WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.400 Amen. So we're going to think for a few moments about the seismic event of Easter. What do I mean by that? 00:00:11.400 --> 00:00:23.839 ! Well, think about an earthquake. An earthquake is a very dramatic event that causes everything to shake. An event that has a powerful impact. 00:00:23.839 --> 00:00:35.000 Matthew's Gospel records that at the time Jesus died and when Jesus rose, there was an earthquake. 00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:45.920 And so I was thinking about that and then I came across this from Tom Holland, who's one of the podcasters on The Rest is History, a Roman historian. 00:00:45.920 --> 00:01:00.240 They did a few episodes on Jesus, Messiah. And he said, it is clear that a seismic event happened in the first century and its reverberations are still felt today. 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:15.359 And he went further and he said, nothing, even closely resembling Christianity, would have happened unless the first generation of Christians believed a spectacular event had happened. 00:01:16.320 --> 00:01:24.800 So what is this seismic, spectacular event that took place in the first century? It is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 00:01:24.799 --> 00:01:50.219 Or perhaps better, it is the combined impact of the life and teaching of Jesus, together with his death on the cross, where he goes as a willing sacrifice, demonstrating a willingness to embrace death on behalf of his people, coupled with the events of Easter Sunday and the resurrection. 00:01:50.219 --> 00:01:58.920 And it's those events that have had this dramatic impact on believers on the world ever since. 00:02:00.459 --> 00:02:02.700 Earthquakes are measured with a seismograph. 00:02:03.659 --> 00:02:12.560 So after an earthquake, the instrument, which is now much more high tech, but it used to be just needle points, it would record ground movement. 00:02:13.060 --> 00:02:19.840 The needles would draw spikes and the level of the spikes would show the impact and the ferocity and intensity of the earthquake. 00:02:20.219 --> 00:02:26.800 It would locate both where an earthquake happened and the impact of the quake. 00:02:27.740 --> 00:02:32.620 And John chapter 20, in a sense, is like a seismograph record. 00:02:33.620 --> 00:02:38.159 It tells us, it locates the event of this great event. 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:43.400 It's in the empty tomb and the risen glorified Jesus. 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:47.219 And it traces for us, it traces for us the impact of that event. 00:02:47.340 --> 00:02:54.140 It traces the impact as people meet the risen Lord Jesus, an impact that continues to be felt today. 00:02:54.139 --> 00:03:03.299 So when you look at three features of that first few hours in the Sunday evening and then the week following, 00:03:04.479 --> 00:03:11.099 and we'll see the impact in terms of Jesus' resurrection bringing peace for troubled people, 00:03:13.000 --> 00:03:16.479 giving a sense of mission for fearful people, 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:21.539 and provoking worship for doubting people. 00:03:22.819 --> 00:03:27.039 So peace, followed by mission, followed by worship. 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:28.639 So let's begin thinking about peace. 00:03:28.799 --> 00:03:31.479 Consider again these disciples. 00:03:32.519 --> 00:03:37.780 Consider what's going on in their hearts that Sunday evening. 00:03:37.780 --> 00:03:44.099 There is grief in what they have witnessed happening to Jesus. 00:03:45.099 --> 00:03:47.139 They were there during His arrest. 00:03:48.180 --> 00:03:51.240 They saw at least something of the beatings and the mockery, 00:03:51.360 --> 00:03:53.240 and they saw Him hanging on the cross. 00:03:54.199 --> 00:03:56.860 They bore testimony to His death and to His burial. 00:03:58.979 --> 00:04:02.639 Couple that with the grief that they would undoubtedly experience, 00:04:02.819 --> 00:04:06.680 knowing that they had failed Jesus when He needed them most. 00:04:06.680 --> 00:04:10.760 So remember, there were three who were invited to watch and pray, 00:04:10.840 --> 00:04:11.840 and instead they slept. 00:04:12.580 --> 00:04:15.620 When Jesus was arrested, they all ran and left Him alone. 00:04:16.519 --> 00:04:21.420 And Peter, under pressure, denied knowing Jesus and being one of His followers. 00:04:22.699 --> 00:04:26.280 And as if that wasn't enough, there is also that sense of grief that we get 00:04:26.280 --> 00:04:29.920 in the accounts of the Gospels at the sense of hope that they have lost, 00:04:29.960 --> 00:04:31.259 because Jesus has died. 00:04:31.259 --> 00:04:38.920 So Luke records a couple of Jesus' followers on the road to Emmaus. 