WEBVTT 00:00:01.040 --> 00:00:04.240 Now we turn our eyes to the scriptures. 00:00:04.559 --> 00:00:05.919 John chapter 20. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:12.160 This is the Apostle John's account of the resurrection appearances of Jesus. 00:00:13.839 --> 00:00:26.320 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, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:30.480 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:34.240 Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:37.840 Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:42.079 As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:48.880 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:00:49.119 --> 00:00:52.399 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:56.399 If you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld. 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:02.320 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 00:01:02.640 --> 00:01:06.879 So the other disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. 00:01:07.200 --> 00:01:20.239 But he said to them, Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and I place my hand into his side, I will never believe. 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:27.439 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:33.599 Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:42.159 Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here and see my hands, and put out your hand and place it in my side. 00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:45.599 Do not disbelieve, but believe. 00:01:45.920 --> 00:01:50.079 Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God. 00:01:50.959 --> 00:01:54.319 Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? 00:01:54.560 --> 00:01:58.640 Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. 00:01:59.040 --> 00:02:15.840 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written, so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:22.000 This is the word of God, the precious, powerful word of God, and we sit under this morning. 00:02:22.639 --> 00:02:24.639 Please join me as we pray. 00:02:26.080 --> 00:02:27.759 Father, you were there. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:32.319 Your power flowed by your spirit into your son. 00:02:32.879 --> 00:02:43.199 As your son arose, Lord, we have life in your son, the same power that raised him from the dead, that raises us. 00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:46.560 Raise us up this morning, Spirit of God. 00:02:47.120 --> 00:02:50.319 Raise us up that we might hear, that we might believe. 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:54.319 Lord, that we might receive all that your son is offering us. 00:02:54.560 --> 00:02:56.159 In his name we pray. 00:02:56.479 --> 00:02:57.120 Amen. 00:02:59.360 --> 00:03:03.680 I'd like to speak for a few moments this morning about a word. 00:03:05.199 --> 00:03:09.120 We're going to exchange many words today, greetings. 00:03:09.280 --> 00:03:14.719 I hope that you received a word of welcome as you came into the sanctuary this morning. 00:03:14.960 --> 00:03:22.560 I hope that you've had opportunity to exchange those hellos, those greetings. 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:39.360 But I want to think and focus on words, particular words, spoken by Jesus himself on that resurrection Sunday, when he met his disciples, when he appeared in their midst. 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:50.639 I want to focus on the word of blessing, the word of commission, the word of receiving, and lastly the word of profession. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:04:01.439 A word of blessing, the first day of the week, the resurrection Sunday, that day that Jesus appeared. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:16.560 John tells us in the middle of them, in the midst of them, Jesus went through walls, locked doors, and appeared right smack dab in the middle, is what the language suggests. 00:04:17.519 --> 00:04:20.160 The disciples were overjoyed. 00:04:20.560 --> 00:04:23.839 The Greek word really means they were ecstatic. 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:27.600 They were not non-plushed by this. 00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:35.759 The Savior that they saw crucified with their own eyes was now the Savior they saw risen with their own eyes. 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:39.279 They were ecstatic with joy. 00:04:40.000 --> 00:04:41.680 Jesus speaks to them. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:43.120 A blessing. 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:44.399 Shalom. 00:04:45.759 --> 00:04:46.639 Peace. 00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:51.439 This is more than a hello greeting, shalom. 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:53.680 This is far more than a greeting. 00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:55.600 No, this is a blessing. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:56.800 How do they know? 00:04:57.040 --> 00:05:02.000 How do we know that these disciples needed this particular greeting? 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:04.079 Locked doors. 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:11.040 They were behind locked doors, trying to live in secret. 00:05:11.439 --> 00:05:12.079 Why? 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:15.920 Well, they probably feared that they were next. 