Go! And Believe the Risen Lord - John 20:19–29
John 20:19–29 (NLT):
19 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.
20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!
21 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.
23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
24 One of the twelve 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.”
26 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.
27 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!”
28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
Introduction: The Silence After the Celebration
Resurrection Sunday is glorious—but what about the Monday after? What happens in the hearts of disciples once the shouts of “He is risen!” fade into the quiet reality of daily life?
The week after the resurrection was not business as usual. It was a week of transformation, of confirmation, and of mission. It was a week when fear was met with peace, doubt was overcome by truth, and lives were forever changed by the risen Lord.
Today, we are invited to go! and believe the risen Lord—to step out of fear and into faith, not just for a moment, but for a lifetime.
I. From Fear to Peace — John 20:19–21
Verse 19 tells us the disciples were meeting “behind locked doors because they were afraid.”
The Greek word for “afraid” here is “f?ß??µe???” (phoboumenoi), the same root from which we get “phobia.” They were paralysed by fear.
But then—“Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them!” And what does He say? “Peace be with you.”
This is not a casual greeting. It’s shalom—a divine peace that restores wholeness, dispels anxiety, and proclaims reconciliation with God.
“Peace doesn’t come from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of Christ.” — Charles Stanley
Stanley is right. The world gives peace through distraction; Jesus gives peace through resurrection. His scars still bear witness that He has conquered sin and death.
Application
Are you behind locked doors in your heart today? Maybe fear, doubt, or failure has kept you hidden. Jesus steps into your room, uninvited but welcome, and speaks peace. Will you receive it?
II. From Doubt to Faith — John 20:24–29
Thomas, often labelled as “Doubting Thomas,” wasn't present at the first appearance. He says in verse 25, “I won’t believe it unless…”
Thomas wanted proof. But eight days later, Jesus returns and meets Thomas in his doubt. “Put your finger here… Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”
The Greek word for “believe” is “p?ste??” (pisteuo), meaning to entrust one’s entire self. It’s not just mental agreement—it’s heart surrender.
And Thomas responds with one of the strongest declarations of Jesus’ divinity in all of Scripture: “My Lord and my God!”
“Faith is not the absence of doubt, but the presence of trust in the midst of it.” — Tim Keller
Like Keller says, the presence of Jesus changes everything. Jesus doesn’t condemn Thomas—He invites him.
Jesus meets you where you are. Are you doubting today? Questioning God’s presence, His power, His plan? The resurrected Jesus invites you to examine His wounds and trust in His love.
III. From Confusion to Commission — John 20:21–23
Jesus doesn’t stop at peace—He commissions.
“As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” (v.21)
This is a missional moment. The disciples, once paralysed, are now apostello—sent ones. The Greek ?p?st???? (apostello) means to send out with authority.
He then breathed on them—a deliberate echo of Genesis 2:7, where God breathed life into Adam.
The disciples aren’t just given a mission—they are spiritually empowered.
“You were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense.” — Rick Warren
Jesus gives new purpose, new breath, and new life. And He sends us not in fear, but in faith.
You are not saved to sit—you are saved to serve. The resurrection is not the end of the Gospel; it is the launchpad of your mission. Will you go where He sends you?
IV. Supporting Scriptures: A Week of Witness
Luke 24:13–35 — The Road to Emmaus
Two disciples, confused and disillusioned, encounter Jesus without recognising Him. Only when He breaks bread are their eyes opened.
“Didn’t our hearts burn within us…?” (v.32)
Jesus walks with us even when we don’t recognise Him.
1 Corinthians 15:5–7
“He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time…” (v.5–6)
The resurrection is historically verified, not emotionally imagined.
Acts 1:3
“During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared… and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive.” (NLT)
“If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that He said; if He didn’t, then why worry about anything He said?” — Tim Keller
The resurrection validates Jesus’ identity and message. And it demands a response.
The Doubt of a Rescued Man
A man rescued from a collapsed building after an earthquake kept asking his rescuers, “Am I really out? Am I truly free?”
Though saved, he couldn’t believe it at first—until he felt the sunlight on his skin.
That’s what the resurrection does—it shines the light of truth onto our fear and says, “You’re free. You’re alive.”