00:04:39.339 --> 00:04:40.420 Jesus comes to them. 00:04:40.480 --> 00:04:41.560 They don't know who He is. 00:04:42.060 --> 00:04:43.360 And they say in conversation, 00:04:43.500 --> 00:04:46.699 well, we hoped He was the one to redeem Israel. 00:04:47.420 --> 00:04:48.199 The implication? 00:04:49.099 --> 00:04:51.339 Hope is gone, because the Redeemer has died. 00:04:51.339 --> 00:04:56.779 How can the Messiah suffer and die was a question they had always wrestled with, 00:04:57.079 --> 00:04:59.399 and now they are still living with a sense of grief, 00:04:59.399 --> 00:05:03.319 because they think the movement is gone and hope is lost. 00:05:04.899 --> 00:05:10.239 So that first Sunday evening, there is a real storm of emotions going on in their hearts. 00:05:10.339 --> 00:05:13.379 They are deeply troubled people. 00:05:13.379 --> 00:05:22.759 But into that scene once again, the risen Jesus appears and three times speaks peace. 00:05:23.980 --> 00:05:28.399 Again, a demonstration of the wonderful love, the patience, the compassion of Jesus. 00:05:28.519 --> 00:05:30.339 He doesn't come pointing His finger. 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:32.800 Why did you run? 00:05:33.100 --> 00:05:34.259 Why did you abandon me? 00:05:34.540 --> 00:05:36.439 He speaks peace. 00:05:36.439 --> 00:05:37.019 Why did you get peace? 00:05:38.719 --> 00:05:44.740 Verse 19, when the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, 00:05:44.740 --> 00:05:46.959 Jesus came and stood among them and said, 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:49.720 Peace be with you. 00:05:50.160 --> 00:05:52.120 Verse 21, Jesus said, 00:05:52.259 --> 00:05:53.459 Peace be with you. 00:05:53.779 --> 00:05:56.459 As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:05:58.399 And again in verse 26, 00:05:58.480 --> 00:06:00.980 when they're still behind locked doors, 00:06:01.139 --> 00:06:02.360 Jesus came and said, 00:06:02.519 --> 00:06:04.959 Peace be with you. 00:06:05.519 --> 00:06:05.980 Peace. 00:06:06.439 --> 00:06:13.480 I am really alive. You can have peace because your failure is not the final word on your life. 00:06:14.319 --> 00:06:21.180 There is peace because your life has purpose. And there is that promise that Jesus would always be 00:06:21.180 --> 00:06:28.199 with his followers by the Spirit. There is peace that Jesus gives. He'd made that promise 00:06:28.199 --> 00:06:35.240 at least a couple of times. So, for example, John 16, verse 33, shortly before his arrest, 00:06:35.240 --> 00:06:42.620 I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, 00:06:42.740 --> 00:06:50.319 but take heart, I have overcome the world. Now he has overcome. Now he will be the source of their 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:57.019 peace. Now he will make good on that promise. These words become a partner to his words on the cross, 00:06:57.019 --> 00:07:04.720 it is finished. Jesus has come on a mission, a mission to make peace between God and humanity. 00:07:05.240 --> 00:07:11.660 By way of sacrifice. That we would be reconciled by the way of the cross. And Jesus, now that he has 00:07:11.660 --> 00:07:20.360 finished that work, can bring that peace to troubled hearts and troubled lives. Notice that John again 00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:27.100 records for us that this is happening on the first day of the week. John reminds us over and over, 00:07:27.100 --> 00:07:35.220 by God's design, Easter Sunday represents a new beginning, new creation. Jesus' resurrection is 00:07:35.220 --> 00:07:39.500 the start of new creation life. Paul will speak about him as the first fruits. 00:07:39.500 --> 00:07:50.019 And it's a new beginning and there's new life because Jesus has done what he came to do. He has made peace 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:56.459 by his blood shed on the cross. He is the answer to the great human problem that emerged all the way back 00:07:56.459 --> 00:08:05.420 at the beginning in Genesis 3. Human guilt and human sin. Adam and Eve believing the lie, thinking badly of God's 00:08:05.420 --> 00:08:13.340 character, turning their back on God. And God's answer all the way in Genesis 3 and indeed all the way back 00:08:13.340 --> 00:08:19.580 in eternity past, was that he would provide a sacrifice to make peace. There was the promise, 00:08:19.980 --> 00:08:24.139 even to Adam and Eve, of one who would come who would suffer in order to save us. 00:08:24.139 --> 00:08:34.299 The only way to true peace, to have peace with God, to have peace of conscience, to have true peace with 00:08:34.299 --> 00:08:40.939 others, is through the finished work of Jesus. And Jesus, having done his work, comes to his disciples 00:08:40.939 --> 00:08:53.179 and brings peace. This word peace, the Hebrew word shalom, is much more than a greeting. Sometimes it's used 00:08:53.179 --> 00:09:03.500 as a greeting and it's much more than the ending of wars. It's the idea of wholeness and flourishing. 