The Reality Of The Resurrection
Text: John 20:19-29; John 21:15-19
Introduction
1. As Christians, we must remember not only Christ's death but also His resurrection. The resurrection is not only power for eternal living, but for everyday life. This power is clearly revealed in the lives of the disciples’ for the rest of their lives.
2. In the moment that Thomas saw Jesus with his own eyes, we are not told what he did but we do know what he said: My Lord and my God! In that very moment, Thomas declared what had never been said before! This was truly a miraculous moment.
3. I believe the reason Jesus confronted Thomas and his unbelief is because Thomas desperately needed to understand the reality of the resurrection for himself.
4. When Jesus showed up and confronted Thomas, He really wanted Thomas to believe, to throw away his doubts and just believe. Jesus wanted His death and resurrection to mean something in Thomas's life.
A. Jesus didn't die so that Thomas would live out the rest of his life in doubt. He died and resurrected so that Thomas could believe and live free from doubt.
B. No matter how numb you find yourself, how dead and hopeless your situation is, this might even be your fourth day, as in Lazarus's case, it is no match for the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Life is still a very real possibility for you, if you believe.
5. The reality of the resurrection is seen in the fact that it...
A. Strengthened The Disciples Resolve
B. Strengthened The Disciples Relationship With Him
C. Found In Restored Lives
6. Let's stand together as we read John 20:19-29; 21:15-19.
Proposition: The resurrection changes everything!
Transition: First, the reality of the resurrection...
I. Strengthened The Disciples' Resolve (19-23).
A. Peace Be With You
1. Resolve is defined as “commitment, boldness, and courage.”
A. When Jesus was arrested, tried, and crucified, it seemed that in one sweeping moment, the disciples lost all their resolve. What happened?
B. I believe their fear and lack of courage surprised even themselves.
C. We tend to think highly of ourselves. We imagine scenarios where we face our weaknesses and our oppressors, and we imagine ourselves saying just the right words at just the right time.
D. Can you imagine the disciples coming together after the death of Jesus? One looks to the other: "Where did you go? What did you do? What did you say? Did anyone stand up for Jesus?" Imagine the shame and humiliation.
E. Resolve is hard to come by when your life is in danger. It quickly diminishes when your family's life is in danger. Questions and doubt fill your mind.
F. Thomas wasn't the only one to doubt. He was just the most vocal. Thomas, like Peter, really loved Jesus. Why do I say that? Because he, like Peter, was willing to die with Jesus.
2. But then something amazing happened. John tells us, "That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said."
A. Once again we see John give a precise description of time. It was evening on that same day, Sunday, the evening of the resurrection.
B. When he tells us that the doors were "locked" (the Greek means no more than "shut," but NLT seems correct as we see in a few minutes, because of their fear of the Jews).
C. The group that met together is called simply "the disciples." This may mean the apostles only (or rather ten of them, for Thomas was not present).
D. But the term is wide enough to include others, and there is no real reason for thinking that apostles only are in mind.
E. Certainly if the occasion is that referred to in Luke 24:33 others were present, for Luke expressly mentions them.
F. We should also keep in mind that in this very chapter John speaks of "the Twelve" (v. 24), so he must mean something different when he says "the disciples."
G. The disciples were afraid (understandably), and they took precautions. Now Jesus came and stood among them.
H. This appears to mean that he had not come through the door in the normal fashion (otherwise what is the point of mentioning the shut door?).
I. It has been suggested that Jesus came right through the closed door, or that the door opened of its own accord.
J. But since Scripture says nothing about Jesus' entry into the room, any attempt to describe it is merely a guess.
K. As the old saying goes, "where Scripture is silent, we are silent. We can only say that the risen Jesus was not limited by closed doors.
L. Miraculously he stood among them, but the precise way he did it really doesn't matter. "Peace be with you" is the usual Hebrew greeting.
M. It is likely, however, that on this occasion we should see more in the words than a conventional greeting.
N. After their forsaking Jesus at the time of the arrest the disciples may well have expected rebuke or blame. Instead Jesus pronounces peace on them (Morris, The New International Commentary on the New Testament – The Gospel According to John, 744).
3. Then John says, "As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!"
A. No reason is given for his showing his hands and side. But these were places where he bore the marks of the wounds (ironically John does not mention wounds in the feet), so that this was a means of convincing them that it was him, the same Jesus they had known, however much he might have been transformed.
B. We should probably understand this in the light of what Luke tells us, that when Jesus appeared among the disciples on the evening of the first Easter Day, "They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost" (Luke 24:37).
C. It must have been scary for them to have Jesus suddenly appear in their midst, because the doors remained locked shut.
D. What could this be other than a ghost? Seeing is not always believing; therefore it must have been very hard for them to consider this a resurrection.
