019 --> 00:18:55.920 It is Jesus 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.360 who is the 00:18:56.360 --> 00:18:56.660 center. 00:18:58.160 --> 00:18:59.360 And we are 00:18:59.360 --> 00:19:00.240 the objects 00:19:00.240 --> 00:19:00.880 of his love. 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.500 It is not 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:03.640 that we are 00:19:03.640 --> 00:19:04.100 the ones who 00:19:04.100 --> 00:19:04.720 invite him in 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:05.180 our lives, 00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:05.860 although that is 00:19:05.860 --> 00:19:06.080 true. 00:19:06.360 --> 00:19:07.000 But it's more 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.900 about you 00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:08.580 and me 00:19:08.580 --> 00:19:10.200 becoming part 00:19:10.200 --> 00:19:10.799 of his life. 00:19:12.600 --> 00:19:12.960 And so, 00:19:13.860 --> 00:19:14.559 his resurrection 00:19:14.559 --> 00:19:15.259 was not meant 00:19:15.259 --> 00:19:16.019 simply to all 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:16.580 his disciples. 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:17.240 It was not 00:19:17.240 --> 00:19:17.880 by any means 00:19:17.880 --> 00:19:18.779 like the latest 00:19:18.779 --> 00:19:20.120 and biggest 00:19:20.120 --> 00:19:20.759 stunt that he 00:19:20.759 --> 00:19:21.420 had ever pulled 00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:21.920 off like a 00:19:21.920 --> 00:19:22.640 Houdini rising 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:23.200 out of the 00:19:23.200 --> 00:19:24.259 grave so that 00:19:24.259 --> 00:19:25.299 finally they 00:19:25.299 --> 00:19:26.059 will believe. 00:19:26.259 --> 00:19:26.840 After three 00:19:26.840 --> 00:19:27.600 years of doubt, 00:19:27.960 --> 00:19:28.240 fear, 00:19:28.460 --> 00:19:29.120 they will believe. 00:19:30.400 --> 00:19:30.700 No. 00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:32.319 Jesus died 00:19:32.319 --> 00:19:33.960 and was 00:19:33.960 --> 00:19:34.480 resurrected 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:35.559 because it was 00:19:35.559 --> 00:19:36.200 the only way 00:19:36.200 --> 00:19:36.720 for us, 00:19:36.819 --> 00:19:37.299 the condemned, 00:19:37.539 --> 00:19:38.120 to be saved. 00:19:38.779 --> 00:19:39.080 And John 00:19:39.079 --> 00:19:39.439 says, 00:19:39.819 --> 00:19:40.220 he who 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:40.720 believes in 00:19:40.720 --> 00:19:41.119 the Son, 00:19:41.299 --> 00:19:41.699 in Jesus, 00:19:41.879 --> 00:19:42.379 has life. 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:43.259 And he who 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:43.619 does not 00:19:43.619 --> 00:19:44.199 believe is 00:19:44.199 --> 00:19:45.179 already condemned. 00:19:46.339 --> 00:19:47.039 Jesus came 00:19:47.039 --> 00:19:47.679 and died 00:19:47.679 --> 00:19:48.039 and was 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:48.519 resurrected 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.460 so we can 00:19:49.460 --> 00:19:50.279 have not 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:50.699 only new 00:19:50.699 --> 00:19:51.220 life but 00:19:51.220 --> 00:19:51.619 a new 00:19:51.619 --> 00:19:51.960 meaning, 00:19:52.379 --> 00:19:53.379 to be his 00:19:53.379 --> 00:19:54.159 ambassadors in 00:19:54.159 --> 00:19:54.559 the world. 00:19:55.419 --> 00:19:55.839 And second, 00:19:56.659 --> 00:19:57.220 we come to 00:19:57.220 --> 00:19:57.759 the meaning 00:19:57.759 --> 00:19:58.199 of the word 00:19:58.199 --> 00:19:58.599 life. 00:19:59.899 --> 00:20:01.419 We often, 00:20:01.939 --> 00:20:02.879 for many 00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:03.319 reasons, 00:20:03.579 --> 00:20:04.059 misinterpret 00:20:04.059 --> 00:20:04.899 that word 00:20:04.899 --> 00:20:05.079 too. 00:20:06.519 --> 00:20:07.339 We think 00:20:07.339 --> 00:20:08.379 that Jesus 00:20:08.380 --> 00:20:08.780 came, 00:20:09.320 --> 00:20:09.760 died, 00:20:10.400 --> 00:20:10.580 was 00:20:10.580 --> 00:20:11.000 resurrected. 