WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.179 Um, commencement is an interesting word because it marks not only an end, but also a beginning. 00:00:07.960 --> 00:00:12.519 Literally, that's what the word commencement means, a new beginning. 00:00:13.280 --> 00:00:19.120 But of course, the question that raises is, what exactly is it that you are beginning? 00:00:20.160 --> 00:00:22.100 If you're moving on, where are you going? 00:00:22.219 --> 00:00:23.019 What's next? 00:00:23.740 --> 00:00:28.320 Now, when I was a senior in college, I got sick of that question because everybody asked 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:29.760 you that question all the time. 00:00:30.679 --> 00:00:31.940 And I didn't have an answer. 00:00:32.780 --> 00:00:39.100 And one of my greatest fears my whole senior year was to get to commencement and walk and 00:00:39.100 --> 00:00:41.960 graduate and have no answer to that question. 00:00:42.579 --> 00:00:43.340 What's next? 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:47.240 Well, I guess I'm going home to live with my parents. 00:00:48.039 --> 00:00:48.939 They're not that bad. 00:00:49.460 --> 00:00:53.260 But I wish I wanted to have something more concrete to say. 00:00:54.039 --> 00:00:55.000 And I didn't. 00:00:55.900 --> 00:00:56.480 It's all right. 00:00:56.500 --> 00:00:57.659 It worked out eventually. 00:00:57.659 --> 00:01:05.859 But all of us, uh, sometimes transitions in life force us to reexamine this question 00:01:05.859 --> 00:01:08.420 of where is our life going? 00:01:09.420 --> 00:01:16.659 Not only what's our next step in pursuing our career or pursuing a family or another goal 00:01:16.659 --> 00:01:23.679 in life, but what's the purpose of all the projects that we're investing our time and our 00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:24.160 life in? 00:01:24.800 --> 00:01:27.260 What is our mission in this world? 00:01:28.000 --> 00:01:31.740 And that's the question that this passage speaks to today. 00:01:31.739 --> 00:01:38.379 Um, so let's read together John chapter 20 verses 19 through 23. 00:01:38.379 --> 00:01:49.640 The evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples 00:01:49.640 --> 00:01:57.179 were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, peace be with you. 00:01:58.219 --> 00:02:01.179 When he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. 00:02:01.180 --> 00:02:05.180 Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 00:02:06.040 --> 00:02:08.780 Jesus said to them again, peace be with you. 00:02:09.700 --> 00:02:15.360 As the father has sent me, even so I am sending you. 00:02:16.500 --> 00:02:20.420 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, receive the Holy Spirit. 00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:23.240 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. 00:02:23.819 --> 00:02:26.700 If you withhold forgiveness from any is withheld. 00:02:26.699 --> 00:02:30.159 Now this morning, I want to consider two things. 00:02:30.939 --> 00:02:35.719 First, I want to consider the mission to which the risen Lord Jesus calls us. 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:41.979 And second, the resources that Jesus provides for us to carry it out. 00:02:43.639 --> 00:02:45.339 I know some of you may be here today. 00:02:45.519 --> 00:02:47.759 Perhaps you're not a regular churchgoer. 00:02:47.939 --> 00:02:49.419 Perhaps you're not a follower of Jesus. 00:02:49.939 --> 00:02:52.839 Let me ask, let me encourage you to consider the question. 00:02:52.840 --> 00:02:57.099 What is the mission that you are pursuing in your life? 00:02:57.840 --> 00:03:02.879 And to compare it to this mission that Jesus offers and calls us into. 00:03:03.719 --> 00:03:08.580 If you are a Christian, this is the mission set out for you. 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:10.800 Set out for us from our Lord. 00:03:11.560 --> 00:03:12.640 The mission to which we are called. 00:03:12.759 --> 00:03:18.140 Jesus says, as the father has sent me, even so I am sending you. 00:03:18.139 --> 00:03:24.659 So in other words, the mission that Jesus calls us to is to be God's ambassadors. 00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:29.699 Extending his life-giving presence into the world. 00:03:30.759 --> 00:03:38.579 Now if you read the whole Bible, this is actually the original mission that God gave to the entire human race in the book of Genesis. 00:03:38.580 --> 00:03:43.060 According to Genesis, God made us in his image. 00:03:43.740 --> 00:03:48.700 In other words, to be his representatives displaying his character on the earth. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:54.960 And he put human beings in a fruitful garden of his life-giving presence. 00:03:55.620 --> 00:03:57.740 And then he commissioned them to do two things. 00:03:58.640 --> 00:04:01.480 First, he said, work and keep the garden. 00:04:02.340 --> 00:04:03.700 That's Genesis 2.15. 00:04:03.699 --> 00:04:07.679 And second, he said, be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:09.459 Genesis 1.28. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:22.019 Now if you put those two things together, the original mission for the human race was to extend the garden of God's life-giving presence into all the world. 00:04:23.039 --> 00:04:24.419 To work and keep the garden. 00:04:25.099 --> 00:04:26.399 To dwell in God's presence. 00:04:26.599 --> 00:04:31.379 And then to spread throughout the world and spread that life-giving presence of God throughout all the world. 