Jesus Is In The Midst

Jesus Is In The Midst

John 20:19-22

5-year old Johnny was in the kitchen as his mother made supper. She asked him to go into the pantry and get her a can of tomato soup, but he didn't want to go in alone. "It's dark in there and I'm scared." She asked again, and he persisted. Finally she said, "It's OK--Jesus will be in there with you." Johnny walked hesitantly to the door and slowly opened it. He peeked inside, saw it was dark, and started to leave when all at once an idea came, and he said: "Jesus, if you're in there, would you hand me that can of tomato soup?" (Charles Allen, Victory in the Valleys.)

Whether it is a 5 year old child who is scared of the dark or an adult who possesses some other type of fear …fear can be paralyzing. Fear hinders progress and rob us of joy, enthusiasm, and potential. The Christian life is not always easy. We face many battles, we walk through dark valleys and often we have to climb high mountains. Because of the circumstances that we face, we experience a wide range of emotions. We experience discouragement, confusion, uncertainty, fear, doubt and even anger. But in the midst of all the turmoil we can still have joy because of Jesus! It has been my experience that the sweetest fellowship with the Savior has occurred in the most difficult times of my life. If you will look to Him, Jesus will prove the Biblical truth that says "He will never leave you or forsake you"!

After Jesus died and had been placed in that borrowed tomb, His disciples were gathered together behind closed doors and facing several different emotions.

1) THIS WAS A TIME OF DISCOURAGEMENT FOR THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST - These men had lived through the betrayal of Jesus. They had seen Him seized and arrested. They had first hand knowledge of the false trial, mocking the scourging of Jesus. John was there when they nailed Jesus to the Cross, He heard Him cry out "IT IS FINSHED". John watched Him die!

These Disciples lived through what we read in the Gospels. We know how the story ends… at this point they did not. For the past few days they had been grieving the loss of their master. It is likely that some of them were dealing with regret because of their decision to abandon Him.

- Not only was this a time of discouragement:

2) THIS WAS A TIME OF CONFUSION FOR THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST

These men had heard from the women that the tomb was empty. Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw the grave clothes and the cloth that was wrapped around His head. After they saw this “the disciples went away again unto their own home”. Mary remained at the tomb weeping and had an amazing encounter with Jesus. She then returns and tells the disciples what had happened - v18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. Obviously there was some confusion in the minds of the disciples as to what was going on.

- It is also clear that:

3) THIS WAS A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY FOR THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST - These men did not know what the future would hold for them. There were so many variables in their lives at this point they couldn’t grasp what would come next. I am sure they were thinking "what if He really is alive, what will He have to say about us abandoning Him?" There is no telling what was running through the mind of these men as they were gathered in that room.

- John makes it clear in verse 19 that:

4) THIS WAS A TIME OF FEAR FOR THE FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST "the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews,” (v19)

The Jews had put Christ to death and the disciples’ faith was weak. They thought that they would face the same fate because they were followers of Him. The disciples were defeated, and rendered useless for the Lord. But we will find that Jesus showed up and revived His followers!

Many of His followers need to be revived today! Some have made decisions that have negatively affected their lives. Some of them are like Peter, they have denied the Lord. Some are like James, Andrew, Matthew and the others, they have abandoned the Lord when things got tough. Some are like John, they are heartbroken and devastated because of what they have experienced while following Jesus.

Wherever you fit in... whatever you may be going through, I want to encourage you to look to Jesus. I want to remind you that "He will never leave you, nor forsake you".