Then... Came Jesus

Many folks believe it is possible the doors were locked since the reason they were shut up was because they feared for their lives. The Greek word used for “closed” here certainly indicates “secured” or “locked.”

Since the Bible points out that they were behind closed doors at that particular time, we can safely assume that was not the usual custom. If it had been, it probably would not have been mentioned.

That is not the custom of the church today in America.

Illus: That is, can you imagine going to a church and having the pastor say, “Is everyone inside?” Then, when an usher says, “Yes, pastor, everyone is inside,” the pastor would then say, “Okay, ushers, please secure the door.”

The Bible does not tell us that was exactly what happened to the disciples. Perhaps it was not in the manner I just described, but It does tell us they were all behind CLOSED DOORS during that time. There is a 99% likelihood they were locked tight.

Since the Bible tells us that was the situation, what we are going to examine in this sermon is, “WHY WERE THEY BEHIND THOSE CLOSED DOORS?”

Before we can understand that, we need to understand that when the disciples came to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior it was different than it is with many people who accept Christ today.

Most of the disciples forsook THEIR FAMILIES and THEIR CAREERS to FOLLOW JESUS. They had paid a tremendous price to be a believer in Christ!

Yet they had had no regrets. They had COMPLETE CONFIDENCE that He was WHO HE SAID HE WAS.

Also, they had come to have COMPLETE CONFIDENCE that He could do ANYTHING. They had seen Him:

-Heal the sick.

-Feed the multitudes.

-Cast out demons.

-Calm the raging sea.

-Even raise the dead.

They had complete confidence that HE WAS WHO HE SAID HE WAS and they had faith HE COULD DO ANYTHING and no one could stop Him.

One of the things they thought Jesus had come to do was set up His kingdom on earth. They were fully persuaded in their own minds that He had come for that purpose.

Illus: That is why the Bible shows us that they argued among themselves about who would sit on His right hand and who would sit on His left hand once He set up His kingdom.

They were thoroughly convinced that Christ had come to set up His kingdom. Then that terrible day came when they were devastated. Evil men came and hauled Jesus off to an illegal trial, less than a common criminal would get. Jesus seemed to be no match for their strength. Don’t you know they were confused as they watched Jesus heal Malchus’ ear, yet He would do nothing to stop those soldiers! From that time on, as far as they were concerned, things went from bad to worse. For example:

-They watched evil men bring Jesus before the judge with trumped-up charges against Him.

-Then they saw their Master taken outside of town, nailed to a cross, and left to hang until dead.

As from a distance they watched Him hang on that cross, I am sure it was in the minds of all of the disciples that at any moment Jesus would just spring off of that cross and prove to everyone that He was WHO HE SAID HE WAS -- THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD!

Then, as Jesus breathed that last breath, all their dreams were shattered.

Can you imagine it! Word began to spread through the crowd, softly at first, “He is dead!” Then it got louder.

• His enemies rejoiced, saying, “He is dead.”

• The demons in hell said, “He is dead.”

• The devil said, “He is dead!”

And they were absolutely right! He was AS DEAD AS ANY MAN HAS EVER BEEN.

Can you imagine how CONFUSED and DISCOURAGED those disciples were who had given up everything to follow Jesus. Now the very One they had forsaken all to follow, and the One they thought could DO ANYTHING, was crucified in shame like an ordinary criminal!

So, after that they were behind CLOSED DOORS, like scarred rabbits.

They were afraid because they knew that crowd was angry enough to KILL THEIR LEADER, so they felt it was safe to assume that they would also want to KILL THEM, HIS FOLLOWERS.

Look at verse 19. We read, “...the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews...”

Yes, when those disciples saw Jesus hanging on that cross, breathing His last breath, they had to be the most CONFUSED and DISCOURAGED men that had ever lived on God’s green earth.

They did not know what we now know. THAT IS, the ministry of Christ is twofold.