00:04:31.379 --> 00:04:40.300 And this mission to extend God's life-giving presence into all the world would be fulfilled through a variety of means. 00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:42.699 Through relationship. 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:44.000 Human relationship. 00:04:44.379 --> 00:04:45.680 Ever deepening friendship. 00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:46.819 Marriage. 00:04:47.339 --> 00:04:49.319 Reflecting the love of God. 00:04:50.040 --> 00:04:52.019 The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:04:53.399 --> 00:04:54.100 Through work. 00:04:54.680 --> 00:04:55.860 Cultivating the land. 00:04:56.279 --> 00:04:58.300 To bring out its God-given potential. 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:00.360 Raising children. 00:05:00.360 --> 00:05:03.100 And teaching them to know and love God. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:05.139 Through creativity. 00:05:06.340 --> 00:05:06.780 Poetry. 00:05:07.620 --> 00:05:08.000 Art. 00:05:08.500 --> 00:05:09.020 Architecture. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:09.520 Music. 00:05:09.660 --> 00:05:12.939 Reflecting the beauty and the grandeur of God. 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:15.420 And through authority. 00:05:16.180 --> 00:05:20.060 A wise ordering of various parts to make a cohesive whole. 00:05:20.520 --> 00:05:23.080 Reflecting God's wisdom and God's justice. 00:05:23.400 --> 00:05:24.120 Relationship. 00:05:24.460 --> 00:05:24.800 Work. 00:05:25.160 --> 00:05:25.680 Creativity. 00:05:26.060 --> 00:05:26.500 Authority. 00:05:26.500 --> 00:05:33.279 These were some of the means through which God's life-giving presence would be extended through all the world. 00:05:34.779 --> 00:05:39.439 And each of these human pursuits would be an extension of the very life of God himself. 00:05:39.800 --> 00:05:43.300 It was a glorious mission to which we were called. 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:46.279 Problem is we messed it all up. 00:05:46.279 --> 00:05:53.239 Because we decided to put ourselves in the center of everything instead of God. 00:05:54.439 --> 00:05:55.899 We distrusted God. 00:05:56.059 --> 00:05:57.419 And so we turned away from him. 00:05:57.459 --> 00:06:00.359 And so we forfeited our calling to be his ambassadors. 00:06:00.939 --> 00:06:02.500 His representatives in the world. 00:06:02.500 --> 00:06:10.819 And now in our fallen state, even our most noble pursuits are tainted with impure motives. 00:06:11.779 --> 00:06:22.240 So our relationships are often hindered by mistrust or even betrayal or unforgiveness and distance. 00:06:22.240 --> 00:06:28.939 Our work often degenerates into what Ecclesiastes calls chasing after the wind. 00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:33.100 Anxious striving after quickly vanishing results. 00:06:34.400 --> 00:06:35.460 Anyone identify with that? 00:06:36.800 --> 00:06:42.319 Our creative pursuits can be tainted by pride and self-promotion. 00:06:43.319 --> 00:06:48.439 Or our exercise of authority is distorted by self-serving motives. 00:06:48.439 --> 00:06:52.120 So we have become like a polluted river. 00:06:53.000 --> 00:06:54.899 Or even a leaky sewer pipe. 00:06:56.180 --> 00:06:57.660 Spreading throughout the world. 00:06:57.740 --> 00:07:03.040 But spreading self-centeredness and envy and fear and shame. 00:07:04.000 --> 00:07:05.139 As the human race. 00:07:05.699 --> 00:07:09.420 Now the good news is God did not give up on the human race. 00:07:09.540 --> 00:07:10.939 God did not give up on his creatures. 00:07:11.120 --> 00:07:15.759 In the Old Testament God called a people, the people of Israel, to be his ambassadors. 00:07:16.319 --> 00:07:17.540 To dwell in his presence. 00:07:17.540 --> 00:07:20.720 And extend his life-giving presence to the world. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:24.180 And he put them in the land of Canaan, which is like a new garden of Eden. 00:07:24.900 --> 00:07:26.760 And called them to be a light to the world. 00:07:28.560 --> 00:07:31.900 But like the first human beings, like Adam and Eve, they messed it up. 00:07:32.879 --> 00:07:33.860 Over and over again. 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:40.240 And so the story of the Bible continues that God sent his son into the world in the fullness of time. 00:07:40.240 --> 00:07:42.699 To become a fully human being. 00:07:43.500 --> 00:07:48.280 And to do what none of us had ever fully accomplished. 00:07:48.960 --> 00:07:51.360 To be the perfect ambassador of God. 00:07:51.840 --> 00:07:55.280 To be the exact representation of God's character and being. 00:07:55.379 --> 00:07:57.639 To be his life-giving presence in the world. 00:07:57.639 --> 00:08:02.899 Perhaps one of the most famous verses in the Bible, John 3.16, puts it well. 00:08:04.060 --> 00:08:04.379 It says, 00:08:04.379 --> 00:08:06.300 God so loved the world. 00:08:07.639 --> 00:08:10.920 This world that had fallen into darkness and sin and death. 00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:18.139 God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son so that whoever believes in him would not perish. 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:20.060 But have eternal life. 00:08:20.860 --> 00:08:23.680 God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world. 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:26.659 But in order that the world might be saved through him. 00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:32.300 In other words, Jesus Christ was the perfect ambassador of God. 00:08:33.340 --> 00:08:34.720 He was God himself. 