Thank you, Alex. Good morning, everyone. Nice to see you.
And look forward to catching up with you afterwards over tea and coffee.
! Please turn in your Bibles to Genesis.
We will be looking at John's Gospel as well, but we're going to read some verses in Genesis 1.
And then we're going to go to John's Gospel.
So last week we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
And over the next few weeks we're going to be looking at how that resurrection continues and goes on to shape and affect our lives today.
So let's hear God's Word. Genesis chapter 1, verse 1.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Now the earth was formless and empty.
Darkness was over the surface of the deep.
And the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
And God said, let there be light.
And there was light.
God saw that the light was good.
And he separated light from the darkness.
God called the light day.
And the darkness he called night.
And there was evening and there was morning the first day.
Now go to verse 31.
As we come to the conclusion of the creation.
Verse 31.
God saw all that he made and it was very good.
And there was evening and there was morning the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
By the seventh day, God had finished all the work he had been doing.
So on the seventh day, he rested from all his work.
Now let's go to John's Gospel.
Chapter 20.
John's Gospel, chapter 20.
And starting in at verse 19.
John 20, verse 19.
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,
Jesus came and stood among them and said,
Peace be with you.
After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.
And the disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Again, Jesus said,
Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.
And with that he breathed on them and said,
Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven.
If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.
Well, let's pray.
And then we'll look at God's word together.
Our Father God, just as you spoke into the vast emptiness
and brought about the world in which we now live,
we pray that that powerful word would speak into our life,
speaking truth, encouragement, and challenge.
And most of all,
that you would speak into our fears
and fill us with joy.
We pray this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
The most extraordinary event in the history of the world
has taken place.
Not Artemis II,
who managed to find its way around the moon
and back to earth again.
No, a much greater event than that.
The event was the death of the Lord Jesus Christ,
his burial,
and his resurrection from the dead.
But not everyone is celebrating.
Jesus' closest followers,
if you see in verse 19,
were together with the doors locked
for fear of the Jewish leaders.
They had heard about the empty tomb.
They had listened to the account of Peter and John
who had gone into the tomb
and seen the burial cloths left lying there.
They had heard from Mary Magdalene's claim
that she had seen the risen Lord Jesus.
But instead of being filled with joy,
they are filled with fear.
If Jesus had been arrested and crucified,
then what's to stop the disciples
being arrested and crucified?
The doors are locked
and for good reason.
But everything is about to change.
The risen Jesus appears
and he speaks into their fears.
End of verse 19.
Peace be with you.
An encounter with the risen Lord Jesus
transforms their whole lives.
They go from being filled with fear
to the end of verse 20
to being overjoyed
when they saw the Lord.
Now we all have our fears, don't we?
Maybe it's what's happening in the world right now.
Escalating wars,
the fuel crisis,
cost of living.
Or maybe it's something in your own life.
Ongoing illness
or financial struggles
or failing relationships.
Well, the good news is
this same risen Jesus
speaks into our fears
and brings us joy.
And to help us know
and experience this
overflowing joy,
John highlights for us
three things
about the appearance
of the risen Jesus.
In the short verses
19 to 23,
we're told
when Jesus appears,
how Jesus appears,
and why Jesus appears.
So when he appeared,
how he appeared,
and why he appeared.
And each one of these
has significant implications
on our lives today.
So first,
Jesus' resurrection
guarantees
a new creation.
Jesus' resurrection
guarantees
a new creation.
Notice
the when.
Notice
when
Jesus
appeared.
Verse 19,
on the evening
of that first day
of the week
when the disciples
were together.
Now,
why is the day
so important
for John to record?
Why doesn't he just say
they were meeting together?
Why is he telling us
about the first day
of the week?
Well,
the first day
of the week
is a Sunday.
And it's been
a full week
since
the resurrection
of Jesus.
You see,
I think we're to make
a connection here.
We're to make
a connection
between
the week
of creation
and the week
of resurrection.
Now,
let me show you.
You follow carefully
with me
and we'll see
how this is true.
First,
look back
at chapter 20,
verse 1.
chapter 20,
verse 1.
Early on the
first day
of the week,
so Jesus had died
on the Friday,
he was raised
on the Sunday,
which is the first
day of the week,
and it is still
dark.