V. From Wandering to Worship — Matthew 28:8–10 (NLT)
8 The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.
9 And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him.
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”
In the week after the resurrection, Jesus wasn’t just appearing—He was meeting, calling, and transforming. These faithful women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, were the first witnesses to the risen Christ—and their immediate response? Worship.
They fell at His feet—not as a teacher, but as the living Son of God. They did not question, they did not demand proof. Their fear gave way to faith, and their sorrow was replaced with joy.
And notice what Jesus does not say. He doesn’t say, “Why didn’t you believe sooner?” He says, “Don’t be afraid.”
The Greek word for “worshiped” is p??se????sa? (prosekynesan), meaning to bow in reverence, to kiss the ground in honour. This was full-body surrender. Worship was the natural reaction to resurrection.
“You don’t really understand Jesus is all you need until Jesus is all you have.” — Tim Keller
When we encounter the risen Christ, worship becomes more than singing. It becomes a life poured out. A heart surrendered. A soul reoriented.
Some of you feel like you’ve been wandering. Life after the cross seems uncertain. But worship brings clarity. When you fall at the feet of Jesus, He lifts your eyes to purpose.
Have you knelt lately—not just physically, but spiritually—before the Risen Lord? Have you told Him, “You are enough. You are all I need”?
Let the resurrection drive you not just to awe, but to adoration.
Jesus, our true King, has returned from the grave. And He is no longer the suffering servant on the cross—He is the risen and reigning King. Should we not fall at His feet in worship?
Gospel Presentation
Let me speak to your soul now: Jesus Christ, fully God and fully man, lived a perfect life. He died on a Roman cross, bearing the full weight of your sin and mine. He was buried. And on the third day, He rose again.
Not as a symbol. Not as a myth. But as the conquering King.
Romans 4:25 (NLT)
“He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.”
You don’t need religion—you need resurrection life. Repent. Turn. Believe. Trust the risen Saviour.
Call to Action
If you believe, go and live like it.
Go and forgive, as you have been forgiven.
Go and serve, as Christ served you.
Go and proclaim the One who was dead and is now alive forevermore!
And if you have not believed, believe today. Don’t wait for proof—Jesus already gave His life.
Invitation to Salvation
Friend, are you like Thomas—waiting to believe until it all makes sense? Let today be the day your faith moves from doubt to declaration: “My Lord and my God!”
Right now, turn from your sin. Place your trust in the crucified and risen Christ. He will forgive, restore, and give you peace.
A Church that Believes and Lives the Resurrection
Church, the week after the resurrection is not a footnote in Scripture—it is the foundation of our daily walk. Jesus didn’t rise to be remembered only once a year. He rose to be followed daily.
He appears to us through His Word.
He sends His Spirit to dwell within us.
He intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father.
And He promises to return for us in glory!
You don’t need to see His scars to believe—His Spirit testifies with your spirit that He is alive!
“The resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing.” — Frederick Buechner
No matter what trial you face, no matter what doubt you carry, the risen Christ still says, “Peace be with you.” The grave could not hold Him, and neither can fear, shame, or death hold you.
Closing Exhortation: The Mission Is Ours Now
The resurrection wasn’t the end of Jesus’ work—it was the beginning of ours. In John 20:21, He said, “As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”
That’s not just for pastors. That’s not just for missionaries. That’s for every believer who has seen the risen Lord by faith.
Go! And believe. Go! And live. Go! And tell.
You carry resurrection power. You carry Gospel truth. You carry eternal hope.
Benediction
So now, dear brothers and sisters in Christ:
May your hearts burn with passion like those on the road to Emmaus.
May your faith rise like Thomas' declaration, “My Lord and my God.”
May your worship be as sincere as the women who fell at His feet.
May your mission be empowered by the Spirit who breathed new life.
And may the risen Christ—your Saviour and King—walk with you, guide you, and send you into this world with fearless love and unshakable hope.
Go in peace. Go in power. Go and believe the Risen Lord!
Now may the peace of Christ that stilled the storm and silenced fear guard your heart and mind. May the breath of His Spirit fill you with boldness. And may you go from this place not in fear, but in faith—believing, proclaiming, and living for the risen Lord.
Amen.
