WEBVTT 00:00:18.960 --> 00:00:22.320 John twenty, chapter nineteen, thirty-one. 00:00:23.280 --> 00:00:35.119 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. 00:00:35.359 --> 00:00:38.880 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his sight. 00:00:39.280 --> 00:00:42.240 Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:45.520 Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:50.079 As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you. 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:56.560 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:00:56.799 --> 00:01:00.159 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. 00:01:00.399 --> 00:01:03.520 If you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld. 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:09.680 Now Thomas, one of the twelve called the twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:12.959 So the disciples told him, We have seen the Lord. 00:01:13.200 --> 00:01:23.680 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 place my hand into his side, I will never believe. 00:01:23.920 --> 00:01:28.640 Eight days later his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. 00:01:28.879 --> 00:01:34.560 Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, Peace be with you. 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:42.239 Then he said to Thomas, Put your finger here and see my hands, and put your hand and place it in my side. 00:01:42.560 --> 00:01:45.280 Do not disbelieve, but believe. 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:48.640 Thomas answered him, My Lord and my God. 00:01:49.040 --> 00:01:52.799 Jesus said to him, Have you believed because you have seen me? 00:01:53.040 --> 00:01:56.640 Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. 00:01:57.120 --> 00:02:02.560 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book. 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:10.560 But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you have life in his name. 00:02:10.719 --> 00:02:12.159 And so reached God's word. 00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:24.560 Sometimes they say, if you're new, you're very welcome. 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:28.879 But if you're if you're if you've been here a while with us, you're also very welcome. 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:34.960 As Mark said, we're in our penultimate week of John's Gospel. 00:02:35.360 --> 00:02:39.360 And we're in the penultimate um chapter of John's Gospel, actually, as well. 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:40.560 So John chapter 20. 00:02:40.639 --> 00:02:46.479 We looked at it last week, um, the first half, and we're looking at the second half uh today. 00:02:46.639 --> 00:02:51.919 Uh I too was looking through the archives at when uh at what we've we've done in John. 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:53.680 I didn't count them up, I can't count. 00:02:53.919 --> 00:03:01.680 Um but um we started looking at John's Gospel in September 2021, a year and a half ago. 00:03:01.840 --> 00:03:05.520 We um paused then um for a while. 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:09.120 Uh we got we got to um where was it? 00:03:09.199 --> 00:03:19.759 We got to this we got to John 12 this time last year uh for the triumphal entry um Palm Sunday, that's where we stopped, and then we picked up again this past January. 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:37.919 And one of the that that we usually do that at City, we we usually preach through uh books, and one of the really interesting things about doing that, um certainly for the second half of John since um since January is that only a week has passed between John 12 and uh this first half of John 20. 00:03:38.000 --> 00:03:48.560 So we'll see when Jesus appears to the disciples first, that's the first Easter Sunday, that's that evening, and then when he appears to Thomas, it's a week later, which happens to be today is a week after Easter. 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:53.919 So it's it's helpful even in kind of um positioning us in the timeline. 00:03:54.479 --> 00:04:08.000 Um so yeah, a huge amount has happened uh in the previous few days for the disciples, let alone the previous week, and so we can we can understand where they're at and why Thomas was doubting potentially. 00:04:08.560 --> 00:04:16.240 I once uh worked with a guy um who said he didn't believe in God, and I'm sure you work with plenty of people who would say that. 00:04:16.800 --> 00:04:22.079 And his reason was that when he was younger, he had prayed and he made a deal with God. 00:04:22.240 --> 00:04:29.759 He didn't tell me exact the exact details of what he prayed, but it was something along the lines of asking God to prove himself. 00:04:30.160 --> 00:04:32.399 He wanted God to prove himself in a particular way. 00:04:32.639 --> 00:04:37.439 He said something like, God, if you do this, then I'll believe in you. 00:04:39.040 --> 00:04:43.040 But according to him, God didn't follow through on his side of the deal. 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:45.040 And so that was it. 00:04:45.120 --> 00:04:47.839 He wasn't going to believe in God, he just left it at that. 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:52.160 And God had let him down, God didn't exist. 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:56.079 Maybe you're like that, maybe you're unsure. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:02.959 Or maybe you might be wondering why God doesn't answer prayers like that for my colleague. 00:05:03.759 --> 00:05:09.759 Maybe you felt like God has let you down, or maybe you struggle with unbelief. 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:22.720 Sometimes those prayers could be something like, uh, Lord, if you do this, I'll stop sinning, or Lord, if you do this, I'll go to this far flung place and serve the poor for the rest of my life. 00:05:23.040 --> 00:05:25.519 And I've no doubt countless of those prayers. 00:05:25.920 --> 00:05:31.839 So many of those prayers have been offered with the utmost sincerity, and sometimes God uses those. 00:05:32.480 --> 00:05:40.240 But what happens if, like with my colleague, if God doesn't follow through on his side of the deal? 00:05:40.560 --> 00:05:42.399 Where's your confidence then? 00:05:44.639 --> 00:05:46.399 And there's other reasons for unbelief. 00:05:46.560 --> 00:05:51.759 We say things like that couldn't possibly be true, because something seems beyond the bounds of possibility. 00:05:51.920 --> 00:05:53.600 It's impossible. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:57.920 For many, unbelief comes following suffering and tragedy. 