Now,
the fact that it's dark
is not just telling us
that the sun
hadn't yet risen.
darkness reflects
the hopelessness
and helplessness
of the disciples.
Death is weighing
heavy on them.
Darkness
surrounds them.
Now,
think back
to the first day
of creation week.
We read it
just a moment ago.
Here's what it says.
Now,
the earth
was formless
and empty,
and darkness
was over
the surface
of the deep.
And God
said,
let there be
light,
and there
was light.
You see,
just as God
brought light
into the darkness
at that creation,
so the resurrection
brings light
into the darkness
of our lives.
But what is
this light
that comes
into our life?
Well,
look again
at chapter 20,
verse 19.
Chapter 20,
verse 19.
On the evening
of that first day
of the week,
when the disciples
were together,
so a full week
has passed
since Jesus
has been raised.
Now,
with that in mind,
so a whole week
has gone,
with that in mind,
think back
to the last day
of the creation
account.
And here's
what it says.
It's on the screen
for you.
By the seventh day,
God had finished
the work
he had been doing,
so on the seventh day
he rested
from all
his work.
You see,
just as God
had finished
the work
of creation,
just as God
had rested
from all
his work,
so the risen
Jesus appears
and he calls
us to rest
in his finished
work
of redemption.
You see,
the resurrection
marks a new
beginning.
This is the light
that floods
into our darkness.
Jesus is coming
to us and saying,
come to me
and you will
experience
a new creation
in your own life.
I have come
to give you
a fresh start
and a new beginning.
I've died
for your sins,
I've risen again
and I give you
new life.
Just as God
spoke those words
at the beginning
of creation
into the darkness,
bringing light,
light.
So the risen
Jesus comes
and stands
amongst us
and speaks
words of new
life,
of light
and hope
and fullness.
The Apostle Paul
put it like this,
Jesus.
Therefore,
if anyone
is in
Christ,
if they are
trusting in
Christ,
the new
creation
has come,
the old
is gone
and the new
is here.
You see,
the resurrection
of Jesus
makes us
new.
He takes us
from darkness,
from hopelessness
and helplessness
and he brings
us into
the glorious
light
of life
with Christ.
But more
than that,
the resurrection
guarantees
not just to
bring a new
creation with
our own
life,
but a new
creation of
this world,
this broken,
decaying
and destroying
world,
Jesus
will one day
renew
and bring it
to its
fullness.
Again,
a quote from
Revelation,
helps us
here.
No,
there we
are.
Revelation
21,
John says,
the same
author of
John's
gospel,
I saw
a new
heaven
and a
new
earth.
For the
first
earth
and the
first
heaven
had
passed
away.
And he
who was
seated
on the
throne,
which is
the risen
Lord Jesus,
said,
I am
making
everything
new.
Then he
said,
write this
down,
for these
words are
trustworthy
and true.
You see,
when Jesus
appeared
is really
important.
John is
telling us,
I want you
to make this
connection
between
creation
and the
resurrection.
Just as
God spoke
words of
life,
so the
risen
Jesus
comes
and speaks
words of
life.
It tells
us that
Jesus'
resurrection
guarantees
a new
creation.
resurrection.
So that's
the when
of how
Jesus
appeared.
Second,
Jesus'
resurrection
declares
a new
resurrection.
So notice
here how
Jesus
appears.
Again,
verse 19.
On the
evening of
the first
day of
the week,
when the
disciples were
together with
the doors
locked for
fear of
the Jewish
leaders,
Jesus came
and stood
among them.
Now isn't
that incredible?
The doors
are locked
and Jesus
appears in
the room
with the
disciples.
A similar
event happens
a little bit
later on.
If you just
scan down
to verse
26.
A week
later,
his disciples
were in
the house
again and
Thomas was
with them.
Though the
doors were
locked,
Jesus came
and stood
among them.
Well,
how on
earth
did Jesus
do that?
I mean,
it's not your
normal everyday
today occasion,
is it?
Every room
you went in
today,
you either
opened a
door or the
door was
already opened.
You didn't
go walking
into the
wall,
did you?
That would
hurt.
Try it
out.
How did
Jesus do
it?
Well,
John dispels
any notion
of it being
an apparition.
He wants
us to know
that this
isn't just
the spirit
of Jesus,
a kind
of ghostly
figure that's
appeared.
No,
it's the
actual
physical
body of
Jesus.
