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".
When Jesus appeared to His disciples they were doubtful, distressed and discouraged. Verse 20 says that when the Disciples saw Him "they were glad". They went from fear to cheer! They were thrilled to be in the presence of their Master!
Great things happen when Jesus' people meet with Him. We have the privilege to meet with the Master each and every day. I want to walk through this passage and preach on the thought "Jesus Is In The Midst".
I am glad to report that Jesus is in the midst right here...right now! He said in - Matthew 18:20 "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." That is a promise that is illustrated in our selected text, and it is a promise that is true today. Look with me to verse 19 and notice:
I. WHEN JESUS APPEARED TO HIS FOLLOWERS - v19 "When the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews.”
The disciples were rendered useless to the point. They had shut themselves off from the world, and could not be used! In recent days Jesus had been arrested, falsely tried, convicted scourged and crucified. The hostile crowd had chosen Barabbas and cried demanded that Jesus be crucified. Now the disciples were asking themselves the question… “are we next”?? Would the Jews seek the death of Jesus’ disciples?
This is interesting when compared with the boldness that we see after they received the Holy Spirit. These same Disciples were brought before the High Priest in (Acts 5:28 {The High Priest said} Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.)
(Acts 5:40 {they took} the apostles, and beat them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42 And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.) These men were steadfast, bold and willing to die for Jesus after receiving the Holy Ghost. But at this point, they were consumed with fear.
There are many Christians hiding behind closed doors today. They are living as if Christ was still dead. Like these Disciples, they have “shut the door” spiritually speaking. Due to certain situations and circumstances they have closed themselves off and neglected their duty as Christians. They once served the Lord with boldness but now they have "shut the door"!
There is an old Testament illustration of what fear can do to the servant of God found in - 1 Kings 19:2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time. 3 And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. 4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.
Fear stopped one of God's mighty warriors right in his tracks! He ran, hid and gave up on serving the Lord! My friend, if it can happen to Elijah…it can happen to you!!
The Disciples had some legitimate concerns. They feared for their very lives. Though they were terrified, Jesus brought peace. When He entered the room, He "stood in the midst, and said unto them, Peace be unto you.”
Understand this, no one else could have helped these men at this point and time. That may be where you are today. There are times when no one but Jesus can help us. When we are terrified and hiding in fear, it is Jesus who brings peace!
- Now that we have seen When Jesus Appeared To His Followers I would like to also examine:
II. WHAT JESUS SHOWED HIS FOLLOWERS - v20 “And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord."
Jesus knew the Disciples were confused. He knew that they were fearful, grieving and filled with sorrow. When He appeared He showed them that there was no need to weep for Him because He was ALIVE! He also showed them that there was no need to fear what man could do to them! The enemies had crucified Him but there He stood in victory over death and the grave! He showed them that His promises had been and would be fulfilled.
When they saw Him it finally clicked in their minds what Jesus had said way back in - John 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21 But he spake of the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
When they saw the wounds in His hands and His feet, this spoke peace and power to their fearful hearts! We have all the evidence we need, we may not see the scars but we feel His power. We abide in Him and He abides in us. We can feel His presence and we know that He is risen. There is no excuse for the Church to live as if the Savior is still in the grave! He is alive and He is in the midst!!
- We have seen When Jesus Appeared To His Followers and What Jesus Showed His Followers, finally I would like for you to:
II. WHY JESUS CAME TO HIS FOLLOWERS v19-22
When He arrived He brought revival into the lives of His Disciples. The things that Jesus did for those first Disciples, He can and will do in our lives today.
- There were several reasons that Jesus appeared that day. Notice that:
A. HE CAME TO BRING PEACE - v19 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.
Jesus knew their location and their situation; He knew that they were terrified and hiding for fear of the Jews. He loved these men and wanted to bring them peace. Jesus said unto them, “Peace be unto you.”
Don't miss the fact that Jesus knew exactly where to find these men. They may have been hiding away from the rest of the world, but they couldn't hide from Jesus! No matter what you are facing today, He knows where you are and what you are facing. He loves you and wants you to possess peace as well.If He can speak peace be still and calm a raging storm, He can bring peace to your troubled soul!
- Verse 20 shows us that:
B. HE CAME TO BRING PROOF - v20 and when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Jesus told His followers that He would be resurrected but they could not grasp His truth at the time it was spoken. Now Jesus has appears bearing the marks of the crucifixion and the Disciples could clearly see that their Master lived! We have all the proof that we need to show us that JESUS LIVES TODAY!!
- Jesus came to bring peace, He came to bring proof and:
C. HE CAME TO BRING PURPOSE – v21 then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Jesus didn’t come to these men to say “I told you so!” He came because He had a plan for them; He had a purpose for their life! Jesus has a purpose for you! He knows what is best for you and He has equipped you to serve in that capacity.
- Not only does He have a plan for your life, He will give you the power to accomplish that plan. Notice that:
D. HE CAME TO BRING POWER - v22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost
He gave these men the power of the Holy Ghost. He gave them all they needed to fulfill His plan for their lives. The book of Acts records how Jesus used this small group of followers to reach the world for His glory.
Those of us who are saved possess this same power. In the beginning there was not a vast multitude of people following Jesus. The Church began with a small number of people who had met with Jesus. Jesus possesses the same power today that He had back then. Just imagine what He could do if each and every person here would fully surrender to Him.
Revival starts with meeting with Jesus. He is in our midst today and He can bring peace, proof, purpose and power into your life! He can also save the souls of men and women who are headed for Hell.
It is vitally important that each person here realizes that:
Every human is a sinner
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
God's penalty for sin is death
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death…
In His great love, God has made provision for the salvation of sinners
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Each person must put his trust in God's Son, Jesus Christ
Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
I encourage you to surrender to Jesus and be saved today! Whether you are saved or lost.... whatever your need may be this morning, remember that "Jesus Is In The Midst".
10252018