00:09:04.779 --> 00:09:12.379 It has the idea of knowing that we are at home and we belong and we're part of the family. There's that 00:09:12.379 --> 00:09:20.299 deep sense of well-being. The complete reconciliation that Jesus brings through his work on the cross 00:09:20.299 --> 00:09:29.819 brings a complete flourishing to his people. So, we can have this deep and lasting peace because 00:09:30.620 --> 00:09:37.099 Jesus has gone through that Easter journey. He has died and he has risen again. He has put the 00:09:37.099 --> 00:09:43.979 relationship between us and God right. And so, Jesus continues to speak peace to troubled hearts. 00:09:43.980 --> 00:09:52.620 I am doing all things well. I am the one who can make you whole. I am the one who will bring you home. 00:09:53.420 --> 00:10:00.940 I will bring you into what you and I were created for. That deep peace, that deep rest of life with God. 00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:09.340 When we think about this message that Jesus brings, I think we recognize what a gift this is for the times 00:10:09.340 --> 00:10:15.820 in which we live, often known as the age of anxiety. There are so many reports that say we've never had it so good 00:10:15.820 --> 00:10:24.379 in terms of our possessions, but yet there is much less happiness. We have a greater sense of freedom. We can be 00:10:24.379 --> 00:10:29.740 much more mobile and travel and change our jobs however many times we want, but there is at the same time 00:10:30.460 --> 00:10:39.180 less satisfaction and greater anxiety. For many people, they're living with a sense of guilt, but there is nowhere to go 00:10:39.340 --> 00:10:49.100 with it. And into that confusion, Jesus would come and speak peace. In our own stories of faith, I wonder how 00:10:49.100 --> 00:10:56.379 many of us have discovered this wonderful gift. It's in the storms of life that we become profoundly aware 00:10:56.940 --> 00:11:05.980 of how significant it is to have God with us, to have Jesus come and to say, do not fear, I am with you, 00:11:05.980 --> 00:11:10.460 but I am with you, but I am with you. And I think that's the only thing that we can do in the past. 00:11:10.460 --> 00:11:18.779 Jesus brings good news in His death and resurrection, and because the sin barrier that separates us from 00:11:18.779 --> 00:11:26.860 God has been broken down by God's grace, we are truly reconciled and we can live by faith each day enjoying 00:11:26.860 --> 00:11:39.019 God's peace. So, the impact of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus is peace for troubled people. 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:46.620 But it's more than that. As we go on in the story, we see it's also mission for fearful people. 00:11:47.820 --> 00:11:52.700 I think one of the vital questions that I guess historians, church historians love to wrestle with, 00:11:52.700 --> 00:11:59.020 is how do you explain the growth of the church? It's a really interesting question. I think it's 00:11:59.020 --> 00:12:03.820 a really interesting question. You know, how do you move from a small number of believers, so small that 00:12:03.820 --> 00:12:10.700 they can fit into a single upper room, that they can within just a few centuries go global and come to 00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:19.580 dominate the Roman Empire? And all of that in the context of conflict and battle of frequent persecutions 00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:28.700 from the Roman Empire in those early days. How did it happen? Operating as a minority, operating as 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:36.860 exiles, being so different from the society around them, but somehow turning this society upside down by 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:44.060 preaching the risen Jesus as Lord, being willing to live for Him and to die for Him. How do we explain it? 00:12:44.059 --> 00:12:49.899 And when we come to a text like this, the question becomes even more pressing because we look and we 00:12:49.899 --> 00:13:00.459 think, well, the raw materials are not very promising. Here is a group of believers. Here are the leaders of 00:13:00.459 --> 00:13:09.739 the church. Verse 19, where do we find them? We find them with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders. 