00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:11.780 So if we 00:20:11.780 --> 00:20:12.320 believe this 00:20:12.320 --> 00:20:12.760 confession, 00:20:13.140 --> 00:20:13.740 when we 00:20:13.740 --> 00:20:13.920 die, 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:14.380 we go to 00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:14.640 heaven. 00:20:16.040 --> 00:20:16.780 That's true. 00:20:17.140 --> 00:20:17.680 But that's 00:20:17.680 --> 00:20:18.200 only a very 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:19.300 small part of 00:20:19.300 --> 00:20:19.660 what Jesus 00:20:19.660 --> 00:20:20.340 came to do 00:20:20.340 --> 00:20:21.080 and not even 00:20:21.080 --> 00:20:21.440 the most 00:20:21.440 --> 00:20:22.160 important one. 00:20:22.800 --> 00:20:23.320 He didn't 00:20:23.320 --> 00:20:23.980 come to give 00:20:23.980 --> 00:20:24.620 us life after 00:20:24.620 --> 00:20:24.960 death. 00:20:26.080 --> 00:20:26.920 He came to 00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:27.240 give us 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:29.400 life after 00:20:29.400 --> 00:20:29.960 death in 00:20:29.960 --> 00:20:30.520 this life, 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:31.540 which is, 00:20:32.320 --> 00:20:32.720 when he 00:20:32.720 --> 00:20:33.040 came, 00:20:33.800 --> 00:20:34.340 you became 00:20:34.340 --> 00:20:34.580 new. 00:20:35.060 --> 00:20:35.560 When he 00:20:35.560 --> 00:20:35.980 comes into 00:20:35.980 --> 00:20:36.440 your life, 00:20:36.660 --> 00:20:37.180 you're a new 00:20:37.180 --> 00:20:37.500 being, 00:20:38.140 --> 00:20:38.680 and now 00:20:38.680 --> 00:20:39.480 you're going 00:20:39.480 --> 00:20:39.820 to serve 00:20:39.820 --> 00:20:40.840 him in 00:20:40.840 --> 00:20:41.360 whatever you 00:20:41.360 --> 00:20:41.580 do, 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:42.560 in the way 00:20:42.560 --> 00:20:42.980 you live. 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:43.740 So it's 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.259 not about 00:20:44.259 --> 00:20:44.680 what you 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:45.080 do when 00:20:45.080 --> 00:20:45.519 you die 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.120 in a 00:20:46.120 --> 00:20:46.680 disembodied 00:20:46.680 --> 00:20:47.140 state in 00:20:47.140 --> 00:20:47.380 heaven, 00:20:47.660 --> 00:20:48.080 but it's 00:20:48.080 --> 00:20:48.539 about what 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:48.980 you do 00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:49.600 as you 00:20:49.600 --> 00:20:49.960 live for 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:50.980 him on 00:20:50.980 --> 00:20:51.400 this earth. 00:20:53.620 --> 00:20:54.360 When Jesus 00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:55.539 breathed on 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:56.180 the apostles 00:20:56.180 --> 00:20:57.259 that night, 00:20:57.799 --> 00:20:58.400 he breathed 00:20:58.400 --> 00:20:58.980 on the rest 00:20:58.980 --> 00:20:59.580 of us as 00:20:59.580 --> 00:20:59.980 a church. 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:01.440 And you 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:01.820 know when 00:21:01.820 --> 00:21:03.700 exactly that 00:21:03.700 --> 00:21:04.440 thing happened 00:21:04.440 --> 00:21:05.060 for the first 00:21:05.060 --> 00:21:05.320 time? 00:21:05.319 --> 00:21:05.339 Adam, 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:07.039 and in 00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.379 the same 00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:07.659 way, 00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:08.579 when God 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:08.980 created 00:21:08.980 --> 00:21:09.339 Adam, 00:21:09.879 --> 00:21:10.519 he breathed 00:21:10.519 --> 00:21:11.079 on him, 00:21:11.500 --> 00:21:12.379 says Genesis 00:21:12.379 --> 00:21:13.000 chapter 2 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:13.539 verse 7. 