Verse 20.
After he
had said
this,
he showed
them his
hands,
where the
nails had
been,
and his
side,
where the
sword had
been put
into his
side.
You see,
they not
only see
Jesus,
they're not
only listening
to Jesus
talk,
they can
actually touch
Jesus.
You see,
the resurrection
of Jesus
was a bodily
resurrection.
but more
than that,
it was a
transformed
body.
He could
walk through
walls,
literally.
You see,
it's telling
us that
Jesus didn't
just rise
from the
dead,
but that
he defeated
death.
He is
declaring
victory
over death.
He is
making a
way for
us to
experience
a new
kind
of
resurrection.
We'll know
from John's
gospel that
other people
were also
raised to
life.
Go back
with me to
John chapter
11.
John chapter
11.
This is the
account of
Lazarus
being raised
from the
dead.
So,
John chapter
11 and
verse 43.
So,
Lazarus has
been in
the tomb
for three
days,
and Jesus
arrives at
the tomb
where
Lazarus
had been
buried.
And we
pick it
up in
verse 43.
Jesus
called in
a loud
voice,
Lazarus,
come out.
the dead
man came
out,
his hands
and feet
wrapped with
strips of
linen and
a cloth
round his
face.
And Jesus
said to
them,
take off
the grave
clothes and
let them
go.
Let's go
back to
chapter 20.
Now,
wasn't that
amazing,
wonderful
experience for
Lazarus.
There he
was,
dead in
the tomb,
and Jesus
calls out,
Lazarus,
come out.
And Lazarus
walks out of
that tomb.
But you
know what?
A time
would come
again when
Lazarus
would have
to die
again.
Yes,
he walked
out of
the tomb,
but a day
would come
when he
would be
carried back
into the
tomb.
He would
die again.
But the
resurrection
of Jesus
was different.
Jesus
wasn't just
raised from
the dead.
He was
victorious
over death.
He was
raised with
a new
and transformed
body.
A body
that could
walk through
walls.
An immortal
body.
A body
that wouldn't
die again.
A body
that would
live
forever.
Think of
a train
tunnel with
me.
darkness
and darkness
comes around
and darkness
comes around
until it
gets out
through to
the other
side.
Well,
here it's
telling us
that Jesus
has entered
into the
tunnel of
darkness of
death.
But unlike
Lazarus who
went into
the tunnel
and came
out the
same way,
Jesus
smashes
right through
and comes
out the
other side
into
glorious
light.
No wonder
Jesus could
now say
to his
disciples
who were
in fear,
end of
verse 19,
peace
be with
you.
Jesus
has not
only
established
a new
creation,
he has
defeated
death
utterly
and
completely
so that
we too
can
experience
a new
kind
of
resurrection.
And that's
what the
resurrection
of Jesus
has achieved.
Jesus
declares
an
irreversible
victory
over
death.
He's
gone
through
the
tunnel
of
darkness
and
death.
He
has
pioneered
a way
through
the
grave
so
that
when
we
die
we
too
will
be
raised
with
a
new
body
a
transformed
immortal
body
a
body
that
will
never
ache
or
struggle
again
a
body
that
will
never
die
but
will
live
forever
in
God's
new
creation.
So
when
Jesus
appears
is
important
and
how
Jesus
appears
is
important.
He
appears
with a
physical
body.
It's
telling
us that
Jesus'
resurrection
declares
a new
resurrection
for his
people.
So
when
Jesus
appeared
how
Jesus
appeared
is
important
and
in
this
we
think
about
why
Jesus
appeared.
Jesus'
resurrection
establishes
a new
mission.
So
notice here
why
Jesus
appears.
Verse 21
again
Jesus
said
peace
be
with
you.
As
the
father
has
sent
me
I
am
sending
you.
Now
why
did
the
father
send
Jesus?
Well
listen to
what John
has
already
said.
John
3
17
for
God
did
not
send
his
son
to
condemn
the
world
but
to
save
the
world
through
him.
You
see
Jesus
was
sent
to
save
the
world
people
like
you
and
me
from
the
condemnation
we
deserve
and
he
did
that
by
taking
our
sins
on
himself
and
dying
in
our
place.
The
work
is
now
completed.
He
cries
from
the
cross
it
is
finished.
The
proof
and
the
evidence
that
it
is
finished
is
the
resurrection.
