John 20: 19-31
Key Scripture
John 20:19 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.
To continue what Jesus started means the risen Jesus has entrusted His followers with the same purpose that shaped His own ministry - sending us out in His authority to carry His message and to repeat what He taught and reflect His kingdom wherever life takes us.
Peace be with you:
John 20:19b…Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.
John 20:21a Again he said, “Peace be with you…”
John 20:26b…as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said.
This promise of peace is able to bring calm, contentment, and trust as we ground ourselves in Him. If Jesus keeps saying it, we should conclude that He views it as a priority. The challenge is for us to also view it as a priority.
Do we value peace?
To value peace means prioritizing it above other things:
Peace or being right?
Peace or control?
Peace or revenge?
Forgiveness
John 20:23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
The whole mission of the church is built on this message - that through Jesus, forgiveness is freely available for all who call on His name.
Reflection Questions on forgiveness - Is it time to forgive?
Where might I need to forgive others?
Is it a coincidence that Jesus repeatedly said peace be with you and then reminded them of the importance of forgiveness?
Is living in the peace that Jesus gives jeopardized because we've held on to unforgiveness?
Do I need to forgive somebody?
What if unforgiveness is in the way between me and the peace that each and everyone longs for?
If I want God’s forgiveness and mercy how can I demand justice for someone else?
Jesus did not play around with the topic and gave some strong warnings about forgiveness.
If you struggle with guilt, let it lead you to Jesus!
Doubt from Thomas
John 20:24 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.”
We might be shocked and appalled at such a shameful lack of faith, but look how Jesus handles it…
John 20:26 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!”
Jesus shows patience
He graciously proves Himself
He’s pleased to help people overcome doubts
If we’re not careful we can treat each other's doubts far more harshly than Jesus does!
Lord & God - The Purpose of the Book:
John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.
The intention of John’s gospel is that all who read it would also exclaim, like Thomas, that Jesus is “My Lord and my God”! This is the exclamation that declares that you believe that Jesus is who He says He is.
John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it…14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
Those who haven’t seen
John 20:29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
Jesus recognizes that to follow Him without being an eyewitness takes a depth and brings a special blessing.
John 20:30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Review
The disciples of Jesus were not perfect or heroic. They were as ordinary and struggling as we are.
Peace be with you
See peace as a priority - value the peace that we can find in Jesus.
This promise of Jesus is as relevant and needed today as it has ever been.
Forgiveness
The message of Jesus doesn’t make sense without forgiveness.
I desperately need the forgiveness of God and now I have a responsibility to show that forgiveness to others.
To quote Jesus Himself from Matthew 10 - “Give as freely as you have received!”
Bodily resurrection
If Jesus really died and came back to life - just as He promised He would - we should trust that He can help us figure our stuff out!
The world likes to shrink Jesus down…
…we have a calling to lift Him up!
Sent - Go & Tell
Every believer has the call to make a difference.
As a church we are indeed Determined to Make a Difference.
Share this message of forgiveness and eternal hope and the promise of new life.
Jesus recognizes that this life of faith is difficult.
It’s why the role of the church and of fellowship is so important.
So we can support and encourage each other.
We can remind each other of how God has shown Himself faithful.
We can pray for one another.
Doubt
Jesus is patient with our doubts.
His desire is that we come to know Him as Lord and God.
John 20:27 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.