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:20.060 And it's the same again in verse 26. They are in hiding, they are fearful. Now, Jesus said to them, 00:13:20.060 --> 00:13:28.060 you are the light of the world, but the disciples are trying to hide their light under a basket behind 00:13:28.700 --> 00:13:37.580 closed doors. So, what is the event that is going to shake the church with sufficient impact that it will 00:13:37.580 --> 00:13:46.620 move them out to boldly proclaim Jesus as Lord, to live for Him in such a way that these communities of 00:13:46.620 --> 00:13:54.940 believers would be recognized as the people of Christ and be so different that they would draw all kinds of 00:13:54.940 --> 00:14:01.100 people into that community and into faith in Jesus? What explains it? 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:10.940 The only plausible explanation is the resurrection, that Jesus truly rose from the dead, 00:14:11.740 --> 00:14:18.060 and the impact of that as they believed then that all His promises, all that He said about Himself were 00:14:18.060 --> 00:14:24.620 true, that He is the ultimate good news for the world. That and that alone explains the existence, 00:14:24.620 --> 00:14:33.340 never mind the growth of the church. And so, here we come to this point where the risen Jesus comes and 00:14:33.340 --> 00:14:39.019 speaks with them and He shares three truths about the mission of the church, which are hugely significant 00:14:39.019 --> 00:14:48.299 then and for us today. Perhaps we can identify with the disciples having that sense of being fearful about 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:56.859 mission, perhaps enjoying the comfort and security of being behind closed doors. What is it that will move us 00:14:58.139 --> 00:15:07.819 into this community, into this city with a sense of mission for Jesus? Well, let's look at verses 21 to 23. 00:15:07.820 --> 00:15:16.940 After Jesus showed them His hands and His side, the disciples were overjoyed. When they saw the Lord again, 00:15:16.940 --> 00:15:26.300 Jesus said, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. So, here's the first important thing. 00:15:26.300 --> 00:15:33.980 It's Jesus' authority. It's this idea of sending. So, notice first that Jesus was sent by the Father. 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:42.139 Jesus was the ultimate man on a mission. He understood His purpose. And so, we see Him always obeying, 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:47.500 always seeking the glory of His Father, coming deliberately to complete His task, which is to 00:15:48.060 --> 00:15:54.379 live a perfect life and then to suffer and die in the place of sinners that we might be forgiven and saved. 00:15:54.379 --> 00:16:03.019 And now, this one who was sent by the Father says, I am sending you. And so, the disciples and the church, 00:16:03.740 --> 00:16:11.899 we go under the authority of Jesus our King. And that's important. I think it's important in our 00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:16.379 age because sometimes we can have the impression that if we share the gospel with someone, it might 00:16:16.379 --> 00:16:21.259 seem like we are being intolerant. You know, everyone's entitled to their own belief, and that's true. 00:16:22.220 --> 00:16:29.179 But it's really important that we are faithful to King Jesus, who tells us to go and bring good news. 00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:35.579 But it also reminds us as well that Jesus is the one with authority in this mission. 00:16:36.139 --> 00:16:39.899 He is the one who will save people. He is the one who builds His church. 00:16:39.899 --> 00:16:45.980 He is the one who builds His church, our responsibility is to be faithful, to do what we are called to do, 00:16:46.699 --> 00:16:52.059 to use our spiritual gifts, to be committed to praying, to be committed to seeking the welfare of 00:16:52.059 --> 00:16:57.100 the church, to look to live as His witnesses, to tell others about His glory and His goodness. 00:16:57.100 --> 00:17:03.820 but Jesus has authority over the church and over the mission of the church and that's something 00:17:03.820 --> 00:17:08.740 that's really important I think when we think about the whole idea of mission so there's Jesus 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:18.039 authority the second thing that we see in verse 22 also essential is he talks about the spirit 00:17:18.039 --> 00:17:25.240 Jesus spirit and there's that idea of breathing verse 22 with that he breathed on them and said 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:34.720 receive the Holy Spirit this breathing seems to be some kind of like an acted sort of parable or a sign 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:41.740 I think taking us back to a couple of passages in the Old Testament one of which we read in Genesis 00:17:41.740 --> 00:17:50.140 2 if you know the account of creation God forms the