Jesus Appears to the Disciples

[Read John 20:19-23]

There was a period of time when everyone thought you should have a “life verse.” I’m not exactly sure what that ever meant. Some people saw it as a verse that helped provide them comfort during difficult seasons of their life, it was a verse they could turn to when things went wrong. Other people saw a “life verse” as more of a mission statement for their life, one that guided them throughout their life as they had to make important decisions. To be honest, I’ve never liked the idea of a “life verse” because it causes you to elevate one verse over a variety of other verses and can sometimes cause problems. However, I never thought it was that helpful to argue with people about it, so I would give them a particular verse that I think has described my life and my ministry.

It comes from 1 Corinthians chapter 1. It says, “For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31, ESV).

This is one of the clearest descriptions of God’s call on my life in the Bible. People like to ask if I always wanted to be a pastor, and the answer is a resounding, “NO.” It was never on my radar. I never thought I would be a pastor and neither did anyone else. That’s why when God eventually called me into the ministry, I was rejected multiple times before being given the opportunity to lead the youth ministry. I don’t blame them for rejecting me. I didn’t know the bible. I wasn’t very smart. I hadn’t ever led a bible study before. I hadn’t done any of the things I was asking them to put me in charge of. All I knew was that God had laid it on my heart to do this thing and I was trying to trust him in that. I didn’t try to enter the ministry because I thought I was good enough, I entered the ministry because God told me to and I wanted to be obedient to him. Also, God didn’t call me into the ministry because I was good enough or something special. To be honest, according to this passage, God chose me because I was foolish, weak, lowly, and despised so that He would receive all of the glory, and not me.

I like to tell that story because I think it removes one of the primary excuses I hear from God’s people when it comes to being involved in a variety of ministry opportunities. They’ll say things like, “Well, I’m not good enough to do that” or “I’m not smart enough to do that” or a whole host of other excuses. So, they don’t end up doing the very things God has called them to do. Yet, the reality is, if God has told you to do something, you should do it, whether you think you’re good enough or not. You step out in faith and trust God to use you. Guess what my two worst grades were freshman year of college? Bible and Public Speaking. And God looked at that and said, “I’m gonna make that man a pastor…” You can’t use the excuse that you’re too weak and lowly and foolish and despised to do what God has called you to do because God’s Word says those are the very reasons he wants to use you, so that He will receive the glory for it.   

We see a clear picture of this in the disciples this morning. I think it’s important to remember what has happened so far. When Jesus was arrested in the garden, all of the disciples fled except for Peter and John. Peter eventually denied Jesus three times, leaving only John to look on as Jesus died. Peter and John eventually saw the empty tomb and the linen cloths laying there in the tomb, but went back home a little confused—we did hear that John believed but we know it was a very immature faith. Eventually, Mary sees Jesus and runs back to the disciples with the message that she has seen the resurrected Jesus and that he wants them to know that he will be ascending to his Father and their Father. How would you expect the disciples to respond to this information? Joy? Gladness? Celebration? Boldness? Instead we read, “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews…” (John 20:19, ESV). Nope. They are huddled up together behind locked doors, fearful that the Jewish leaders were coming for them next.

Now, one of the commentators gives them a little credit, because prior to this they had all scattered to their own homes. At least now, they were gathering together again, albeit with precautions. It’s my assumption from the story line that they have gathered together because of what Peter and John have seen and the message they received from Mary. They gathered to talk about this and figure out what was going on. However, it’s not a good look that they are hiding behind a locked door in fear. It’s a picture of a group of disciples that are fearful, weak, lowly, and despised.

In the midst of this, Jesus shows up in the room. We read, “Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”” (John 20:19, ESV). Now, there is a lot of talk about how Jesus appeared in front of the disciples in this room. Many people believe that Jesus was able to walk through a solid wall in his resurrected body, and that’s why he was able to show up in a locked room. That’s possible, but I think it’s important that we’re actually never told how he arrives in the room. We’re just told that he showed up in the room and said, “Peace be with you,” which has a lot of meaning behind it.