00:08:36.040 --> 00:08:37.899 The word made flesh. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:47.360 And he was not only the conduit, not only the pipe, but the very source of new and unending life for this world. 00:08:48.379 --> 00:08:50.460 Jesus described himself as the bread of life. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:52.500 The light of the world. 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:54.100 The true vine. 00:08:54.100 --> 00:09:06.779 And yet, ironically, Jesus' life ended with his body being broken, with his blood being spilled, and the light of his life being snuffed out. 00:09:07.300 --> 00:09:09.080 And the world plunged into darkness. 00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:17.180 You see, when Jesus Christ died on the cross, he entered into the depths of our fallenness. 00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:18.080 Our sin. 00:09:18.180 --> 00:09:19.480 Our alienation from God. 00:09:19.560 --> 00:09:20.080 Our death. 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:22.500 He took that all upon himself. 00:09:24.100 --> 00:09:28.340 And then in his resurrection, he triumphed over those things, over sin and death. 00:09:28.379 --> 00:09:34.220 And he planted the life-giving presence of God among us, once and for all. 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:41.659 And now, in passages like this one, the risen Lord Jesus calls us into his mission. 00:09:42.500 --> 00:09:44.139 To be God's ambassadors. 00:09:45.740 --> 00:09:48.040 Extending his life-giving presence into the world. 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:51.000 And we see this throughout Jesus' teaching. 00:09:51.939 --> 00:09:53.059 Jesus said, I'm the vine. 00:09:54.000 --> 00:09:56.039 In other words, I'm the source of true life. 00:09:56.679 --> 00:09:57.980 And you are the branches. 00:09:59.099 --> 00:10:01.120 Extending the life of God into the world. 00:10:01.980 --> 00:10:08.199 I've chosen and appointed you to bear good fruit that will last. 00:10:09.199 --> 00:10:11.459 Jesus said, I'm the spring of life-giving water. 00:10:11.460 --> 00:10:17.560 John 4, 14, whoever drinks of the water I give him will never be thirsty again. 00:10:18.820 --> 00:10:28.080 And later, he went on to say, whoever believes in me, out of that person's heart will flow rivers of living water. 00:10:28.820 --> 00:10:32.720 In other words, Jesus is the spring and we are the conduits. 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:38.560 Verse 23 in our passage, he even says, if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. 00:10:39.180 --> 00:10:41.580 If you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld. 00:10:41.879 --> 00:10:43.279 Now, you might have wondered, what does that mean? 00:10:44.879 --> 00:10:54.220 Well, that verse doesn't mean that Christians or any Christian leader can decide independently on our own whether or not to forgive someone. 00:10:54.639 --> 00:10:54.920 Hmm. 00:10:55.759 --> 00:10:57.100 I want to forgive them. 00:10:57.240 --> 00:10:58.519 I don't want to forgive them. 00:10:58.519 --> 00:11:04.840 And that it does not mean that we have the authority to do that and that God will stand by our decision. 00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:05.259 No. 00:11:06.360 --> 00:11:08.960 The context of this passage, we are God's ambassadors. 00:11:09.199 --> 00:11:10.120 Jesus' ambassadors. 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:15.399 An ambassador can only speak on the authority of the one who sent them. 00:11:16.779 --> 00:11:24.919 If Jesus has sent us, we are only authorized to speak and act according to what he has already said and done. 00:11:24.919 --> 00:11:35.059 So, what verse 23 does mean is that as Jesus' ambassadors, we are given authority to announce the king's verdict. 00:11:36.199 --> 00:11:43.019 That everyone who turns to Jesus and believes in him has forgiveness of sins and eternal life. 00:11:44.099 --> 00:11:52.860 And that everyone who rejects him has rejected God's only provision for forgiveness and remains in a state of spiritual death. 00:11:52.860 --> 00:11:57.700 Now, I realize that to some of you, that message may sound harsh. 00:11:58.940 --> 00:12:06.340 But, you know, it only sounds harsh if you don't really believe that you need forgiveness from God at all. 00:12:07.480 --> 00:12:14.240 If you know that you are deathly ill, you will want to know whether there is a cure for your illness. 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:24.879 And if the doctor says to you, there is one cure and only one cure, but it will certainly eradicate your illness with relatively minimal side effects. 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:29.940 You wouldn't say, but why aren't there ten different options? 00:12:30.460 --> 00:12:32.419 Or why can't I make up my own cure? 00:12:32.419 --> 00:12:38.500 No, you will rejoice that there is one certain cure that will exactly match your need. 00:12:39.019 --> 00:12:46.120 And you will share your joy in finding that cure with anyone who will listen and anyone who has the same disease. 00:12:47.259 --> 00:12:51.079 Now, that's all that Christian witness is about. 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:57.799 Someone said it's one beggar telling another beggar where to find the bread of life. 00:12:57.799 --> 00:13:07.879 It's the most humble and loving thing to do as someone who has found and been found by Jesus. 00:13:09.799 --> 00:13:13.779 Christian witness is not arrogantly looking down on other people. 