When They Saw The Lord Series

Title: “When They Saw the Lord”

(John 20:19–20, KJV)

Text:

John 20:19–20 (KJV)

“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.”

Thesis:

Christian joy is found not in comfort or certainty but in seeing Jesus. And the Jesus who brings joy is not a sanitized, sentimental figure—but the crucified and risen Lord. When we truly see Him by faith, everything changes: fear is replaced by peace, sorrow by joy, and doubt by assurance. We receive a commission, power, and authority—all flowing from the vision of Christ.

Outline:

1. Jesus Shows Up Bearing the Marks of the Cross

• The Jesus who brought joy to His disciples was a crucified Messiah.

• He came into their fear-filled room and showed them His wounds.

• “Wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities.”

Application:

Enemies of the cross would hide His wounds—but believers rejoice in them. The cross is not a shameful symbol but the source of our hope and peace.

Connection to Sermon 1:

Just like in the first sermon—Jesus appears to them and says, “Peace be unto you.” But now we notice: He shows them His scars.

2. Christ Crucified Is Not Enough—He Must Be Risen

• If He did not rise, we are of all men most miserable (1 Corinthians 15:19).

• Too many Christians stop at death with Christ but do not live in the power of His resurrection.

Application:

We must not be content with crucifixion-only Christianity. Resurrection joy flows from a living, reigning Lord.

3. His Appearance Brings Five Transforming Gifts

A. Assurance

• They were stunned—like Jacob hearing Joseph was alive, or Rhoda at Peter’s return.

• We often think God’s goodness is too good to be true—like the child with the full glass of milk who asks, “How deep may I drink?”

“Be not faithless, but believing.”

B. Joy

• “Your joy no man taketh from you” (John 16:22).

• This joy is full, lasting, and unstealable.

• Joy is not hit-or-miss—it is proportional to our faith.

• “They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed” (Psalm 34:5).

C. Commission

• “As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.”

• The joy of the Lord is not just for comfort but for mission.

• Like Saul of Tarsus: “Who art thou, Lord?” quickly followed by, “What wilt thou have me to do?”

D. Power

• “He breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”

• No use giving joy or commission without power to sustain and carry it out.

• “Uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalm 51:12).

E. Authority

• “Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them…”

• However we interpret this (e.g., Acts 2:38), Jesus gave them real, spiritual authority.

• If we see Jesus, we will speak with authority—not as the scribes.

4. We Are Glad When We See the Lord

• You cannot get to the “then” without first coming to the “when.”

• “Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.”

• Too many are hiding behind closed doors of fear, uncertainty, anxiety.

Application:

We are afraid to live and afraid to die. Afraid of critics, circumstances, and the unknown. But when we see Jesus, joy comes!

• “Though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8).

• We don’t yet see all things under our feet—but we see Jesus (Hebrews 2:8–9).

Conclusion: Look Unto Jesus

• Look away from distractions, even good ones.

• Fix your eyes on Jesus—the crucified and risen Savior.

• And in seeing Him, receive His:

• Assurance

• Joy

• Commission

• Power

• Authority

Closing Charge:

“We are glad when we see the Lord. And the leisure of our joy is in proportion to our faith by which we look unto Jesus.”