|
DATE |
CHURCH |
SUBJECT |
PREACHER |
BIBLE
REF. |
|
23.03.08 |
All Saints' Church |
Jesus Always Comes
to Us |
Rev. Tony Higton |
John 20:19-31 |
|
They had heard what the women, Peter and John had found. The
tomb was empty and Mary claimed to have seen Jesus alive. But
they still felt in limbo. They locked the doors “for fear of the
Jews.”
Suddenly Jesus appeared and greeted them
with the word “Shalom” which means peace, well-being, good
health.
In this story we see:
The
compassion of Jesus
Firstly, he came to them. He didn’t leave
them alone in their fear, doubt and unbelief, but came to them.
Jesus never leaves us alone. He always comes to us. He is always
there beside us. Obvious though this point is, we tend to
forget it in practice. There is no place, no set of
circumstances in which Jesus is not present with us.
Secondly, he blessed them: he understood
their fear and doubt
Jesus understands our fears and doubts. In
some churches to have doubts is frowned upon. People who doubt
are regarded with suspicion as rather “unsound.” Jesus doesn’t
take that attitude. He understands doubts. Christianity is
faith, not logical, scientific certainty. And faith implies the
possibility of doubt. Everyone has doubts and it is possible for
even long-established Christians to experience times of doubt,
even about important areas of belief. It is nothing to be
ashamed of. The important thing is to tell God about it honestly
and to seek help if necessary.
So Jesus didn’t condemn “Doubting” Thomas.
Rather “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.’ (verse 27).
Thirdly, he taught them. He demonstrated
the truth of his bodily resurrection to them. “He showed them
his hands and side [demonstrating the reality, the
“physicalness” of his transformed, glorified body]. The
disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.”
(verse 20).
Then we see:
The
commission of Jesus
Firstly, he sent them. He didn’t just want
them to sit around “having fellowship” and chatting about the
wonder of the resurrection! The church is good at that: singing
its wonderful (and not so wonderful) hymns, having its readings
and sermons, enjoying meeting together (all of which is
important). But “Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you! As the Father
has sent me, I am sending you’” (verse 21). Now they knew about
the resurrection he was sending them out on a mission (after a
short period of preparation).
Secondly, he empowered them. The
preparation was basically that they should experience the power
of the Holy Spirit as never before experienced by ordinary
people. “He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy
Spirit’” (verse 22). A few weeks later they had a deeper
experience of the Holy Spirit and were filled with his power.
That same power is available to us and it is only a lack of
faith and expectancy which limits it.
Thirdly, he authorised them: “If you
forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not
forgive them, they are not forgiven" (verse 23). They were not
to preach an easy message: they had to take human sin seriously.
They were not to preach “cheap grace.” Salvation is free
(through the death and resurrection of Christ) it is not cheap.
In fact, its cost was infinite.
The church has all too often preached cheap
grace: offering all the benefits without calling for commitment.
God forbid that we should become hard-line and exclusive. That
is lacking in godly mercy. But unless people who know the gospel
commit themselves, simply but profoundly, to Christ in faith
they are not saved. And whatever volume of water is poured over
them, however many hands are laid on them, whatever quantity of
bread and wine they consume won’t change that.
The challenge for us in this is to ensure
that we share about the risen Christ with others who don’t yet
know him. Will you share the truth with someone this week? |