00:13:14.599 --> 00:13:16.539 It's not using manipulative tactics. 00:13:16.859 --> 00:13:18.979 It's simply being an ambassador of the king. 00:13:19.959 --> 00:13:23.240 The one who laid down his life so that we might be healed. 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:34.720 Now, if you're a Christian, I think one implication of all of this is that many of our ambitions are far too small, far too narrow. 00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:39.340 We often tend to focus in on one good thing. 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:42.279 Maybe it's a relationship. 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:44.399 Maybe it's a career. 00:13:44.919 --> 00:13:45.980 Or a family. 00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:46.960 Or a hobby. 00:13:47.580 --> 00:13:49.120 Or a creative pursuit. 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:51.860 Or a position of authority. 00:13:53.240 --> 00:13:55.080 And that becomes the ultimate thing. 00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:56.720 The thing that defines us. 00:13:56.799 --> 00:13:57.960 The thing that we live for. 00:13:58.940 --> 00:14:03.279 The thing that we build our lives around and sacrifice for more than anything else. 00:14:05.840 --> 00:14:08.180 But those little things can never bear the weight. 00:14:08.879 --> 00:14:13.919 Because we either achieve them and then have to ask the question, what's next? 00:14:14.600 --> 00:14:17.200 Because it's never enough to fully satisfy us. 00:14:17.200 --> 00:14:22.580 Or we fail to achieve it and we're crushed. 00:14:24.740 --> 00:14:31.580 But the mission that Jesus gives us is far bigger than our own little and often self-centered ambitions. 00:14:32.580 --> 00:14:39.060 The mission that Jesus gives us is the overarching drama that gives meaning to our particular roles. 00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:45.179 It's the orchestral symphony in which each of us have a part to play. 00:14:47.239 --> 00:14:50.779 In his Easter sermon, Pastor Nick used this example, but I'm going to use it again. 00:14:51.119 --> 00:14:56.359 The British architect Christopher Wren designed one of the great London cathedrals. 00:14:56.360 --> 00:15:04.360 And he was touring the work site one day and came upon an old man mixing cement in a mortar box. 00:15:05.080 --> 00:15:08.800 And he said to this man, sir, what are you doing this for? 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:11.440 And the man said, why, sir? 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:13.899 I am building a great cathedral. 00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:18.259 You see, he kept in mind the big picture. 00:15:19.379 --> 00:15:28.279 And so he was able to carry out even the most menial and humble task with dignity, with diligence, and perseverance. 00:15:30.259 --> 00:15:34.240 Jesus has called us into the mission of being his ambassadors. 00:15:35.199 --> 00:15:39.299 Extending the life-giving presence of God wherever we go. 00:15:39.299 --> 00:15:46.039 Now, that's a great and glorious mission, but it's also intimidating. 00:15:48.379 --> 00:15:54.719 If you really think about it, who of us is fully equipped to do that? 00:15:55.899 --> 00:15:58.759 But Jesus not only calls us, he equips us. 00:15:59.839 --> 00:16:03.299 So second, what does Jesus give us to carry out this mission? 00:16:03.299 --> 00:16:11.459 Jesus gives us three resources in particular that this passage points us to, to carry out his mission. 00:16:13.459 --> 00:16:15.219 So first, he gives us one another. 00:16:17.859 --> 00:16:20.519 And this is throughout the whole passage. 00:16:20.679 --> 00:16:24.879 But if you go back to Genesis, in the garden, God gave Adam a task. 00:16:25.579 --> 00:16:27.759 He said, work and care for the garden. 00:16:28.479 --> 00:16:29.879 But then he didn't leave him alone. 00:16:29.879 --> 00:16:32.100 He brought him a helper. 00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:36.159 Or perhaps another translation of that word would be an ally. 00:16:36.779 --> 00:16:38.700 One who comes alongside him. 00:16:38.960 --> 00:16:40.360 To be joined with him. 00:16:40.419 --> 00:16:43.539 To provide something that he lacked in himself. 00:16:45.059 --> 00:16:50.620 And in the New Testament, the risen Lord Jesus does not leave us alone to carry out his mission. 00:16:50.740 --> 00:16:51.720 He gives us one another. 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:54.860 Brothers and sisters in the family of God. 00:16:55.000 --> 00:16:58.440 Members joined together in the body of Christ. 00:16:58.440 --> 00:17:07.320 You know, when Jesus rose from the dead, he didn't set up a bunch of successive one-on-one counseling meetings with his disciples. 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:12.940 He, for the most part, he appeared to groups of people. 00:17:14.140 --> 00:17:21.660 If you put it all together, the New Testament authors record only two or three appearances of Jesus to individuals. 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:24.279 Where possibly they were the only person present. 00:17:24.360 --> 00:17:26.539 To Peter, to James, and possibly to Mary. 00:17:26.539 --> 00:17:28.839 But there were at least eight. 00:17:29.940 --> 00:17:30.559 Excuse me. 00:17:30.619 --> 00:17:32.599 At least eight separate occasions. 00:17:33.119 --> 00:17:34.519 Where multiple people. 00:17:34.659 --> 00:17:35.740 Where groups of people. 00:17:35.960 --> 00:17:40.460 Met, touched, ate with, and talked with the resurrected Jesus. 