E. So Jesus immediately took steps to convince them of his identity and to take away their fear. The Greek text includes a "therefore" (which NLT omits) shows that the sight of the hands and the side was effective.
F. On account of this they were filled with joy, convinced now that it was Jesus that they saw.
G. We should certainly see in this the fulfillment of our Lord's prophecy that the disciples would have sorrow while the world rejoiced, but that they would see him again and their sorrow would be turned to joy (16:20-22) (Morris, 745).
4. Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”
22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit."
A. Now comes Jesus' commissioning of his disciples. He repeats the greeting, "Peace be with you," the repetition giving it emphasis.
B. It's not be far-fetched to think of this peace as the peace that comes as the result of his death and resurrection.
C. After all, he has just shown them his hands and side with their marks of his crucifixion. The thought that the Father has sent the Son is one of the master thoughts of this Gospel; it is repeated over and over.
D. Therefore it is not surprising that it comes out once more in this solemn moment.
E. Now, as Jesus has brought to its completion the task that he came to accomplish, the task that the Father laid upon him, he sends his followers into the world.
F. The charge is given added importance from being linked to the mission of the Son: their mission proceeds from his. It is only because he has accomplished his mission, and indeed precisely because he has accomplished it, that they are sent into the world. (Morris, 746).
G. Having commissioned them, Jesus bestowed on them the equipment they would need for their commission.
H. He breathed and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." John is not writing as though there were a series of gifts made to individuals. Rather he speaks of a collective gift made to the group as a whole. "The gift was once for all, not to individuals but to the body" (Morris, 747).
I. The word "breathed" is the same word used in Genesis where it says "God breathed life into the nostrils of man."
J. Did Adam receive life when God breathed life into him? Of course he did! Did the disciples receive the Holy Spirit when Jesus breathed on them?
K. Yes they did! So what happened on the Day of Pentecost? A second work of the Holy Spirit, but we will talk more about that latter.
B. He Trusts Us
1. Illustration: I wonder what would happen if we applied the same standards of loyalty to our Christian activities that we expect from other areas of our lives?
If your car starts once every three tries, is it reliable? If the postman skipped delivery every Monday and Thursday, is he trustworthy? If you don’t go to work once or twice a month, are you a reliable employee? If your fridge stops working for a day or two every now and then, do you say, "Oh well, it work most of the time."? If your water heater provides an icy cold shower every now and then, is it dependable? If you skipped a couple of electricity bill payments do you think Western Power would mind? If you fail to worship God one or two Sundays a month, would you expect to be called a faithful Christian?
2. One result of the resurrection is that Jesus will still trust us even after we make mistakes.
A. Luke 24:47 (NLT)
It was also written that this message would be proclaimed in the authority of his name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem: ‘There is forgiveness of sins for all who repent.’
B. We have all been in the place were we've messed up and we feel guilty...guilty as sin.
C. But because of the resurrection we can be freed from not only the sin, but also from the guilt that goes with it.
D. We can be freed from that feeling of of failure and the humiliation.
E. But Jesus frees us from all of that.
F. He has freed us, set us free, and paid our debt.
G. And now he still trusts us and has given us the great commission.
Transition: Not only did the resurrection strengthen their resolve, it also...
II. Strengthened The Disciples' Relationship With Him (24-29).
A. Don't Be Faithless Any Longer. Believe!
1. You can see what people are made out of during difficult moments, and this was one of those moments.
A. What do you get when you squeeze an orange? Orange juice. What do you get when you squeeze lemons? Lemonade. What do you get when you squeeze disciples? Well, in this case, you get fear from the majority of the disciples, but from Thomas you get a real sense of loyalty.
B. Yet somehow, that resolve was out the window the moment Jesus was arrested. Why?
C. Because Thomas was human. Because he was flesh and blood, and that’s what flesh does in the face of huge disappointment and doubt.
D. Thomas was like a lot of us. We believe and then we don't believe.
E. We are courageous and then we fear.
2. As the story continues, there was "One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”
A. First the scene is set. Thomas is described with some precision as one of the Twelve, and as the one called "Didymus" or "twin". He was not with the others when Jesus came. No reason is given, and there is neither praise nor blame for his absence (Morris, 751).
B. The others told Thomas that they had seen Jesus, and found their statement met with blank skepticism.
C. Thomas demands both visual and touchable proof before he will believe. Unless he can both see the nailprints and put his finger into them, he will not believe.
D. No skepticism could be more thorough than this, and it is perhaps worth noting that nobody else in the New Testament makes demands like these before believing.
E. This is often taken as indicating that Thomas more skeptical by nature than the others, and, of course, he may have been.
F. But another possibility is that he was so shocked by the tragedy of the crucifixion that he did not find it easy to think of its consequences as being null and void (Morris, 751).