One the one hand, this is the typical greeting back then. “Peace be with you” is kinda like the “Good morning” of today. It’s just what you say when you greet someone. Yet, I do believe this is a gentle rebuke from Jesus. Isn’t it a little ironic that the first words out of Jesus’ mouth to a group of fearful disciples is, “Peace…”? Especially when Jesus has said this to them a few chapters ago: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.” (John 14:27–28, ESV).

Then Jesus shows them his wounds. We read, “When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” (John 20:20, ESV). There are a couple reasons why Jesus shows them his hands and his side. First off, it’s a basic way of him identifying himself to the disciples. Following Jesus’ resurrection, people will continually have a hard time recognizing him. However, if they see the scars from the nails that went through his hands that wound in his side from the spear, it’s very clear proof that this is Jesus standing in front of them. That’s why they rejoice. Now, like Mary, they have seen their resurrected Lord.

Yet, there’s more to this. The scars on Jesus’ body are not just significant in identifying who he is, they also identify what he accomplished. These are marks that are a reminder to the disciples that he suffered, died, and was buried…and rose again from the dead. These scars point to his suffering, but they also point to his victory. Jesus has overcome these wounds and has overcome death and the grave—and the world—and is not standing in front of them victorious. Not only is this an important reminder to the fearful disciples hiding behind locked doors, but it’s also very important for what comes next.

We read, “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”” (John 20:21, ESV). Jesus repeats the word “Peace” in light of his victory, which seems to be a way of reminding the disciples they are not to live in fear, but in peace, knowing that their savior has overcome the world. However, he goes on and says that now he is sending them out in the same way that the Father sent him out. There’s a lot to that.

One aspect of this is that the disciples are sent to continue the same mission that the Father gave Jesus. Obviously, they are not to go into the world to live and die for the forgiveness of sins. However, they are called to continue that mission, proclaiming what Jesus has accomplished to the world. They don’t get to start a new mission or come up with a plan of their own. They are called to continue the mission of Jesus in the world. That’s what Jesus is sending them to do.

Yet, there’s another aspect to this that is often missed, I think. Jesus is sending the disciples into the world in the same way the Father sent him into the world—and Jesus is telling them this right after showing them the scars on his hands—the scars that reveal both his suffering and his victory. The disciples are being sent into the world in the same way, which means they will suffer in the world. They will have trials and difficulty and tribulation, they will be mocked and beaten and bruised, they will be thrown in prison. They will receive some scars as they carry out the mission of Jesus in the world. However, those scars will also point beyond the suffering to the ultimate victory of Jesus. Since they serve a savior who has overcome the world, they can have confidence that, through him, they will also overcome the world.

Yet, I’m not sure the disciples understood all of this yet. It seems like they are still a little afraid and overwhelmed and only see the suffering side of the scars. I’m sure they’re thinking something like, “You’re sending us to do that?!? In the same way!?! Pretty sure we’re way too fearful, weak, lowly, and despised to carry out that mission.” As a result we read, “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:22, ESV). Now, over the years, some have said this is John’s version of Pentecost and the story of the disciples being filled with the Holy Spirit. I do not believe that’s true, or can even be squared away with the story line of scripture in any way. So, what’s happening here?

Prior to Pentecost, when the Spirit was poured out in a new and powerful way, people were filled with the Spirit at various times—especially when they were given a specific task to accomplish. You can read numerous places throughout the Old Testament of people being given a job to do, then being filled by the Spirit to help them accomplish the job. I think that is what’s happening here, and it’s a precursor to the ultimate filling of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. Jesus just told a group of fearful, and most likely overwhelmed disciples, that he was sending them to continue his mission in the world, and that mission would most likely involve some measure of suffering. It’s a mission they cannot carry out in their own strength. They are not good enough, or smart enough, or powerful enough to do it. So, he gives them the Holy Spirit to give them what they need to carry out the mission that God has given them in the world.