man Adam from the ground and then he breathes 00:17:50.140 --> 00:17:59.140 life into the man our God is a life-giving God and then we read Ezekiel 37 God breathing life into the 00:17:59.140 --> 00:18:07.240 dry bones and so here we're being reminded that Jesus is the life-giving Lord and he gives life 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:13.460 by sending the spirit and we see what happens when the spirit comes in the book of Acts and in the 00:18:13.460 --> 00:18:23.900 history of the church and in our own lives that when the spirit comes he brings new birth when the spirit 00:18:23.900 --> 00:18:35.360 comes he brings new power when the spirit comes we enjoy the presence of Jesus and the father with us and 00:18:35.360 --> 00:18:41.720 we have this wonderful thing anticipated by Jesus that the same spirit that came and anointed Jesus at his 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:48.440 baptism the same spirit that filled and empowered the Lord Jesus to do his mission on earth is the same 00:18:48.440 --> 00:18:56.420 spirit that is now gifted to his people there's a wonderful promise for our mission when we feel 00:18:56.420 --> 00:19:03.200 fearful we don't do it in our own strength we do it in the strength that Jesus provides by the Spirit 00:19:03.200 --> 00:19:11.840 and the last thing about about mission here so it's the authority of Jesus there's the Spirit of Jesus 00:19:11.840 --> 00:19:20.819 but there's also the message of Jesus verse 23 if you forgive anyone's sins their sins are forgiven if you 00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:27.740 do not forgive them they are not forgiven this is all connected to the reality that these apostles 00:19:27.740 --> 00:19:35.460 are going to be sent out filled with the Spirit to proclaim the message of Jesus that Jesus is the 00:19:35.460 --> 00:19:44.259 promised King that his life was perfect that his death happened according to God's plan that he would 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:49.880 be that sacrifice that would bear away the sins of the world that his resurrection showed his victory and 00:19:49.880 --> 00:19:55.579 his vindication and that message and people's response to that repentance and faith would bring 00:19:55.579 --> 00:20:04.439 forgiveness so when he talks there about if you forgive anyone's sins their sins are forgiven that's 00:20:04.439 --> 00:20:11.359 speaking to their authority as those who would proclaim the gospel and that gospel that has the power to save 00:20:11.359 --> 00:20:16.419 and that forgiveness that comes if people believe their message 00:20:16.420 --> 00:20:27.240 so we see how significant the resurrection is for the mission of the church that seismic event has the 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:34.539 power to transform the hearts of the disciples from fear to joy but will also have that same power to propel 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:41.800 them out so in just a few short weeks they'll go from being those people are hiding behind locked doors to 00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:48.220 you just can't stop them talking they'll be behind different closed doors because they'll be thrown in 00:20:48.220 --> 00:20:54.619 prison but they'll still keep talking about Jesus and that's the story of the church ever since that when we 00:20:54.619 --> 00:21:01.779 really understand the glory of Jesus and we know we operate with his authority and with his power and then 00:21:01.779 --> 00:21:06.039 we'll proclaim his message and hearts and lives and communities are changed 00:21:06.039 --> 00:21:18.039 sometimes our involvement in mission radically changes our lives you know we know of people we support people 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:25.779 who are working in different parts of the world because they feel that that God has called them to go so 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:32.480 we support the reannuals and they zigzag around Latin America bringing the good news of Jesus but oftentimes 00:21:32.480 --> 00:21:42.620 it just involves us living our everyday lives but with new purpose that we go into each day in our family as 00:21:42.620 --> 00:21:51.900 we go to our workplace as we go to our schools as followers of Jesus where we want to represent him we want 00:21:51.900 --> 00:22:01.900 to bear witness that Jesus is alive and that Jesus transforms lives we act in a sense on mission as the church 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:17.320 gathers we represent a small community of heaven bound together with loyalty to Jesus a love for God our King so it binds 00:22:17.320 --> 00:22:24.759 the people of God together and then the church scatters in the weak and