00:21:14.200 --> 00:21:14.799 He breathed 00:21:14.799 --> 00:21:16.359 on him and 00:21:16.359 --> 00:21:16.799 gave Adam 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.319 new life, 00:21:17.559 --> 00:21:17.819 and Adam 00:21:17.819 --> 00:21:18.319 became his 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:18.879 representative 00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:19.519 on earth. 00:21:20.159 --> 00:21:21.639 Adam then 00:21:21.639 --> 00:21:23.379 reneged his 00:21:23.379 --> 00:21:24.279 status because 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:24.879 of his sin, 00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:26.319 and he lost 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:27.139 his status as 00:21:27.139 --> 00:21:28.019 God's ambassador. 00:21:29.019 --> 00:21:29.319 And now 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:29.960 Jesus says, 00:21:30.220 --> 00:21:30.679 when I breathe 00:21:30.679 --> 00:21:31.000 on you, 00:21:31.359 --> 00:21:31.819 you are the 00:21:31.819 --> 00:21:32.200 new Adam, 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:32.939 you are the 00:21:32.939 --> 00:21:33.579 new humanity, 00:21:33.579 --> 00:21:34.579 and it's 00:21:34.579 --> 00:21:34.980 your mission 00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:35.439 to change 00:21:35.439 --> 00:21:35.919 the world. 00:21:37.819 --> 00:21:38.399 So what 00:21:38.399 --> 00:21:38.960 do I learn 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:39.740 personally, 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:40.359 you and 00:21:40.359 --> 00:21:40.539 me? 00:21:41.359 --> 00:21:41.879 How do we 00:21:41.879 --> 00:21:42.319 apply this 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:42.559 in our 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:42.759 life? 00:21:42.819 --> 00:21:42.939 Well, 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:43.359 first of 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:43.579 all, 00:21:45.019 --> 00:21:45.439 doubts and 00:21:45.439 --> 00:21:45.839 fears are 00:21:45.839 --> 00:21:46.279 part of the 00:21:46.279 --> 00:21:46.980 human condition. 00:21:47.859 --> 00:21:48.259 Each one 00:21:48.259 --> 00:21:48.819 of us often 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:49.299 identifies 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:50.159 themselves as 00:21:50.159 --> 00:21:51.720 Thomas, 00:21:52.419 --> 00:21:52.980 or as the 00:21:52.980 --> 00:21:53.299 apostles. 00:21:53.480 --> 00:21:53.859 We have our 00:21:53.859 --> 00:21:54.139 doubts, 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:54.619 we have our 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:54.919 fears, 00:21:55.079 --> 00:21:55.299 and we 00:21:55.299 --> 00:21:57.220 think we 00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:58.079 are hypocrites, 00:21:58.480 --> 00:21:59.099 and we feel 00:21:59.099 --> 00:21:59.679 as if we are 00:21:59.679 --> 00:22:00.699 not ready to 00:22:00.699 --> 00:22:01.039 serve the 00:22:01.039 --> 00:22:01.240 Lord, 00:22:01.500 --> 00:22:02.939 nor does 00:22:02.940 --> 00:22:03.200 the Lord 00:22:03.200 --> 00:22:03.580 want to 00:22:03.580 --> 00:22:03.940 use us. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:04.299 In fact, 00:22:04.340 --> 00:22:04.840 sometimes we 00:22:04.840 --> 00:22:05.259 doubt the 00:22:05.259 --> 00:22:05.920 Lord himself. 