3. However, "Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said."
A. "Eight days" according to the inclusive method of counting signifies "a week." This incident, then, is dated on the Sunday evening after the first Easter Day.
B. The disciples were again gathered indoors, this time with Thomas present.
C. As before, the doors were locked. As before, Jesus came among them and gave them the usual greeting.
D. John seems to extreme care to make clear that all was just as it had been on the first occasion (Morris, 752).
4. Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
A. After the greeting Jesus addressed himself to his hard-headed disciple. With some rather unexpected vocabulary he invites
B. Thomas to carry out the tests he himself had nominated, to put his finger into the nail prints and his hand into the side.
C. Jesus concludes by urging Thomas to cease being an unbeliever but become a believer (Morris, 752).
5. Then Thomas says, “My Lord and my God!”
A. But Thomas was not such a skeptic as he thought he was.
B. At the sight of Jesus all his doubts vanished and he did not need to apply any of his tests.
C. It is possible that it was the words of Jesus more than anything that brought conviction, for they showed that Jesus was perfectly aware of what Thomas had laid down as his demands.
D. Perhaps we should mention that some think that Thomas did actually put his finger into the nailprints and his hand into the spear wound.
E. They hold that if Jesus commanded him he had no choice. But John says nothing of the sort, and it seems very improbable.
F. It is much more likely that Jesus' words reveal the truth of the matter: "Because you have seen me, you have believed" (v. 29).
G. Thomas gave utterance to his newfound faith in the memorable words, "My Lord and my God!" It is an expression that is used by others of the Master, sometimes with more and sometimes with less content.
H. Here we must clearly give the term all that it will hold. "My God" is a rather new form of address.
I. Nobody has previously addressed Jesus like this. It marks a leap of faith. In the moment that he came to see that Jesus was indeed risen from the dead Thomas came to see something of what that implied.
J. Mere men do not rise from the dead in this fashion. The One who was now so obviously alive, although he had died, could be addressed in the language of adoring worship (Morris, 752).
6. Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
A. Jesus addresses to Thomas a word of approval, but one that goes far beyond Thomas to those who had not required so much before believing.
B. Thomas believed on the basis of sight: he saw Jesus and believed. There is possibly significance also in the fact that when Jesus goes on to speak of those who believed without seeing he says they are "blessed", not "more blessed."
C. This does not look like a comparison, with Thomas worse off than the others. But Jesus does pronounce a blessing on those who have believed without seeing.
D. At the time the words were spoken this would not have been a large number, but perhaps not all the first Christians were as skeptical as Thomas.
E. Some had believed Peter and the others. These are now said to be blessed. And, of course, the words will refer as well to all those who in the future would follow in the same way.
F. There is a special blessing for those possessed of a faith that can trust absolutely and that does not need to "see" at every turn (Morris, 753).
B. Restoration
1. Video Clip
2. The resurrection restores us to a right relationship with God.
A. Acts 13:38-39 (NLT)
“Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. 39 Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God—something the law of Moses could never do.
B. It doesn't matter what we've done.
C. It doesn't matter how far we have strayed.
D. It doesn't matter how deep are sin.
E. The resurrection of Jesus set us right with God.
F. It restores us to a place with God where we are not only his friends again, but we are his family. his children.
G. We are not only declared forgiven, but we are declared right with God!
Transition: The resurrection strengthened their resolve, strengthened their relationship, and it...
III. Found In Restored Lives (21:15-19).
A. Do You Love Me
1. After a meal with the disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus addressed Peter directly for the first time since His resurrection.
A. The last time Jesus spoke to Peter, it was a command in the Garden of Gethsemane a place of "suffering." Jesus was arrested, tensions were high. Peter did what he knew and assaulted a soldier:
B. Jesus commanded Peter, ˜Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?" (John 18:11).
C. This time with Peter after the resurrection was different. The place was different. Jesus met Peter in a place of "comfort” where Peter had first met Jesus: From now on you will fish for people" (Luke 5:10).
D. It was a place of audacious faith, where Peter once walked on water, a place where Peter felt most at home.
2. John tells us, "After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him."
A. Simon son of John was the name Jesus had said when he first met this man who would become his disciple (1:42).
B. But Peter had not yet proven himself to live up to that name—Peter, “the rock.”
C. According to Luke 24:34, Jesus had probably met with Peter previously.
D. Jesus’ first question to Peter, “Do you love me more than these?” could be translated in three ways: (1) “Do you love me more than these men love me?” (2) “Do you love me more than you love these men?” (3) “Do you love me more than these things?” (that is, the fishing boat, nets, and gear).
E. Of the three options, the first seems the most appropriate because Peter had boasted that he would never forsake Jesus, even if all the other disciples did. This was the same as saying that he had more love for Jesus than the others did (Barton 463).
3. Then Jesus asks the question a second time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said."
A. Jesus' question is repeated without the "more than these." Attention is concentrated on the question of love and the comparison drops out.