we're invited as Paul puts it to shine 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:32.140 shine like stars in the sky as we hold out the word of life so the resurrection 00:22:32.140 --> 00:22:41.759 has an ongoing impact in terms of mission for the people of God giving power to those of us who would 00:22:41.759 --> 00:22:50.759 ordinarily be fearful and the one last thing to see another effect of the resurrection 00:22:50.759 --> 00:23:01.279 is worship for doubting people there is an organization called the CS Lewis Institute and there's a lady 00:23:01.279 --> 00:23:09.660 there called Jana Harmon who has a podcast called side B stories and there's hundreds of episodes I think 00:23:09.660 --> 00:23:18.359 and she interviews people who are formerly atheists and she explores their movement to Christian faith 00:23:18.359 --> 00:23:24.839 and some of them are very prominent folks some of them are just regular church members and but there 00:23:24.839 --> 00:23:30.419 are certain common themes and that she identifies through all these hours and hours and hours of 00:23:30.419 --> 00:23:36.359 interviewing people like most of them it would have grown up with negative stereotypes a very negative 00:23:36.359 --> 00:23:41.939 view of the church for a great number of them it was a difficult life experience that persuaded them 00:23:41.940 --> 00:23:48.900 that God wasn't real many people had that view that faith was irrational was for you know a crutch for 00:23:48.900 --> 00:23:53.100 weak people they didn't really need God and most of the people and it's really interesting I think most of 00:23:53.100 --> 00:23:59.100 the people um on that podcast were not setting out to find God you know we hear of lots of people who are 00:23:59.100 --> 00:24:04.620 exploring um who you know kind of are looking for they would all testify to the fact that no they weren't 00:24:04.619 --> 00:24:13.439 looking for God was looking for them but another common feature in their stories was that sense of 00:24:13.439 --> 00:24:21.000 dissatisfaction you know even while people were having success while things were going well in their chosen 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:28.859 field there was a sense of dissatisfaction and Jana Harmon speaks about it as a disruptive longing 00:24:28.859 --> 00:24:37.319 something that's that's powerful enough to break in that says I need to re-examine my way of looking at 00:24:37.319 --> 00:24:43.500 the world I need to reconsider my previous beliefs and it's amazing to think about all these different 00:24:43.500 --> 00:24:50.399 stories different kinds of people and see some of those same themes and to recognize the mercy of God's 00:24:50.400 --> 00:25:01.980 providence when he breaks in to disrupt our old way of thinking to awaken in people a longing for something 00:25:01.980 --> 00:25:07.380 more and there's lots of ways that he does that and if we were to to go around the room and and if we 00:25:07.380 --> 00:25:13.740 were to think about our own experiences and how did we come to faith we would I expect imagine find lots of 00:25:13.740 --> 00:25:23.400 different ways that God interrupted and God sought us out God changed our previous ways of thinking 00:25:23.400 --> 00:25:32.460 in a sense is what we see happen with Thomas of course Thomas wasn't an atheist Thomas was a follower 00:25:32.460 --> 00:25:41.039 but Thomas had a very settled opinion that needed a dramatic disruption in order for him to move on in his 00:25:41.039 --> 00:25:49.259 faith verse 24 now Thomas also known as Didymus because he was a twin one of the twelve was not 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:54.420 with the disciples when Jesus came so the others the disciples told him we have seen the Lord so remember 00:25:54.420 --> 00:26:01.559 this morning we were thinking about John who wrote this apostle this this gospel he never saw the risen Lord 00:26:01.559 --> 00:26:07.559 Jesus before he believed he saw the evidence he saw the tomb was empty he saw the grave clothes he saw that 00:26:07.559 --> 00:26:13.740 the burial cloth was was empty he read the signs and he believed at that point then he would see the 00:26:13.740 --> 00:26:21.419 risen Lord Jesus later Thomas is different Thomas hears the report but he said to them unless I see the 00:26:21.419 --> 00:26:28.139 nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were and put my hand into his side I will not 00:26:28.140 --> 00:26:35.520 believe unless I have this physical evidence this personal experience I will never believe 00:26:35.520 --> 00:26:45.180 well we move on in a week and we see the merciful providence of the Lord Jesus is he disrupts Thomas's 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:54.060 thinking he intervenes in this unwillingness