00:17:40.899 --> 00:17:41.920 At the same time. 00:17:43.079 --> 00:17:44.339 Here is just one of them. 00:17:45.240 --> 00:17:46.859 And it seems there were ten of the apostles. 00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:49.940 Luke 24, which recounts the same incident. 00:17:50.059 --> 00:17:51.899 Indicates there were several others as well. 00:17:51.900 --> 00:18:05.160 Now, as an aside, this is one of the reasons why we can trust that the gospel accounts of Jesus being raised from the dead and appearing to people were not simply hallucinations. 00:18:05.940 --> 00:18:06.840 Or myths. 00:18:07.980 --> 00:18:10.519 Now, individual people sometimes hallucinate. 00:18:11.960 --> 00:18:12.380 Right? 00:18:12.460 --> 00:18:14.019 They see things that aren't really there. 00:18:14.600 --> 00:18:17.640 And they hear voices that are only in their own head. 00:18:17.640 --> 00:18:24.460 You know, have you had, maybe you've had people share voices that they've heard in their own head. 00:18:24.520 --> 00:18:25.820 Or things that they've seen. 00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:31.880 That some relative who's passed on has been talking to them. 00:18:32.820 --> 00:18:34.259 Well, I can't prove it wrong. 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:36.340 But I'm not going to bank my life. 00:18:37.040 --> 00:18:42.480 On the testimony of one isolated person who makes such a claim. 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:53.120 But what if there were twenty people who all said, saw, and heard the same thing? 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:55.360 At the same time. 00:18:55.559 --> 00:18:57.360 And remembered it distinctly afterwards. 00:18:58.880 --> 00:19:06.360 You see, it's very rare for groups of people to hallucinate and actually hear and see the same thing at the same time and remember it clearly afterwards. 00:19:07.299 --> 00:19:11.940 But this is exactly what happened over and over in the New Testament. 00:19:12.480 --> 00:19:13.500 With the risen Lord Jesus. 00:19:15.240 --> 00:19:22.240 In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul said, Jesus appeared once to five hundred people at the same time. 00:19:22.339 --> 00:19:24.539 And he says most of them are still alive. 00:19:24.900 --> 00:19:28.400 In other words, he's saying, if you don't believe me, you can go and ask them. 00:19:29.360 --> 00:19:32.019 You can interview all of them and compare their stories. 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:39.099 If the New Testament authors were just making up this story. 00:19:39.879 --> 00:19:45.319 Or if they simply meant it in a non-literal, purely metaphorical, symbolic way. 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:47.960 They would never say things like this. 00:19:49.379 --> 00:19:51.180 These are things that really happened. 00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:55.539 Jesus really rose from the dead and appeared to people. 00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:59.700 So I want to challenge you to consider that. 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:02.659 Jesus appeared to groups of his disciples. 00:20:03.079 --> 00:20:07.099 And here he breathed and said, receive the Holy Spirit. 00:20:08.879 --> 00:20:14.859 And on the day of Pentecost, recorded in the book of Acts, what Jesus here promised and symbolically enacted, 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:19.980 breathing his spirit on them, became a life-transforming reality. 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:24.779 The spirit came down in power on the community of believers as they were praying together. 00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:32.299 Now the point of all this is if you want to participate in the mission of Jesus, you cannot do it alone. 00:20:33.440 --> 00:20:40.880 If you try to be an ambassador of Jesus in a self-directed way, you will not get very far. 00:20:41.299 --> 00:20:44.220 And you will get off track more quickly than you realize. 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:49.599 If you're an ambassador, by definition, you belong to a local embassy. 00:20:49.980 --> 00:20:56.900 That's how ambassadors are constantly reminded of their identity in a foreign culture. 00:20:57.940 --> 00:21:00.700 That's how they regularly receive their assignments. 00:21:01.539 --> 00:21:05.839 That's where they find support within a sometimes hostile world. 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:10.759 And in a similar way, every Christian belongs in a local church. 00:21:12.819 --> 00:21:15.559 A gathered community of Christian believers. 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:21.179 So as Pastor Matt already said, I encourage you, make it a priority if you're leaving New Haven, 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:23.599 to find and join a church wherever you go. 00:21:24.919 --> 00:21:26.940 After you're leaving, you've probably put a lot of work. 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:31.579 Or if you've recently moved here, you've probably put a lot of work into researching apartments, 00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:36.899 searching for jobs, or maybe connecting with friends or family that you know. 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:43.680 You know, you probably wouldn't just get on a plane tomorrow, fly to San Francisco, and say, 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:45.460 I'm just going to get there. 