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:20.560 They were identified with this Messiah who was crucified. 00:05:21.920 --> 00:05:26.480 They had fear, a lot of fear. 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:33.519 There were more crosses in Jerusalem to be utilized for more crucifixions. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:36.800 The power of fear. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:41.680 Fear was a big part of the disciples' lives at this point. 00:05:42.560 --> 00:05:44.480 The power of fear. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:55.360 Even after the disciples saw Jesus, the next week, a week later, the doors were still locked. 00:05:56.079 --> 00:05:59.439 Fear has a way of persisting, doesn't it? 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:02.160 For all kinds of reasons. 00:06:02.800 --> 00:06:08.399 And yet, when Jesus arrives in their midst, he looks at him, he says, Shalom. 00:06:09.600 --> 00:06:10.399 Peace. 00:06:11.120 --> 00:06:13.439 Everything's different because I'm here. 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:16.399 Everything's different because I am alive. 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:22.000 I'm impressed that there's no scolding by Jesus. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:25.600 Oh, how he could have scolded these rascals. 00:06:27.120 --> 00:06:29.759 With all that I did to prepare you? 00:06:30.639 --> 00:06:34.319 All the words, all the time that we spent together? 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:40.160 I spent so many hours trying to prepare you for exactly this. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:43.040 And you just fell apart. 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:46.959 That's good news for me. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:50.240 Is that good news for you? 00:06:50.560 --> 00:06:54.399 Because there's times that we do fall apart out of fear. 00:06:54.720 --> 00:06:57.360 The things that grip our hearts. 00:06:57.920 --> 00:07:01.199 He knew exactly what they needed to hear. 00:07:01.680 --> 00:07:04.879 He knows exactly what you need to hear this morning. 00:07:05.120 --> 00:07:06.000 Shalom. 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:08.079 Peace. 00:07:08.959 --> 00:07:12.560 Yes, when we are afraid, we need his presence. 00:07:12.879 --> 00:07:18.079 We need a God who can bring peace because this world can throw a lot at us. 00:07:18.560 --> 00:07:21.759 Some of you are going through that right now. 00:07:23.199 --> 00:07:34.000 Some of us came into this room with a lot of fear, a lot of unknowns about our life, about our health, about relationships, about our future? 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:38.720 The world can throw a lot at us. 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:47.040 That's why every one of us needs to know the personal greeting of peace by Jesus Himself. 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:50.720 But notice he shows up with his wounds. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:07:52.720 And so it's a good question. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:55.920 Why did Jesus choose to keep his wounds? 00:07:56.879 --> 00:08:00.720 I suppose he could have chosen otherwise. 00:08:01.439 --> 00:08:04.240 Why did he keep his scars? 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:11.920 I like the way that there was a conversation between two theologians, Martin Marty and Yaroslav Pelikon. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:15.920 Yuroslav was about ready to die. 00:08:16.480 --> 00:08:18.399 He was preparing for death. 00:08:18.639 --> 00:08:26.800 And he said to his good friend, if the resurrection of Jesus actually happened, then nothing else really matters. 00:08:27.040 --> 00:08:33.840 If the resurrection of Jesus did not actually happen, then nothing else really matters. 00:08:34.240 --> 00:08:35.600 That's true. 00:08:36.080 --> 00:08:40.879 It really is all about did he come alive? 00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:44.879 If he's dead, there's nothing that he can do for us this day. 00:08:46.159 --> 00:08:49.919 But if he's alive, there's everything he can do for us this day. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:59.600 If this is nothing more than an inspiring story, as so many churches today are teaching for the pulpit. 00:08:59.919 --> 00:09:07.840 So many churches today in our city and around our nation and around the world are saying, what a beautiful story. 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:12.639 I mean, look at the flowers of spring blooming, look at the spring coming. 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:14.000 Isn't this inspiring? 00:09:14.159 --> 00:09:17.039 Can't you draw a little bit of inspiration from that? 00:09:18.399 --> 00:09:19.600 Are you kidding? 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:23.440 That's what somebody would look for? 00:09:23.919 --> 00:09:26.000 Jesus offers so much more. 00:09:27.759 --> 00:09:28.720 Peace. 00:09:29.039 --> 00:09:35.360 Real peace is possible because Jesus showed up with his scars. 00:09:36.720 --> 00:09:47.039 Edward Shalito, the artist, poet, found a poem called Jesus of the Scars in other poems. 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:52.399 He said the other gods were strong, but thou wast made weak. 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:56.399 They rode, but thou didst stumble to a throne. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:10:00.960 But to our wounds only God's wounds can speak. 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:05.519 And not a God has wounds, but thou alone. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:11.360 Christianity is the only religion that would even dare to make that statement. 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:14.799 That our God has wounds. 00:10:15.600 --> 00:10:18.799 And therefore he understands your wounds. 00:10:19.120 --> 00:10:21.440 He understands the things that keep you up at night. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:27.039 He understands the things that seem to make your world come apart, fall apart. 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:30.720 Peace shalom. 00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:36.000 I want to think two things in particular about this. 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:40.960 He's talking about peace with God, and he's talking about the peace of God. 00:10:41.279 --> 00:10:43.679 First of all, the peace with God. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:47.600 The Apostle Paul said it in Romans chapter 5, verse 1. 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:56.879 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:10:57.679 --> 00:10:59.279 That preposition is important. 00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:04.000 There's no other way to receive this, but through Jesus Christ. 00:11:04.320 --> 00:11:08.879 When he says we have been justified by faith, we've been singing about that this morning. 00:11:09.360 --> 00:11:16.399 That the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, with a perfect record, offers that perfect record to sinners like us. 00:11:17.200 --> 00:11:24.559 He says, You must know that you must trust in my finished work alone if you're ever going to know true peace in this world. 00:11:24.799 --> 00:11:38.960 And the good news is, as we receive that gift of his perfect life as we receive the gift of his sacrificial death, the power of his resurrection. 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:42.559 We come alive spiritually. 00:11:42.799 --> 00:11:44.080 We are justified. 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:47.200 God looks at us and says, forgiven. 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:55.840 Do you know you can go home today with that assurance that you are forgiven by God Himself? 00:11:56.399 --> 00:12:01.039 If you're looking for peace, I don't know what other way you could find that peace like that. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:07.759 Only when we have peace with God can we have the peace of God. 00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:13.519 Paul says in the book of Philippians, do not be anxious about anything. 00:12:14.480 --> 00:12:23.039 But in everything with prayer and supplication, offer your prayers to God, and the peace of God will guard your hearts. 00:12:24.240 --> 00:12:26.559 Oh, I need that in my life. 00:12:26.879 --> 00:12:27.440 Do you? 00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:36.240 I need a peace of God that comes inside by faith, and God can give you that peace. 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:42.399 Even with all the scars and the wounds that we receive in this life. 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:45.919 We all have wounds. 00:12:46.399 --> 00:12:48.720 Jesus has his wounds. 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:50.879 One day we're going to see them. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:13:00.559 I wonder what that will be like when we see our risen Savior in his glorified body with his wounds. 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:07.440 I suppose, so that we will never forget the cost of our salvation. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:13.679 William Temple said the wounds of Christ are his credentials to our suffering. 00:13:14.320 --> 00:13:18.240 And with his wounds we are healed, the prophet Isaiah said. 00:13:18.480 --> 00:13:23.519 We could not, none of us could receive healing apart from his suffering. 00:13:24.720 --> 00:13:28.799 By his wounds, we are healed. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:30.720 We are forgiven. 00:13:31.360 --> 00:13:45.279 A week later, because Thomas wasn't present the first meeting of Jesus with his disciples, a week later, now Thomas is present, but Thomas has heard from his disciples, he's heard from his friends, and he won't believe it. 00:13:47.360 --> 00:13:51.840 Perhaps like some of us, I don't know that I can believe this. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:54.399 This is just too much. 00:13:55.039 --> 00:13:56.480 I wish I could believe. 00:13:56.639 --> 00:13:57.840 Is that you today? 00:13:58.080 --> 00:13:59.840 I wish I could believe. 00:14:00.159 --> 00:14:01.440 I really do. 00:14:02.480 --> 00:14:04.240 But I just can't. 00:14:05.759 --> 00:14:07.519 Thomas understands. 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:16.159 A week later, eight days later, Jesus shows up again beyond locked doors. 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:19.840 He came and he stood among them and he said, Shalom. 00:14:21.039 --> 00:14:23.039 Peace be with you. 00:14:23.679 --> 00:14:32.320 And then he looks Thomas in the eye and he says, Thomas, Thomas, put your finger here in the palms of my hands. 