to believe in a very dramatic way a week later his disciples 00:26:54.059 --> 00:26:59.519 were in the house again and Thomas was with them though the doors were locked Jesus came and stood 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:06.659 among them and said peace be with you then he said to Thomas put your finger here see my hands reach out 00:27:06.659 --> 00:27:14.179 your hand and put it into my side stop doubting and believe put your finger here Thomas if you really need 00:27:14.179 --> 00:27:21.659 proof and more importantly put your faith here stop doubting trust the message trust the truth of the 00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:29.460 eyewitnesses and trust now what you're seeing with your own eyes and it's remarkable what happens next 00:27:29.460 --> 00:27:38.160 Thomas immediately worships in a profound way Thomas said to my Lord and my God 00:27:38.160 --> 00:27:46.420 some people raise the question did Jesus ever claim to be God well here is a different way of looking at it 00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:53.900 here is a moment where Jesus is being worshipped as God and Jesus doesn't say Thomas that's inappropriate 00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:56.080 rather he praises his faith 00:27:56.080 --> 00:28:04.920 think about what it would take for a Jewish man to worship another man in the room as God 00:28:04.920 --> 00:28:08.620 he was raised on the Ten Commandments do not commit 00:28:08.619 --> 00:28:17.379 idolatry don't bow down to any other images blasphemy was worthy of death Jewish people didn't even take the name of 00:28:17.379 --> 00:28:24.099 God in their lips but here is Thomas in an instant as he sees the risen Lord Jesus and he falls and worship my Lord 00:28:24.099 --> 00:28:33.279 and my God that's a shockwave that's turning people's whole belief systems upside down in a moment and that spreads 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:38.279 to the same way to the same way to the same way to the same way to the same way to the same way to the same way 00:28:38.279 --> 00:28:48.319 he was persuaded that Jesus was guilty of blasphemy he was making his business as a hater of Jesus to try and destroy the church 00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:58.000 Jesus disrupted his beliefs Jesus met him on the road to Damascus and maybe 20 or 30 years after the events 00:28:58.000 --> 00:29:04.619 Paul is already describing Jesus in exalted terms he's the son of God he's the Lord he's the promised 00:29:04.619 --> 00:29:15.640 Savior and that's the kind of impact that comes as people encounter the risen Lord Jesus by faith 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:22.079 whereas perhaps before we may have thought of him as a wise teacher or a good man 00:29:22.079 --> 00:29:31.619 he you know lots of good sayings all of a sudden by the work of the Spirit we recognize he's none other 00:29:31.619 --> 00:29:39.839 than the Son of God and the Savior of the world and I imagine in our circles we we can think of people 00:29:39.839 --> 00:29:45.539 in our lives and we think that's really surprising that that person became a follower of Jesus lots of 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:53.839 really unlikely converts because God loves to do that for his own glory to disrupt beliefs and to draw people to faith 00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:55.819 in the risen Lord Jesus 00:29:55.819 --> 00:30:01.960 now notice the significance of what Jesus says to Thomas next in verse 29 00:30:01.960 --> 00:30:08.319 and this is important for us in our day Jesus told him because you have seen me you have believed 00:30:08.319 --> 00:30:11.920 blessed are those who have not seen 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:14.159 and yet have believed 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:23.779 where do we get this blessing from God where do we have this joy of knowing Jesus and life with him all being well between us and God 00:30:23.779 --> 00:30:29.220 it's not notice what Jesus says it's not sharing the same experience as Thomas 00:30:29.220 --> 00:30:34.580 sort of seeing with our own eyes that the risen Lord Jesus but it's sharing the faith of Thomas 00:30:34.580 --> 00:30:42.100 and that's important I think when we ask the question well how how should we expect to encounter Jesus today 00:30:42.099 --> 00:30:48.879 you know should we expect your great visions and blinding lights and expect to see him appear in the sky 00:30:48.879 --> 00:30:53.719 and we recognize that that's not ordinarily what happens 00:30:53.719 --> 00:30:59.000 how did we come to encounter if you're a Christian how did you come to encounter 00:30:59.000 --> 00:31:02.779 Jesus as Lord and