00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:48.660 Maybe I'll stay on the street for a while. 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:52.840 Maybe I'll just see how it goes and trust it'll all come together somehow. 00:21:52.839 --> 00:22:00.899 But you know, sometimes we put forethought and effort and research and energy into everything else 00:22:00.899 --> 00:22:08.000 except our relationship with God or our relationship to a local body of believers. 00:22:08.779 --> 00:22:11.179 So let me urge you, make that a priority. 00:22:11.339 --> 00:22:15.619 The risen Lord Jesus sends His Spirit among us and speaks His Word to us 00:22:15.619 --> 00:22:22.000 and carries out His mission through us as we are gathered together in Christian community. 00:22:22.839 --> 00:22:29.459 As Christians, our lives are marked by the first day of the week. 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:36.079 John notes in verse 19 that it was the first day of the week when Jesus rose again. 00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:37.399 Sunday morning. 00:22:38.099 --> 00:22:42.619 And one of the defining characteristics of the early Christians is that whenever it was possible, 00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:46.399 whenever possible, they met early on Sunday morning. 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:50.379 Sometimes they would meet before dawn because they would have to work in their society 00:22:50.379 --> 00:22:52.779 and Sunday wasn't a day off for all of them. 00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:55.379 But they would find ways to gather together regularly. 00:22:56.379 --> 00:23:03.399 And their gatherings, their weekly gatherings, would be the drumbeat that drove the rhythm of their lives. 00:23:04.199 --> 00:23:13.980 It would be the checkpoint that everything else came into line gradually more and more with, 00:23:14.179 --> 00:23:17.240 where they received their instructions from the risen Lord Jesus. 00:23:17.240 --> 00:23:23.099 So make that a priority in the structure of your life. 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:24.519 Jesus gives us one another. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:26.620 That's the first resource that He gives us. 00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:28.740 Second, Jesus gives us His peace. 00:23:29.799 --> 00:23:31.240 This is verse 19 and 21. 00:23:32.579 --> 00:23:33.620 Jesus said to His disciples, 00:23:33.779 --> 00:23:35.400 Peace be with you. 00:23:36.539 --> 00:23:39.779 Now this was and still is a common Middle Eastern greeting, 00:23:39.779 --> 00:23:41.319 but Jesus repeated it twice. 00:23:42.319 --> 00:23:45.779 Which meant He was not merely saying it out of habit or by accident. 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:50.500 The calling to be an ambassador is not an easy task. 00:23:51.139 --> 00:23:53.720 At times it can be difficult or even dangerous. 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:56.099 And Jesus' disciples were afraid. 00:23:56.099 --> 00:24:01.039 It was the Passover feast when this was happening. 00:24:01.139 --> 00:24:03.019 It was the busiest time of the year in Jerusalem. 00:24:05.179 --> 00:24:10.379 And one of the most exciting times was they were huddled inside with the doors locked 00:24:10.379 --> 00:24:12.879 for fear of the religious leaders. 00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:16.619 And they also had reason to fear the government authorities 00:24:16.619 --> 00:24:20.579 because the government authorities had just executed Jesus, their leader, 00:24:20.839 --> 00:24:23.059 and they were associated with a condemned criminal. 00:24:23.059 --> 00:24:27.399 And they were not only afraid of their potential opponents, 00:24:27.579 --> 00:24:29.379 but they were also afraid of Jesus Himself. 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:32.779 Three days earlier, they had all abandoned Jesus. 00:24:33.619 --> 00:24:35.940 Peter had publicly denied Jesus three times. 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:37.359 They had failed Him. 00:24:37.819 --> 00:24:39.839 They had failed their leader, and they knew Him. 00:24:41.460 --> 00:24:44.679 And Luke tells us that their first response on seeing Jesus 00:24:44.679 --> 00:24:47.980 was not to be immediately overcome with joy, 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:50.279 but to be startled and frightened. 00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:58.399 What are the fears that hinder you from living as an ambassador of Jesus? 00:25:00.339 --> 00:25:01.500 There could be a lot. 00:25:02.299 --> 00:25:04.700 But perhaps are you fearful of other people? 00:25:06.379 --> 00:25:10.480 Do you spend a lot of time thinking about what other people think of you? 00:25:12.319 --> 00:25:17.500 Or are you tempted to gossip and complain behind someone's back 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:21.299 instead of lovingly confronting someone that you have a problem with? 00:25:22.380 --> 00:25:25.880 Or do you make strategically placed comments in conversations, 00:25:27.019 --> 00:25:29.400 hoping to be recognized and affirmed 00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:31.920 instead of being content to listen well 00:25:31.920 --> 00:25:35.660 and speak only what builds up those who hear? 00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:42.220 All of these are things that I struggle with. 00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:44.500 Fear of other people. 00:25:45.720 --> 00:25:46.680 It's very common. 