So
our
new
mission
today
is
for
us
to
go
into
the
world
with
the
message
of
the
resurrection.
The
message
that
Jesus
guarantees
a new
creation,
a new
beginning
and a
fresh
start
and the
hope
of a
new
creation
to
come.
He
promises
a new
kind
of
resurrection
where
death
has
been
defeated
and the
promise
of a
new
transformed
body
never
to
die
again.
This
is our
mission.
We have
been sent
by the
risen
Jesus
to
proclaim
that
Jesus
is
risen
and
it's
a good
news
message.
And
thankfully
we're
not
left
on our
own
to
do
it.
Verse
22
And
with
that
Jesus
breathed
on them
and said
receive
the
Holy
Spirit.
You
see it's
the
Spirit
who
comes
alongside
us.
The
helper,
the
comforter,
the
advocate,
the
one
who
comes
to
us
to
help
us
speak
the
truth
about
the
resurrection.
You
see it's
not easy
for us
to go
into
our
workplace,
our
college,
amongst
our
friends
and talk
about
the
resurrection.
People
will
think
you're
cuckoo
for
believing
it.
It's
not
easy.
Well
the
Spirit
himself
has
been
given
the
very
power
that
raised
the
Lord
Jesus
from
the
dead
is
the
same
power
that
is
at
work
in
those
who
believe.
And so
he,
by his
Spirit,
will help
us to
faithfully
declare the
good news
that Jesus
lives.
fear.
You see,
people are
living in
fear.
Talk to
your
friends
this
coming
week.
People
fear the
present.
They
fear the
future.
And most
of all,
people fear
death.
People
are
frightened
to die.
And our
mission is
to come
into the
midst of
that and
speak of
the hope
of
resurrection.
But not
only do we
speak of
the hope
of
resurrection,
we can
speak of
sins being
forgiven.
Look at
verse 23.
At the
heart of
our message
is this.
If you
forgive
anyone's
sins,
their sins
are forgiven.
forgiven.
If you
do not
forgive
them,
they are
not
forgiven.
Now,
there's a
lot of
confusion
around this
verse.
It doesn't
mean to
say that
you or
I decide
who's
going to
be
forgiven.
So,
well,
I like
Kirsty.
After all,
she's my
wife,
so I'll
forgive her.
But I
don't say
to Alex,
I don't
particularly
like Alex
today,
so I'm
not going
to forgive
him.
And he's
going,
oh no,
he's going
to turn
off something
else.
That's
alright.
That's
not what
it means.
When
someone hears
the gospel
message that
Jesus died
for our
sins and
had defeated
death,
and if that
person who
hears it
responds in
repentance and
faith,
we can say
to that
person,
with absolute
certainty,
your sins
are forgiven.
Eight people
are going to
be here next
week and
are going to
be baptized
because they've
heard the
good news of
Christ and
they've trusted
him and we
will say
without any
doubt whatsoever,
your sins
are forgiven.
But if
someone rejects
the risen
Jesus and
says I
don't want
anything to
do with
him,
we can
also say
with complete
authority,
your sins
are not
forgiven.
It will
be separation
from God,
not in the
new creation,
but something
far, far
worse,
hell
itself.
so if you
are here
this morning
and you
have not
yet
experienced
forgiveness,
repent,
place your
faith in
Jesus today
because when
we do,
what good
news,
we experience
a new
creation
and the
promise
of a new
kind of
resurrection.
But if
you are here
today and
you are
forgiven,
then go
with the
power of
the Holy
Spirit,
speaking the
hope of
resurrection
into people's
fears so
that they
too may be
filled with
joy,
overjoyed
because they
have met
the risen
Jesus.
When Jesus
appears is
important.
How he
appears and
why he
appears is
deeply
significant for
us all.
He brings
about a new
creation, a
new resurrection
and a new
mission.
Let us go
with hope
and confidence
filled with
joy.
Let's pray
together.
Father, help
us to see
that life
isn't about
looking into
the past,
but looking
back to
the historical
fact of
Christ risen
from the
dead and
how that
continues to
shape and
change and
affect our
life today.
Father,
speak into
our fears.
Fill us
with joy.
May we go
with the
help of
your Spirit,
speaking of
the wonder
of your
resurrection
to others.
In Jesus'
name,
Amen.