as God in his word 00:31:02.779 --> 00:31:04.619 as you read the Bible 00:31:04.619 --> 00:31:09.299 as you heard it preached in a church as you heard it shared by a friend 00:31:09.299 --> 00:31:14.839 it's the point that John's gospel keeps driving us towards 00:31:14.839 --> 00:31:18.559 it's to remind us of verse 31 again 00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:22.539 these things these signs including his death and resurrection 00:31:22.539 --> 00:31:23.399 are written 00:31:23.399 --> 00:31:25.719 that you may believe 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:29.799 that Jesus is the Messiah the Son of God 00:31:29.799 --> 00:31:31.860 and that by believing 00:31:31.860 --> 00:31:34.640 you may have life in his name 00:31:34.640 --> 00:31:36.039 John's whole gospel 00:31:36.039 --> 00:31:39.339 every paragraph that he writes down is 00:31:39.339 --> 00:31:41.900 is written with a set purpose 00:31:41.900 --> 00:31:44.680 to either persuade us or to assure us 00:31:44.680 --> 00:31:46.779 that Jesus really is the Son of God 00:31:46.779 --> 00:31:48.559 he really is the promised Savior 00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:51.600 that believing in him really does give life with God 00:31:51.600 --> 00:31:53.059 eternal life to come 00:31:53.059 --> 00:32:02.259 that the resurrection truly is that seismic spectacular event 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:07.399 that continues to shake and to transform lives 00:32:07.399 --> 00:32:09.599 and so we pray 00:32:09.599 --> 00:32:13.159 that the life transforming effects of the resurrection 00:32:13.159 --> 00:32:14.839 would continue to be felt 00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:16.460 in our own hearts 00:32:16.460 --> 00:32:18.240 in our church 00:32:18.240 --> 00:32:19.960 in our city 00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:22.359 and all around the world 00:32:22.359 --> 00:32:24.500 to his praise and glory 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:26.279 let's pray together 00:32:26.279 --> 00:32:31.000 Father again we thank you for this 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:33.539 eyewitness account of 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:36.479 that first Easter Sunday 00:32:36.479 --> 00:32:39.299 that first day of the week 00:32:39.299 --> 00:32:40.379 that new beginning 00:32:40.379 --> 00:32:41.559 that new life 00:32:41.559 --> 00:32:42.919 that new creation 00:32:42.919 --> 00:32:45.379 we thank you for 00:32:45.379 --> 00:32:47.579 the risen Lord Jesus 00:32:47.579 --> 00:32:49.099 for his power 00:32:49.099 --> 00:32:50.639 and his love 00:32:50.640 --> 00:32:52.220 his willingness 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:52.220 00:32:52.220 --> 00:32:53.680 and his ability 00:32:53.680 --> 00:32:55.440 to transform 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:57.360 our lives 00:32:57.360 --> 00:32:59.460 to give us 00:32:59.460 --> 00:33:00.480 peace 00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:03.600 that deep sense of wholeness 00:33:03.600 --> 00:33:04.980 and flourishing 00:33:04.980 --> 00:33:05.780 and well-being 00:33:05.780 --> 00:33:08.060 to send us 00:33:08.060 --> 00:33:09.440 on mission 00:33:09.440 --> 00:33:11.640 to give our lives 00:33:11.640 --> 00:33:13.100 eternal purpose 00:33:13.099 --> 00:33:18.719 and to come 00:33:18.719 --> 00:33:20.819 to be with us 00:33:20.819 --> 00:33:24.740 Lord we thank you 00:33:24.740 --> 00:33:26.779 that you do not leave us alone 00:33:26.779 --> 00:33:29.379 we thank you that you are pleased 00:33:29.379 --> 00:33:30.740 to come to us 00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:34.519 to give your blessing to us 00:33:34.519 --> 00:33:37.500 leading us 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.960 to the life 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:38.960 00:33:38.960 --> 00:33:40.140 that we were made for 00:33:40.140 --> 00:33:42.619 to worship you 00:33:42.619 --> 00:33:44.299 through Jesus 00:33:44.299 --> 00:33:45.880 your son 00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:47.759 our Lord and Savior 00:33:47.759 --> 00:33:49.619 we pray in his name 00:33:49.619 --> 00:33:58.679 and then 00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:58.679 00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:58.679 00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:58.679 00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:58.679 00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:58.679 00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:58.679 00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:58.679 00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:58.679 00:33:58.679 --> 00:33:58.679