00:25:47.380 --> 00:25:47.880 But Jesus said, 00:25:48.240 --> 00:25:49.060 Peace I leave with you. 00:25:49.580 --> 00:25:51.040 My peace I give to you. 00:25:52.600 --> 00:25:54.500 Not as the world gives do I give to you. 00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:56.420 Let not your hearts be troubled. 00:25:57.220 --> 00:25:58.660 Neither let them be afraid. 00:25:58.660 --> 00:26:03.620 You see, the peace that Jesus gives us is unlike anything else 00:26:03.620 --> 00:26:07.720 because it can never be taken away from us. 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:12.440 Jesus has secured our peace with God through his death and resurrection. 00:26:15.140 --> 00:26:18.620 The most important person in the whole universe 00:26:18.620 --> 00:26:26.860 who the king of everything has made peace between him and you. 00:26:26.859 --> 00:26:29.859 And if that is true, 00:26:30.339 --> 00:26:34.839 then ultimately it doesn't matter what everybody else thinks. 00:26:35.459 --> 00:26:36.899 It'll all work itself out. 00:26:37.859 --> 00:26:39.319 Since you're at peace with the king, 00:26:40.179 --> 00:26:42.819 everything will follow from there. 00:26:43.399 --> 00:26:46.599 Now this doesn't mean we'll always feel peaceful on the inside. 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:47.479 Jesus said, 00:26:47.959 --> 00:26:49.379 Let not your hearts be troubled. 00:26:49.919 --> 00:26:51.379 Neither let them be afraid. 00:26:51.479 --> 00:26:52.059 It's a command. 00:26:52.179 --> 00:26:54.659 And sometimes we have to fight our fears 00:26:54.660 --> 00:26:59.460 in order to pursue the kind of peace that he's talking about. 00:27:01.720 --> 00:27:03.580 Richard Sibbes, a Puritan writer, 00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:04.320 wrote, 00:27:04.480 --> 00:27:07.880 True peace is found in conquering sin, 00:27:08.340 --> 00:27:10.040 not in yielding to it. 00:27:11.040 --> 00:27:14.680 So sometimes it's a battle to fight against our fears 00:27:14.680 --> 00:27:18.960 with the peace that we have from God. 00:27:18.960 --> 00:27:20.840 So first, 00:27:20.900 --> 00:27:21.799 are you fearful of other people? 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:22.120 Second, 00:27:22.200 --> 00:27:25.299 are you fearful of the society in which you live? 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:30.559 Some of us can have a similar tendency as the disciples here 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:33.319 to huddle together with a group of Christians 00:27:33.319 --> 00:27:34.259 and lock the doors 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:36.420 and avoid the rest of the world as much as possible. 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:40.779 And if you go on the internet 00:27:40.779 --> 00:27:43.039 and read things that are out there, 00:27:44.180 --> 00:27:46.740 sometimes that's a powerful motivation. 00:27:46.740 --> 00:27:49.599 But that is not the way of Jesus. 00:27:51.000 --> 00:27:51.420 Jesus said, 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:52.980 I have said these things to you, 00:27:53.180 --> 00:27:54.880 that in me you may have peace. 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:56.940 And then he went on to say, 00:27:57.019 --> 00:27:58.460 In the world you will have trouble, 00:27:59.440 --> 00:28:00.359 but take heart. 00:28:00.900 --> 00:28:02.519 I have overcome the world. 00:28:03.420 --> 00:28:05.720 We can have confidence in living in the world 00:28:05.720 --> 00:28:08.019 because Jesus lived in this world. 00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:09.720 And when he prayed for us, 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:10.120 he said, 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:14.200 I do not ask that you take my followers out of the world, 00:28:14.200 --> 00:28:17.299 but that you keep them from the evil one. 00:28:18.340 --> 00:28:20.460 As you sent me into the world, 00:28:21.140 --> 00:28:24.019 so I have sent them into the world. 00:28:24.900 --> 00:28:27.480 We can have confidence in going out into the world 00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:28.920 and loving our neighbors 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:30.140 and interacting with people, 00:28:30.200 --> 00:28:32.039 even who may disagree with us 00:28:32.039 --> 00:28:36.340 or even look down on what we believe. 00:28:36.339 --> 00:28:40.159 But we can live confidently and in love because of Jesus. 00:28:42.279 --> 00:28:44.319 Perhaps you're fearful of an uncertain future. 00:28:44.959 --> 00:28:45.359 Jesus said, 00:28:45.459 --> 00:28:47.059 I will never leave you nor forsake you. 00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:49.599 Or perhaps you're fearful of Jesus. 00:28:50.699 --> 00:28:51.659 Like the disciples, 00:28:52.199 --> 00:28:54.720 you feel that because you have failed him in the past, 00:28:55.199 --> 00:28:57.779 you're not sure that you qualify to serve him anymore. 00:28:57.779 --> 00:29:00.579 Well, in the very next chapter, 00:29:01.460 --> 00:29:02.940 Jesus restores Peter, 00:29:03.639 --> 00:29:06.500 who had denied him publicly three times, 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.039 renounced him. 00:29:09.319 --> 00:29:12.980 And Jesus restores him and commissions him. 00:29:14.639 --> 00:29:17.680 And truly, he can do the same for us. 00:29:18.720 --> 00:29:20.039 So Jesus gives us one another. 00:29:21.019 --> 00:29:22.099 Jesus gives us his peace. 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:24.399 And finally, Jesus gives us his spirit. 