B. Peter's reply is exactly as before. Again there is the agreement with Jesus' word, again the emphatic "you," and again the appeal to Jesus' own knowledge that Peter does indeed love his Lord.
C. As noted in the previous verse, the commission varies. The verb used here has a somewhat broader meaning.
D. It means "Exercise the office of shepherd" over against simply "Feed."
E. There is doubt whether we should read "sheep" or "lambs", but either way there is a commission to Peter to engage in pastoral duties (Morris, 771).
4. Then Jesus asks the question a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep."
A. This third time Jesus changes to Peter's word for love, though no attention is drawn to this.
B. Peter was very sad, but it was because he was asked the question three times, not because of a change of meaning.
C. His sorrow at the threefold question impelled him to a somewhat fuller reply. But, though his reply is fuller, it lacks the "Yes, Lord" of the two previous replies.
D. Peter does not venture on his own affirmative this time, but relies on the Lord's intimate knowledge of all things, and specifically his knowledge of his servant. "Lord, you know all things."
E. In the context it means at least that Jesus fully understood what went on in people's hearts, and specifically in Peter's heart.
F. There can be little doubt but that the whole scene is meant to show us Peter as completely restored to his position of leadership.
G. Three times he had denied his Lord. Now he has three times affirmed his love for him, and three times he has been commissioned to care for the flock.
H. This must have had the effect of a demonstration that, whatever had been the mistakes of the past, Jesus was restoring Peter to a place of trust.
I. It is further worth noting that the one thing about which Jesus questioned Peter prior to commissioning him to tend the flock was love.
J. This is the basic qualification for Christian service. Other qualities may be desirable, but love is completely indispensable (Morris, 771-772).
5. Then Jesus tells Peter, “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
A. The commission is followed by a prophecy introduced by "I tell you the truth".
B. Jesus refers to Peter's past state rather than his present position, perhaps to contrast his first state with his last.
C. Two things are singled out, the fastening of the belt (NLT, "dressed yourself") and the going where he wanted.
D. In youth Peter had done both of these things. In old age he will do neither. He will be restrained, and no longer master of his what he does.
E. John proceeds to an explanation of these rather puzzling words. They refer to the death by which Peter will glorify God.
F. The words are very general, but there is evidence that the stretching forth of the hands was held in the early church to refer to crucifixion.
G. If this understanding of the expression goes back to the time of Christ, then we have a prophecy of the exact mode of Peter's death.
H. But unless we can be sure of this we cannot be certain of more than that the words point to martyrdom in some form.
I. This prophecy is followed by a call to Peter to follow Christ. There is possibly significance in the use of the present tense; "keep on following" will be the force of it.
J. Peter had followed Christ, but not continuously in the past. For the future he was to follow steadfastly in the ways of the Lord (Morris, 772).
B. Restored
1. Illustration: Paul talks a spiritual metamorphosis being accomplished "by the renewing of your mind." The word "renewing" also means renovation. Think of a house.
You can make repairs. You know, the cosmetic kind – some paint and carpet – and it looks better, perhaps increases the resale value.
But Paul isn’t talking about repairing our minds. That may cover up some ugly defects for awhile, but it isn’t going to lead to transformation.
You can restore a house to its original historic condition. You take out carpet and refinish the original wood floors. You find windows, doors, woodwork and hardware in good condition from the period the house was built and install those to reverse someone else’s "modernizations".
But Paul isn’t talking about restoring our minds to their original condition. We were born sinners and did not have the mind of God so what is there to restore?
Paul is talking about a complete renovation. This is not about cosmetic repairs or restoration. It’s like taking a house and completely gutting it. Walls, floors, wiring, plumbing, cabinets, bath and kitchen fixtures, roof – it’s all completely new. Anyone who’d seen the house in its previous condition wouldn’t recognize it now.
2. The resurrection doesn't restore us to who we were before, but rather who God intended us to be.
A. Ephesians 4:22-24 (NLT)
throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
B. Just as the resurrection changed Jesus physical body, it also changes us spiritually.
C. It doesn't change into who we were, but into the person God created us to be.
D. Jesus didn't die for you so you can stay the same.
E. Jesus didn't die for you to fix up and patch all your holes.
F. Jesus died for you so that you could be made new.
G. Jesus died for you so that people will no longer recognize the old you.
Conclusion
1. It matters how we treat the resurrection. It either entertains us or propels us forward. We are either a passive participant in God's liberating, redeeming plan or we are actively engaged, moving in the power and authority of the resurrection.
2. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is meant to be real in our everyday lives’ not tucked away in some nice little story but living, breathing, and powerfully stirring our lives just as it was in the lives of the disciples.
3. No matter how numb you find yourself, how dead and hopeless your situation may be ”it is no match for the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