00:22:07.340 --> 00:22:07.680 And yet, 00:22:07.900 --> 00:22:08.259 remember, 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:08.840 doubts and 00:22:08.840 --> 00:22:10.299 fears are 00:22:10.299 --> 00:22:10.680 part of 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:11.120 your human 00:22:11.120 --> 00:22:11.580 condition, 00:22:12.539 --> 00:22:13.160 and it's 00:22:13.160 --> 00:22:13.539 not that 00:22:13.539 --> 00:22:13.860 when you 00:22:13.860 --> 00:22:14.240 believe, 00:22:14.440 --> 00:22:15.240 Jesus dispels 00:22:15.240 --> 00:22:15.759 them forever, 00:22:16.480 --> 00:22:17.180 but it's 00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:17.799 that when we 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:18.220 believe, 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:19.240 Jesus is 00:22:19.240 --> 00:22:19.980 always there 00:22:19.980 --> 00:22:21.100 to make 00:22:21.100 --> 00:22:22.080 us not 00:22:22.080 --> 00:22:22.860 stumble over 00:22:22.860 --> 00:22:23.140 them, 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.320 but overcome 00:22:24.320 --> 00:22:25.120 each and 00:22:25.120 --> 00:22:25.720 single time 00:22:25.720 --> 00:22:26.400 in his 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:26.820 strength. 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:28.900 And second, 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:29.440 doubts and 00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:29.920 fears were 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:30.779 experienced by 00:22:30.779 --> 00:22:31.660 Jesus' 00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:32.519 closest friends, 00:22:32.519 --> 00:22:32.940 and that's 00:22:32.940 --> 00:22:33.420 why this 00:22:33.420 --> 00:22:35.160 event is 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:35.539 mentioned. 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:37.200 If they 00:22:37.200 --> 00:22:37.539 were not 00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:37.940 immune, 00:22:38.700 --> 00:22:39.099 but God 00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:39.879 still comforted 00:22:39.879 --> 00:22:40.099 them, 00:22:40.359 --> 00:22:40.799 is he not 00:22:40.799 --> 00:22:41.119 going to do 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:41.440 the same 00:22:41.440 --> 00:22:41.859 for us? 00:22:43.339 --> 00:22:43.700 You see, 00:22:44.359 --> 00:22:44.759 Thomas, 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:45.920 I'm sure, 00:22:46.000 --> 00:22:46.660 even to the 00:22:46.660 --> 00:22:47.039 end of his 00:22:47.039 --> 00:22:47.259 life, 00:22:47.319 --> 00:22:47.500 would have 00:22:47.500 --> 00:22:47.839 had his 00:22:47.839 --> 00:22:48.160 doubts, 00:22:48.240 --> 00:22:48.779 his fears. 00:22:49.379 --> 00:22:49.680 You know 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:49.980 what he 00:22:49.980 --> 00:22:50.259 did? 00:22:50.519 --> 00:22:51.059 According to 00:22:51.059 --> 00:22:51.639 church history, 00:22:51.720 --> 00:22:52.220 he traveled 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:53.519 for 2,500 00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:54.960 miles all 00:22:54.960 --> 00:22:55.339 the way from 00:22:55.339 --> 00:22:55.879 Israel to 00:22:55.879 --> 00:22:56.879 India to 00:22:56.879 --> 00:22:57.480 a different 00:22:57.480 --> 00:22:57.839 nation, 00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:58.279 a pagan 00:22:58.279 --> 00:22:58.700 nation. 00:22:59.079 --> 00:22:59.440 He didn't 00:22:59.440 --> 00:22:59.799 know their 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:00.220 language, 00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:01.059 and he died 00:23:01.059 --> 00:23:01.660 there as a 00:23:01.660 --> 00:23:01.920 martyr. 00:23:02.519 --> 00:23:03.099 And there 00:23:03.099 --> 00:23:03.339 is a 00:23:03.339 --> 00:23:04.000 church since 00:23:04.000 --> 00:23:04.519 that time 00:23:04.519 --> 00:23:05.639 that identifies 00:23:05.639 --> 00:23:06.539 itself with 00:23:06.539 --> 00:23:06.879 Thomas. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:08.940 Why did he 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:09.379 do that? 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.740 Because he 00:23:10.740 --> 00:23:11.420 knew that 00:23:11.420 --> 00:23:11.879 death was 00:23:11.879 --> 00:23:12.220 not the 00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:12.460 end. