Encountering Jesus Behind Locked Doors

Title: Jesus Encounters the Disciples in the Locked Room Script: John 20:19-23

Type: Expos./Encountering Jesus Where: GNBC 4-16-23

Intro: Over the past 2k years countless men and women have met Christ in a locked room. For millions it has been in the confines of a jail or prison cell. For others it has been behind the locked doors of some type of institution in which they were seeking treatment. For others, they have met Christ behind the locked doors of their hotel room when they’ve found a Gideon Bible opened it up and read the Savior’s words of life. For millions, even today, it’s been behind the locked doors of house church in China or Iran or some other place where the Gospel is ‘banned.” For many others, desperate individuals, who have long fought against God and placed walls and locked doors to their hearts before finally succumbing to His effectual call. Today we see the first instance of men responding to the risen Christ behind locked doors.

Prop: In Jn. 20:19-23 we’ll see 4 encouraging statements Christ says to His disciples.

BG: 1. Passage takes place the evening of Resurrection morning (v.19) and carries over another 8 days (v.26). Ten of the disciples are together, absent of course is Judas, and also Thomas. 2. Both Mark and Luke relate some of this encounter. 3.

Prop: Let’s exam. Jn 20:19-23 to see 4 Encouraging Statements Xst tells His Disciples Res. Evening.

I. 1st Encouraging Word: “Peace Be With You.” Vv. 19-20

A. Jesus Appears to the Disciples in the Midst of their Excitement and Fear.

1. Jesus’ Personal Appearance brings peace to the beleaguered Disciples.

a. We pick up the narrative on the evening of Easter Sunday. The disciples are already puzzled and excited by the rumors sweeping through Jerusalem that something has happened to the body of Jesus. Four different individuals or groups have already claimed to have seen our Lord risen from the dead: First, there was Mary Magdalene. She had come running from the tomb to tell Peter and John that the body was gone. Other women who had also been at the tomb saw him, and worshipped him. Two men traveling down the road to Emmaus, Cleopas and another (Lk 24), had come back in breathless excitement, saying that Jesus had appeared to them on the way and ministered to them from the Scriptures. Then the word had gone out that Peter had seen Jesus. So it is no wonder the disciples gather together in the evening in the Upper Room to discuss what had happened.

b. Certainly there is excitement. There is also confusion. There is also fear – v. 19 tells us so. The disciples were afraid they would have the same fate as their master at the hands of His tormenters. Maybe the Jews would blame them for “stealing “ the body and execute them as well.

2. Jesus Speaks Peace to the Disciples’ Troubled Hearts.

a. Illust: 25 yrs. ago Friday night I was in Belfast, N. Ireland. We had taken a team from GNBC to Belfast for Holy Week services. Mike and Marilyn were also there. After preaching the Good Friday service we all went back to the homes where were staying. I was staying with Rev. Jim and Carole Rea. When walked in the door, Carole said: “James, you’d better look at the telly, there’s rioting outside of Stormont (Govt. building). Jim looked at me: “Let’s go!” Uncharacteristically, Carole got angry: “James, don’t you get arrested and get your face on the BBC! Chris Arch, I’ll hold you responsible if he does!” That night history was taking place as the Good Friday Agreement declared end to the longest war in Europe in the 20th century. What the people of N. Ireland called “The Troubles” had ended.

b. “Peace be with you.” – Eirene – Literally, this would read: “Peace to you.” – noun- (nominative.fem/sing.) -Tranquility. Disciples were in turmoil. Christ brings peace. This is what I hear most common when someone comes to Christ. My life was in turmoil and now I have peace. Yes!

B. Jesus Offers the Disciples Proof of His Personhood.

1. The Shocked Disciples

a. Illust – Poltergeist, Ghostbusters, Ghost, Ghost Story, field of Dreams, Beetlejuice, A Christmas Carol, Casper for crying out loud! Humans are obsessed with ghosts. The same was true in the 1st century. One moment Jesus isn’t there and the next He is! What were they to assume? Had never seen a resurrected body before.

b. V.20 – Jesus shows the shocked disciples the proof of His personhood. Shows the physical scars that were on His body. Hands and feet and side. NO ONE besides Christ, has the scars for your salvation!

2. We have Peace with God thru the Death and Bodily Resurrection of Christ.