This is another example of what I said a few weeks ago, that the giving of the Holy Spirit is missional. The Spirit is given to them so that these weak and fearful disciples can do the work Jesus has given them to do. Yes, the Spirit will give them peace, but that peace will result in them continuing to pursue that mission. Yes, the Spirit will give them strength, but that strength will be used to continue the mission. Yes, the Spirit will give them comfort and hope and guidance in the midst of the world, but that comfort and hope and guidance are to be used to carry out the calling God has placed on their life in the world. It’s missional in every sense of the word.

This is where that cliche saying comes from: God doesn’t call the equipped but he equips the called. That’s true. It’s also true of everyone in this room. You’re not all called to be a pastor or teacher or bible study leader. That’s not what I’m talking about. However, God has given you a calling and a mission to accomplish in this world. He’s also given you some gifts to accomplish that calling—gifts you may not even know you have—to fulfill that calling in the world. God has given you, and will continue to give you, everything you need to accomplish his calling on your life in this world.

So, here’s what I want you to do this week. I want you to pray every day, or multiple times a day, asking God to reveal what He has called you to do in the world, in your family, or even in this church. Pray and listen for God to reveal this to you. Then, as he lays something on your heart, you can discern with other believers if you’re hearing properly. Then, you step out in faith and do that thing, trusting God in the midst of it. It may be overwhelming for you, it may be out of your comfort zone, it may be something that seems way beyond your capacity, but you step out in faith, relying on the Holy Spirit and you do that thing. This is why we wrap up our service the same way every week. I want to follow Jesus’ pattern of sending you out into the world, not in your own power, but in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus also clarifies the mission he is giving to the disciples—and through the disciples to the rest of the church. He says, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” (John 20:23, ESV). Now, I realize this is one of those sayings that can be hard to understand, and can easily be misunderstood and taken in unhelpful directions. As we dive into this further, I want us to remember what Jesus said about the Holy Spirit a few chapters ago: “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment…” (John 16:8–11, ESV). So, one of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to convict the world of their sin, false righteousness, and the judgment to come, eventually leading some to be set free from these things by believing in Jesus and receiving his forgiveness and righteousness. So, in some ways, it does make sense that immediately after Jesus gives the disciples the Spirit, he tells them that they will be doing something that will result in some people receiving forgiveness and other people receiving judgment. This is what the Holy Spirit does, and what the Holy Spirit will do through the disciples.

Here’s another passage that I think helps us understand what is going on here. The Apostle Paul writes, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20, ESV). Notice that Paul says that God is making His appeal through the apostles that they should be reconciled to God. I think this is what Jesus is saying to the disciples here. He’s not saying that they have the power over who will be forgiven and not forgiven—which flies in the face of much of scripture. Rather, he is saying that through the work that they do in the world—by preaching the gospel—some will receive the gospel and receive forgiveness and others will reject the gospel and will not receive forgiveness, but will receive judgment. Here’s what one commentator has to say on this: “There is no doubt from the context that the reference is to forgiving sins, or withholding forgiveness. But though this sounds stern and harsh, it is simply the result of the preaching of the gospel, which either brings men to repent as they hear of the ready and costly forgiveness of God, or leaves them unresponsive to the offer of forgiveness which is the gospel, and so they are left in their sins.” (Marsh, pp. 641–642). This is what we looked at earlier in the Heidelberg Catechism.

So here we sit this morning, getting ready to dive back into another week. I’m sure some are here dreading Monday morning, dreading another day of work, or dreading another week of work. I’m sure some are overwhelmed with all of the things in front of you that you need to get done. I’m sure some are scared and fearful that you might fail in the midst of doing what you believe God has called you to do. In the midst of all that, Jesus comes to you this morning and says, “Peace be with you. I know you’re afraid. I know you’re overwhelmed. But I’m sending you out into the world in the same way the Father sent me into the world. It’s not going to be easy. There will be some really tough moments, there will most likely be some scars, but take heart, I’ve overcome the world. I’m also not sending you out empty handed, I’m sending you out with the Holy Spirit who will give you everything you need. And I’m sending you out with the gospel that will continue to work in your own heart and life, but also will spread from you into the world, bringing some into the kingdom of God. So, leave here in faith and trust as you walk in step with me.”