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:13.819 He didn't 00:23:13.819 --> 00:23:14.379 make money, 00:23:14.920 --> 00:23:15.639 he didn't 00:23:15.639 --> 00:23:17.039 become famous, 00:23:17.139 --> 00:23:17.480 he didn't 00:23:17.480 --> 00:23:18.000 live to a 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.460 ripe old 00:23:18.460 --> 00:23:18.900 age. 00:23:19.460 --> 00:23:19.879 From that 00:23:19.879 --> 00:23:20.440 night on, 00:23:20.500 --> 00:23:20.660 though, 00:23:20.920 --> 00:23:21.400 Thomas did 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:21.799 not allow 00:23:21.799 --> 00:23:22.240 his doubts 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.599 to rule 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.119 his life, 00:23:23.599 --> 00:23:24.200 but Jesus, 00:23:24.700 --> 00:23:25.279 the resurrected 00:23:25.279 --> 00:23:25.740 Christ. 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:27.639 And so, 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.079 therefore, 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:28.740 you and I 00:23:28.740 --> 00:23:29.000 have an 00:23:29.000 --> 00:23:29.639 important place 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:30.080 in history. 00:23:30.800 --> 00:23:31.400 We have 00:23:31.400 --> 00:23:31.800 a unique 00:23:31.800 --> 00:23:32.380 opportunity 00:23:32.380 --> 00:23:34.180 today to 00:23:34.180 --> 00:23:34.580 change the 00:23:34.580 --> 00:23:34.880 world. 00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:35.540 Yeah, 00:23:35.600 --> 00:23:35.900 I know, 00:23:35.940 --> 00:23:36.360 it's funny, 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:36.620 right? 00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:37.660 We, 00:23:37.820 --> 00:23:38.120 with our 00:23:38.120 --> 00:23:38.420 doubts, 00:23:38.520 --> 00:23:38.820 with our 00:23:38.820 --> 00:23:39.160 fears, 00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:40.320 with our 00:23:40.320 --> 00:23:40.740 weaknesses, 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.259 how can 00:23:41.259 --> 00:23:42.240 God use 00:23:42.240 --> 00:23:42.440 us? 00:23:42.540 --> 00:23:42.660 Well, 00:23:42.720 --> 00:23:42.940 you know, 00:23:43.060 --> 00:23:43.500 guess what? 00:23:43.580 --> 00:23:44.240 That's exactly 00:23:44.240 --> 00:23:44.680 what Jesus 00:23:44.680 --> 00:23:45.460 did with 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.740 12 ordinary 00:23:46.740 --> 00:23:47.140 men, 00:23:47.460 --> 00:23:48.020 Paul included. 00:23:48.860 --> 00:23:49.400 If before 00:23:49.400 --> 00:23:49.759 you thought 00:23:49.759 --> 00:23:50.080 that your 00:23:50.080 --> 00:23:50.420 life and 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:50.759 testimony 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.500 didn't count 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:51.800 or was 00:23:51.800 --> 00:23:52.240 unimportant, 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:52.960 think again. 00:23:53.840 --> 00:23:54.280 Within the 00:23:54.280 --> 00:23:54.500 Western 00:23:54.500 --> 00:23:55.259 civilization, 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:56.600 a great 00:23:56.600 --> 00:23:57.060 clash is 00:23:57.060 --> 00:23:57.580 going on. 00:23:57.579 --> 00:23:58.240 It is 00:23:58.240 --> 00:23:59.079 about racism, 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:00.039 hatred to 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.679 fellow humans, 00:24:00.919 --> 00:24:01.399 political 00:24:01.399 --> 00:24:02.199 differences that 00:24:02.199 --> 00:24:02.559 lead to 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:03.339 demonization of 00:24:03.339 --> 00:24:03.740 the other, 00:24:04.220 --> 00:24:04.960 cancel culture, 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:05.779 failure to 00:24:05.779 --> 00:24:06.199 listen to 00:24:06.199 --> 00:24:06.740 one another, 00:24:07.159 --> 00:24:07.679 protests, 00:24:08.139 --> 00:24:08.460 fears. 00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:09.980 As if that 00:24:09.980 --> 00:24:10.639 weren't enough, 00:24:10.759 --> 00:24:11.279 the coronavirus 00:24:11.279 --> 00:24:12.220 pandemic has 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:12.699 changed the 00:24:12.699 --> 00:24:13.259 world forever. 