00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:39.440 He says, Thomas, put your hand in the side where the spear went through my body. 00:14:40.480 --> 00:14:46.159 Most scholars don't believe that Thomas actually did touch, that he was already convinced. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:48.480 We don't know for sure. 00:14:49.200 --> 00:14:53.279 But what we do know for sure is Thomas believed at that moment. 00:14:54.240 --> 00:14:59.919 He believed Jesus is still getting through locked doors. 00:15:01.679 --> 00:15:03.039 Are your doors locked? 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:04.559 Bolted? 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:07.759 It's just too much to believe that this actually happened. 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:13.840 It's just too much to believe because of the wounds in your life, because of the scars that you still bear. 00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:16.480 Jesus has a word for you. 00:15:18.240 --> 00:15:19.120 Shalom. 00:15:21.360 --> 00:15:23.840 He wants you to hear his word of peace. 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:27.440 He wants you to come to him just as his disciples came to him. 00:15:28.240 --> 00:15:32.080 He says, I want you to believe I am alive. 00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:36.639 This is a word of blessing, but secondly, a word of commission. 00:15:37.600 --> 00:15:42.320 As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:44.960 This is John's version of the Great Commission. 00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:51.279 Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the book of Acts, they each have this command, I Jesus. 00:15:51.679 --> 00:15:53.519 This is now the mission. 00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:55.919 This is the mission that I have for you. 00:15:56.159 --> 00:16:02.799 Now that you have seen me alive, go, be my witnesses to a world that desperately needs my peace. 00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:17.600 What's interesting in the book of Acts in the eighth chapter, within weeks, probably, or months at the most, the persecution in Jerusalem started to rise up, and it still does today. 00:16:17.919 --> 00:16:22.799 You know there are Christians around the world that are meeting in secret celebrating the resurrection. 00:16:24.240 --> 00:16:27.519 Because it's against the law for them to meet in the name of Jesus. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:29.919 There is still persecution going on. 00:16:30.879 --> 00:16:32.320 There certainly was in Jerusalem. 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:36.799 But listen to what happens in Acts chapter 8, verse 1 and verse 4. 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:48.320 And now there arose a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 00:16:50.159 --> 00:16:59.200 The apostles stayed, but all so many, the pastors stayed, and you all left. 00:17:01.679 --> 00:17:13.519 The pastors, the apostles stayed so that they could witness to others in the city, and you all scattered. 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:22.640 That's the commission Jesus gives to his disciples still today. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:26.480 Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:31.920 He's calling us to take the word of peace, the word of shalom, to those who desperately need to hear it. 00:17:32.160 --> 00:17:35.440 How did all these others believe and move out so boldly? 00:17:35.680 --> 00:17:39.039 They believed the apostles' eyewitness accounts. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:45.519 They believed not only the words, but they also believed God's word. 00:17:46.799 --> 00:17:47.279 J.I. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:56.000 Packer said, when you hear the word of God, this is God preaching the sermon. 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.559 It's not just the preacher. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:00.960 The preacher needs to get out of the way. 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:02.799 This is God preaching. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.319 This is God teaching. 00:18:04.480 --> 00:18:07.680 And when you believe that, that word goes deep into your hearts. 00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:10.079 And that word will send us out. 00:18:11.759 --> 00:18:14.079 The Bible is God's preaching. 00:18:14.400 --> 00:18:16.720 God knows where to send his people. 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:20.720 So I asked you this morning, where is he sending you? 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:24.319 Is it within your own house? 00:18:24.720 --> 00:18:26.480 Your own neighborhood? 00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:28.160 Your office. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:34.799 God knows where to send us when we're ready to be sent. 00:18:35.680 --> 00:18:39.680 Who needs to hear this message that you know? 00:18:40.799 --> 00:18:42.079 You know this. 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:44.240 Jesus says, go. 00:18:45.440 --> 00:18:46.799 Don't stay. 00:18:49.519 --> 00:19:06.640 Oh, what joy it is for our missions committee, for our church to send a family later this year to a very remote part of the world where less than 1% of the people believe what we're talking about this morning. 