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:28.780 The spirit is God's very own life-giving presence. 00:29:30.140 --> 00:29:33.360 The Holy Spirit is not merely a force or an idea, 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:36.960 but he is the third person of the Trinity. 00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:40.720 What this means is that as God's ambassadors, 00:29:40.920 --> 00:29:41.680 we are never alone. 00:29:42.700 --> 00:29:46.600 We are indwelt and empowered by his very own spirit. 00:29:47.019 --> 00:29:50.200 Just as God breathed life into Adam, 00:29:50.200 --> 00:29:55.819 just as God breathed life into the dry bones in the valley, 00:29:56.640 --> 00:29:57.500 in Ezekiel's vision, 00:29:58.340 --> 00:30:00.500 Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, 00:30:00.819 --> 00:30:02.519 receive the Holy Spirit. 00:30:04.180 --> 00:30:06.700 And the imagery, the parallel there, 00:30:06.779 --> 00:30:07.620 is not an accident. 00:30:08.140 --> 00:30:10.279 It's the beginning of God's new creation, 00:30:10.420 --> 00:30:12.700 bringing new life to dry bones. 00:30:12.700 --> 00:30:15.640 The first day of the week, 00:30:16.180 --> 00:30:18.680 the first day of God's new creation, 00:30:19.340 --> 00:30:20.460 a new beginning. 00:30:22.160 --> 00:30:24.140 And Jesus described the Holy Spirit 00:30:24.140 --> 00:30:26.019 as the spring of living water 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:27.940 that never runs dry, 00:30:28.640 --> 00:30:30.400 that cleanses us, 00:30:30.660 --> 00:30:33.240 and that goes out from us into the world. 00:30:34.140 --> 00:30:36.039 Jesus described the Holy Spirit as a helper, 00:30:36.539 --> 00:30:37.960 as an advocate, a counselor, 00:30:38.120 --> 00:30:40.360 one like himself who comes alongside us. 00:30:40.359 --> 00:30:43.179 Jesus described the Holy Spirit 00:30:43.179 --> 00:30:46.219 as the one who renews all of God's creation, 00:30:46.699 --> 00:30:49.219 who brings about spiritual rebirth 00:30:49.219 --> 00:30:50.779 that results in eternal life. 00:30:51.619 --> 00:30:53.500 So the Holy Spirit has come to heal 00:30:53.500 --> 00:30:55.039 and restore our relationships. 00:30:55.759 --> 00:30:58.119 He has come to renew and reform our work. 00:30:58.859 --> 00:31:00.419 He has come to energize and direct 00:31:00.419 --> 00:31:01.959 our creative pursuits. 00:31:02.879 --> 00:31:04.919 He's come to redeem and guide 00:31:04.919 --> 00:31:06.500 our exercise of authority 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:09.500 so that in all these things we might be 00:31:09.500 --> 00:31:12.839 ambassadors of the risen King Jesus, 00:31:13.660 --> 00:31:15.259 extending his life-giving presence 00:31:15.259 --> 00:31:19.099 to every corner of his creation. 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:22.579 And he has given us his Spirit 00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:24.640 to empower us to do so. 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:26.920 You know, when Jesus was on earth, 00:31:27.900 --> 00:31:29.839 it says he was constantly filled with the Spirit. 00:31:30.700 --> 00:31:33.000 John the Baptist said of Jesus, 00:31:33.000 --> 00:31:36.839 I have seen that the Spirit came down 00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:39.119 and remained on Jesus. 00:31:39.740 --> 00:31:41.500 And when Jesus prepared to go back to heaven, 00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:44.000 he promised that the Holy Spirit 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:46.859 would come down and remain with us. 00:31:48.640 --> 00:31:50.259 You know, if you are a believer in Jesus, 00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:52.619 do you realize that the same Holy Spirit 00:31:52.619 --> 00:31:54.940 who dwelt in Jesus himself 00:31:54.940 --> 00:31:57.619 when he was on earth 00:31:57.619 --> 00:31:59.460 dwells in you? 00:31:59.460 --> 00:32:03.980 That's powerful. 00:32:05.100 --> 00:32:06.660 He is there with you. 00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:08.440 He is in you. 00:32:08.860 --> 00:32:10.640 And he will never leave you. 00:32:12.420 --> 00:32:14.600 So receive the Holy Spirit. 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:17.059 Whether for the first time, 00:32:17.100 --> 00:32:18.420 by putting your faith in Jesus, 00:32:19.620 --> 00:32:21.360 he will send his Spirit to you. 00:32:22.299 --> 00:32:23.600 Or in a renewed way, 00:32:23.700 --> 00:32:24.180 Jesus said, 00:32:24.740 --> 00:32:26.819 those who ask will receive. 00:32:27.639 --> 00:32:29.240 Those who seek will find. 00:32:29.899 --> 00:32:30.700 To those who knock, 00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.579 the door will be opened. 00:32:32.500 --> 00:32:33.779 He said the Father delights 00:32:33.779 --> 00:32:35.939 to give good gifts to his children, 00:32:36.579 --> 00:32:38.220 especially the Holy Spirit. 00:32:38.879 --> 00:32:40.119 So Jesus gives us one another, 00:32:40.220 --> 00:32:41.139 he gives us his peace, 00:32:41.259 --> 00:32:42.299 and he gives us his Spirit. 00:32:43.019 --> 00:32:44.359 That is what gives us confidence 00:32:44.359 --> 00:32:46.139 to be God's ambassadors, 00:32:46.879 --> 00:32:48.419 extending his life-giving presence 00:32:48.419 --> 00:32:49.819 into all the world. 00:32:50.220 --> 00:32:50.700 Let's pray. 00:32:50.700 --> 00:32:50.759 Amen. 00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:50.819 Amen. 00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:50.839 Amen.