00:24:14.779 --> 00:24:15.179 We've had, 00:24:15.559 --> 00:24:16.000 right now, 00:24:16.059 --> 00:24:16.359 we're going 00:24:16.359 --> 00:24:16.699 through the 00:24:16.699 --> 00:24:17.259 worst crisis 00:24:17.259 --> 00:24:17.819 in a hundred 00:24:17.819 --> 00:24:18.240 years, 00:24:18.319 --> 00:24:18.539 whether 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.099 economically, 00:24:19.299 --> 00:24:19.659 politically, 00:24:19.960 --> 00:24:21.000 or health-wise. 00:24:22.339 --> 00:24:23.000 It's a 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.539 fearful new 00:24:23.539 --> 00:24:23.819 world, 00:24:23.939 --> 00:24:24.559 but you know 00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:24.799 what? 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:25.539 Our call as 00:24:25.539 --> 00:24:26.639 Christians is 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:27.100 to change 00:24:27.100 --> 00:24:27.560 it once 00:24:27.560 --> 00:24:27.820 more. 00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:28.560 So like 00:24:28.560 --> 00:24:29.040 Thomas and 00:24:29.040 --> 00:24:29.420 the other 00:24:29.420 --> 00:24:29.940 disciples, 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:30.920 let's do 00:24:30.920 --> 00:24:32.020 it excitedly, 00:24:32.320 --> 00:24:33.320 not in our 00:24:33.320 --> 00:24:33.640 power, 00:24:34.100 --> 00:24:34.620 but in the 00:24:34.620 --> 00:24:34.940 name of 00:24:34.940 --> 00:24:35.780 Jesus and 00:24:35.780 --> 00:24:36.040 in the 00:24:36.040 --> 00:24:36.440 power of 00:24:36.440 --> 00:24:36.740 the Holy 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.100 Spirit. 00:24:38.300 --> 00:24:38.780 Let's 00:24:38.780 --> 00:24:38.960 pray. 00:24:40.160 --> 00:24:40.640 Lord, 00:24:40.780 --> 00:24:41.259 we have 00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:41.680 our doubts 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:42.240 and fears, 00:24:42.880 --> 00:24:43.600 so we 00:24:43.600 --> 00:24:44.020 come to 00:24:44.020 --> 00:24:45.100 you in 00:24:45.100 --> 00:24:45.720 this complicated 00:24:45.720 --> 00:24:46.259 life, 00:24:46.759 --> 00:24:47.759 so that 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:48.160 you will 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:48.720 allay those 00:24:48.720 --> 00:24:49.180 fears and 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:50.040 doubts by 00:24:50.040 --> 00:24:50.480 the power 00:24:50.480 --> 00:24:50.840 of the 00:24:50.840 --> 00:24:51.280 resurrected 00:24:51.280 --> 00:24:51.720 Jesus. 00:24:52.620 --> 00:24:52.980 Lord, 00:24:53.200 --> 00:24:54.120 we believe, 00:24:54.259 --> 00:24:55.220 but do 00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:56.000 help us in 00:24:56.000 --> 00:24:56.740 our unbelief. 00:24:57.700 --> 00:24:58.339 And while 00:24:58.339 --> 00:24:58.619 we are 00:24:58.619 --> 00:24:59.000 weak, 00:25:00.119 --> 00:25:00.680 let our 00:25:00.680 --> 00:25:01.299 testimony be 00:25:01.299 --> 00:25:01.839 strong for 00:25:01.839 --> 00:25:02.059 you, 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:02.480 so that 00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:02.960 we too, 00:25:03.519 --> 00:25:03.980 like those 00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:05.099 twelve illiterate 00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:05.460 apostles, 00:25:05.700 --> 00:25:06.960 two thousand 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:07.640 years ago, 00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:09.319 may be used 00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:09.839 by you to 00:25:09.839 --> 00:25:10.460 change the 00:25:10.460 --> 00:25:11.079 world by 00:25:11.079 --> 00:25:11.680 starting with 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:12.180 those around 00:25:12.180 --> 00:25:12.500 us. 00:25:12.720 --> 00:25:13.200 In Jesus' 00:25:13.440 --> 00:25:13.640 name, 00:25:13.880 --> 00:25:14.160 Amen.