00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:09.359 What a joy to be able to send. 00:19:09.519 --> 00:19:13.440 What a joy to be able to go in the name of Christ. 00:19:15.119 --> 00:19:16.480 Go with peace. 00:19:17.359 --> 00:19:18.799 Go with shalom. 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:22.960 Go with the resurrected Savior. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:25.920 I like the way Eugene Peterson put it. 00:19:26.079 --> 00:19:29.599 The Bible is not a script for a funeral service. 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:35.839 It's the record of God always bringing life where we expected to find death. 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:41.759 The need is too great, the laborers are too few to not go. 00:19:43.279 --> 00:19:44.319 Let's go. 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:48.079 Let's go this week. 00:19:49.359 --> 00:19:50.799 He'll go with us. 00:19:51.200 --> 00:19:52.880 It's his commissioning. 00:19:54.960 --> 00:20:00.000 Blaise Pascal said, I believe those witnesses who get their throats slit. 00:20:01.119 --> 00:20:07.920 Virtually all the disciples lost their lives as witnesses to this message, and they did not regret, not a one. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:16.559 Thomas tells church history tells us Tom himself was martyred in India as he took this message. 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:22.400 Take it to Jerusalem, take it to Judea, take it to Samaria, take it to the other ends of the world. 00:20:22.640 --> 00:20:23.279 Yes. 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:30.079 It's a message worth proclaiming because there is real shalom to proclaim. 00:20:30.880 --> 00:20:32.720 The word of commission. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:36.000 Thirdly, the word of receiving. 00:20:36.880 --> 00:20:38.319 Let's go back to the story. 00:20:38.559 --> 00:20:40.079 Jesus shows up. 00:20:40.400 --> 00:20:41.920 He says, shalom. 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:45.519 Look at my scars, look at my wounds. 00:20:45.680 --> 00:20:47.839 Yes, it's me and not a ghost. 00:20:48.000 --> 00:20:49.200 I'm alive. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:52.240 And because I'm alive, you're going to be alive. 00:20:52.480 --> 00:21:02.000 Paul tells us in Ephesians that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, the same power that raised his son from the dead is at work in you who believe. 00:21:03.039 --> 00:21:08.319 If you think today that there's no way that you could ever believe this, oh how you're mistaken. 00:21:09.039 --> 00:21:14.319 If God can raise a dead son, literally, he can raise a dead heart. 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:17.359 He knows how to do that. 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:23.200 Immediately after giving the disciples the commission, Jesus does something that they would always remember. 00:21:23.359 --> 00:21:24.400 What was that? 00:21:24.960 --> 00:21:31.759 He breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:36.640 Without the Holy Spirit, this mission will be impossible. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:42.319 Jesus was saying to his disciples, and he says to us, You will go with my peace. 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:46.799 You will carry out my mission with my power. 00:21:48.559 --> 00:21:50.880 Ask the Father who has sent me. 00:21:51.920 --> 00:21:54.640 So I send you, but I don't send you as orphans. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:56.079 I don't send you alone. 00:21:57.200 --> 00:21:59.599 I'm giving you my very spirit. 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:02.480 The Holy Spirit. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:04.319 So I send you. 00:22:04.799 --> 00:22:07.440 And Jesus breathed on them. 00:22:09.279 --> 00:22:15.440 This Greek word is pneuma, from which we get pneumatic, something that's powerful. 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:18.799 This word is translated breath. 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:21.759 It's also translated spirit. 00:22:21.920 --> 00:22:23.839 It's also translated wind. 00:22:24.319 --> 00:22:27.039 The context determines the translation. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:33.119 You remember when Jesus spoke with Nicodemus one night, and Nicodemus said, How can a man be born again? 00:22:33.759 --> 00:22:35.119 When he's old? 00:22:35.440 --> 00:22:40.079 Jesus said, All the wind, the spirit, blows where he will. 00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:44.640 You don't see the wind, but you see the effects of the wind. 00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:53.759 When Jesus breathes on you like he breathed on his disciples, there is a power that flows in. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:22:57.759 There's a power that flows out from him. 00:22:58.160 --> 00:23:00.960 All God had to do was breathe, and this world was created. 00:23:01.119 --> 00:23:04.720 Doesn't it take you back to the beginning of the Bible? 00:23:05.119 --> 00:23:08.160 The breath of God created this world. 00:23:08.319 --> 00:23:11.200 All he had to do was speak, and it was created. 00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:17.200 All that he has to do is speak the word to you, and you will be recreated. 00:23:17.440 --> 00:23:19.200 This is the power of Easter. 00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:21.599 This is the power of the resurrection. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:30.000 So when Jesus breathed on his disciples, he was equating his breath with the giving of the Holy Spirit. 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:41.039 So in this symbolic action, he gave his disciples a foretaste of what would take place at Pentecost just weeks later. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:48.079 John Kelvin said he gave them a sprinkling of the Spirit now. 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:52.000 And at Pentecost they would be saturated with the Spirit. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:54.720 Have you been saturated with the Spirit? 00:23:57.680 --> 00:23:59.519 You know you're not going to come. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:08.160 You know you're going to always be a skeptic until or unless the Holy Spirit begins working first. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:17.200 Nobody ever just on their own, nobody on their own just up and decides that they're going to be a follower of Jesus. 00:24:17.519 --> 00:24:19.039 Doesn't work that way. 00:24:20.160 --> 00:24:24.559 But the Holy Spirit is powerful enough that raised Jesus from the dead. 00:24:24.799 --> 00:24:29.680 The Holy Spirit is powerful enough to give you faith where you had no faith. 00:24:29.920 --> 00:24:32.400 To give you life where you had no life. 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:36.400 Jesus said to the disciples, receive the Holy Spirit. 00:24:36.720 --> 00:24:40.880 In the name of Christ this morning, I would say, receive the Holy Spirit. 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:45.039 Pray an honest prayer. 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:48.000 God, I don't believe. 00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:50.799 But I'd like to believe. 00:24:51.279 --> 00:24:53.200 God, I don't believe. 00:24:54.240 --> 00:25:00.720 But would you please take your truth and sink it deep into my mind and my heart? 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:02.240 Give me faith. 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:05.519 Give me the gift of faith so that I could believe. 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:09.359 Not faith in my faith, but faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:25:09.680 --> 00:25:11.440 And watch what He'll do. 00:25:15.359 --> 00:25:17.920 So who are the sent ones? 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:24.400 Not everyone who hears this message of Easter, no, not by a long shot. 00:25:24.720 --> 00:25:29.519 Rather, those who have believed this message and have received the Holy Spirit. 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:32.880 These are the commissioned. 00:25:33.200 --> 00:25:36.880 The commissioning requires a receiving. 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:42.480 Otherwise, you're going to go out and you're going to give up like in a day. 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:51.279 Otherwise, you're going to go out and you're just going to get discouraged and you're going to get disappointed and you're going to say, maybe this isn't true because I don't really see. 00:25:52.559 --> 00:26:00.480 Don't go out without the equipping, without the anointing, without the empowering of the Holy Spirit. 00:26:00.720 --> 00:26:02.799 Your efforts will be futile. 00:26:04.720 --> 00:26:06.960 Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:26:07.359 --> 00:26:21.440 The Apostle Paul says in Romans chapter 10, verse 9 and 10, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God the Father raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:24.000 This is the message of Easter. 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:27.359 Can you confess with your mouth this morning? 00:26:27.440 --> 00:26:30.960 Do you believe in your heart that God the Father raised his son from the dead? 00:26:31.279 --> 00:26:33.519 And through his life he can give you life. 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.720 Do you believe that? 00:26:34.960 --> 00:26:36.240 You will be saved. 00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:39.599 By the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:41.279 Go joyfully. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:50.720 Jim Boyce tells a story of a female missionary he knew who was going to go to India. 00:26:51.599 --> 00:27:01.279 And she felt so compelled to go that she went even sooner than the required training because God just put this burden on her heart that she went. 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:05.599 And she got there and it's a medical doctor, and she's working with patients. 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:10.319 And she's giving them medicine and she's doing the surgical procedures and all that. 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:18.640 And she her prayer is, Lord, would you please, would you please bring my patients alive in Jesus so that they would know Jesus? 00:27:20.079 --> 00:27:21.759 And it just wasn't working that way. 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:30.640 After she'd been there a while, she wrote to people back home expressing frustration and discouragement. 00:27:30.880 --> 00:27:32.319 Would you please pray for me? 00:27:32.559 --> 00:27:37.519 She had been trying to show love and gentleness to the people, but they didn't seem to be responding. 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:40.880 She asked them to keep praying. 00:27:41.359 --> 00:27:46.559 A few weeks later, another letter came, this time saying that she had discovered what the problem was. 00:27:47.039 --> 00:27:50.000 It was her translator of the language. 00:27:50.240 --> 00:27:52.559 She had been loving them in the name of Jesus. 00:27:52.720 --> 00:27:58.559 She had been serving them in the name of Jesus, but then she discovered that her translator was being very rude. 00:27:58.799 --> 00:28:03.200 An arrogant man who never conveyed her concern for her patients at all. 00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:08.319 The messenger got in the way. 00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:14.559 I don't need to make that application, do I? 00:28:15.920 --> 00:28:17.759 Let's not get in the way. 00:28:19.599 --> 00:28:22.480 Jesus has something very important to say. 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:28.880 And the Holy Spirit has all the power we need as we empty ourselves of self. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:31.279 Let's get out of the way. 00:28:32.000 --> 00:28:37.200 So that Jesus can speak words of shalom and peace to people who desperately need it. 00:28:39.119 --> 00:28:41.119 Let it not be because of our unkindness. 00:28:41.279 --> 00:28:43.039 Let it not be because of our rudeness. 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:46.559 Let it not be because of our sour disposition. 00:28:48.000 --> 00:28:52.160 Holy Spirit, show me what's getting in the way. 00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:55.920 So that your power will flow. 00:28:56.880 --> 00:29:00.000 Oh, how we need this receiving of the Spirit. 00:29:00.400 --> 00:29:03.680 By the power of the Holy Spirit, we go joyfully. 00:29:06.319 --> 00:29:10.799 The last thing we need is we do need a profession of faith. 00:29:10.960 --> 00:29:12.559 We need a confession of faith. 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:17.599 Thomas was convinced. 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:19.839 How do we know? 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:29.680 After he saw his risen Savior, after he saw the scars and the wounds, after he heard the words of Jesus, shalom, what did he say? 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:32.880 There's not a greater profession of faith in all of Scripture. 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:37.599 He looked at him and he said, My Lord and my God. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:42.559 What a beautiful confession. 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:48.880 Like Thomas, have you said, I will never believe? 00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:53.599 Jesus has convinced skeptics bigger than you. 00:29:54.480 --> 00:29:56.799 Convincing us of these truths. 00:29:57.279 --> 00:30:02.880 The greatest confession in the Word of God, my Lord. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.519 My God. 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:10.319 And so I ask you the question today: can you say that? 00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:12.160 Do you know that? 00:30:12.480 --> 00:30:16.000 Have you received the shalom that only Jesus can bring? 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:24.559 To know that your sins are forgiven through the work of Christ on the cross, demonstrated by the power of the resurrection. 00:30:25.599 --> 00:30:29.839 The key issue today is not do you like the teachings of Jesus? 00:30:31.920 --> 00:30:35.599 If you haven't really read your Bible, well, let me back up. 00:30:35.759 --> 00:30:38.640 If you really have read your Bible, there's going to be things you don't like. 00:30:38.880 --> 00:30:40.240 I guarantee it. 00:30:41.440 --> 00:30:44.079 Jesus could say some hard things. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:47.759 The question is not, do you like all of his teachings? 00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:53.519 Are you sitting back and stacking up all of his teachings and saying, now how do I feel about all his teachings? 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:55.839 I like that, I don't like this. 00:30:57.440 --> 00:31:01.279 You are absolutely misguided if that's what you're doing. 00:31:01.759 --> 00:31:07.519 The question is not, do you like his teachings? 00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:10.240 To decide whether you will follow him. 00:31:11.039 --> 00:31:15.599 The question is, was Jesus Christ raised from the dead? 00:31:16.079 --> 00:31:20.319 If he is, why? 00:31:21.119 --> 00:31:26.079 Why would you not follow him just because there's things you don't like about what he said? 00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:28.640 That's the question. 00:31:28.960 --> 00:31:30.240 Is he alive? 00:31:30.640 --> 00:31:42.240 If he's alive, then it makes sense, complete sense, to lay down your burden, to lay down your doubt, your skepticism, and follow him. 00:31:43.839 --> 00:31:50.079 Oh, friends, do you hear the key issue is whether or not he is alive. 00:31:50.400 --> 00:31:53.359 Jesus would say to each of us, yes. 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:57.599 I'm not asking if you've heard about my message. 00:31:58.480 --> 00:32:02.240 I'm asking, have you experienced this resurrection power? 00:32:03.839 --> 00:32:06.319