00:05:58.160 --> 00:06:15.680 Whether they themselves have experienced suffering and tragedy, or they've witnessed a close family member or a friend suffer, or if it's just the very existence of suffering at all, questions and doubts arise about God, about his goodness, about his sovereignty and control, and maybe even his existence. 00:06:16.959 --> 00:06:24.160 If you're looking in on the Bible, if you're looking in on Christianity, if you're looking in on the church, you probably have these same questions. 00:06:24.720 --> 00:06:26.639 You probably have these same doubts. 00:06:26.879 --> 00:06:36.160 And even some of you who would call yourself a Christian, maybe you have some of these questions and doubts too, or maybe you have in the past, or you know people who have these doubts. 00:06:36.480 --> 00:06:42.160 Whoever you are, no matter how strong your faith, you're in good company asking these questions. 00:06:42.319 --> 00:06:49.759 And John chapter 20, in particular, addresses these doubts for us all in a very, very personal and a very, very real way. 00:06:53.439 --> 00:07:00.160 Many of you will know about the disciple Thomas, who got the name Doubting Thomas from this passage. 00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:06.720 See, the other disciples having seen Jesus, they tell Thomas that he's alive, but Thomas doesn't believe them. 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:09.600 He doesn't believe their testimony, he doubts it. 00:07:10.160 --> 00:07:13.839 See, his whole world was turned upside down on Good Friday. 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:19.040 And not long before Good Friday, Thomas had witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. 00:07:19.279 --> 00:07:24.160 He saw Jesus being welcomed into Jerusalem by the crowds on Palm Sunday. 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:28.000 He'd probably spent that whole entire week up to the Last Supper with Jesus. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:37.279 And despite the fact that the Pharisees were plotting to kill Jesus, um, but now Jesus has been taken away. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:43.519 He's seen him being that he's been taken away, he was mocked, he was humiliated, and he was killed. 00:07:43.839 --> 00:07:46.000 His whole world is turned upside down. 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:51.439 And now he and the other disciples, they're together in a locked room for fear of the Jews. 00:07:53.040 --> 00:08:00.160 Perhaps he felt guilty too for deserting Jesus, but he must have felt so let down and utterly dejected. 00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:16.879 Like we've seen throughout the Gospel of John that many people saw miracles and signs that the ones that Jesus performed, and even though they believed him, they they didn't confess it for fear of the Pharisees, for fear they'd be put out of the Jewish synagogue. 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:24.879 Because they loved, we're told in John, that they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:40.799 We saw people in chapter six, a long time ago, in terms of us looking through John, but we saw people at the end of chapter six where Jesus fed the five thousand, and then many, many people who John describes as disciples, they turned away because Jesus said hard things. 00:08:42.320 --> 00:08:44.799 But Thomas was one of the disciples. 00:08:44.879 --> 00:08:52.320 He was one of the twelve disciples, one who was known to be a follower of Jesus, one in fact whom Jesus had chosen. 00:08:53.919 --> 00:08:57.679 Even someone as close as Thomas had questions and doubts. 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:00.159 That's why I said you're in good company. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:04.960 Thomas had plenty of reasons for unbelief, and many of you do too. 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:19.840 You see, in 25, that's where we see his unbelief, verse 25, unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails and place my hand into his side, I will never believe. 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:25.120 That's quite similar to what I was just talking about with people asking God to prove himself. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:27.919 Can you blame him for doubting? 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:32.320 You can at least understand why he didn't believe what the other disciples had said. 00:09:33.440 --> 00:09:37.039 Thomas has reasons for unbelief, and we face these same reasons. 00:09:37.919 --> 00:09:40.240 Things like, surely it's impossible. 00:09:40.960 --> 00:09:42.799 God hasn't come through for me. 00:09:43.519 --> 00:09:46.559 Or I've experienced tragedy and suffering. 00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:52.960 Firstly, people they don't just rise from the dead. 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:54.240 I don't know if you know that. 00:09:54.399 --> 00:09:56.240 Um imagine being Thomas. 00:09:56.720 --> 00:09:59.279 What he knew, like we said, was Good Friday. 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:06.080 Jesus was dead, he was in the tomb, and then the other disciples were telling him that they had seen the Lord. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:08.320 But Thomas thought, that's impossible. 00:10:08.480 --> 00:10:09.600 He's dead. 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:22.320 Despite the certainty with which the disciples and Mary Magdalene spoke, I'm sure Thomas was explaining away what they were saying because it seemed impossible to him that they saw Jesus since he was dead. 00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:25.679 It's impossible that a dead man could be alive. 00:10:27.519 --> 00:10:35.600 You might wonder if we should criticize Thomas for his unbelief, and certainly doubting Thomas getting that name um kind of feels like a criticism. 00:10:36.320 --> 00:10:39.360 Because, like, didn't didn't Jesus say that this would happen? 00:10:39.759 --> 00:10:44.240 And wasn't Thomas there when he when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead? 00:10:46.879 --> 00:10:50.480 They are true, but there's a couple of things to be fair to Thomas. 00:10:50.720 --> 00:11:01.679 Um for one, the the the the one who called Lazarus out of the grave is now in the grave himself, so who's gonna call Lazarus or who's gonna call Jesus out of the tomb? 00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:09.679 Um and just because Lazarus was raised doesn't mean that it'll happen again, and I'll say it again, Jesus was dead. 00:11:11.440 --> 00:11:12.480 He was in the tomb. 00:11:12.639 --> 00:11:16.080 If something is impossible, that's a pretty good reason for unbelief. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:27.440 That's certainly a huge reason that Thomas doesn't believe, but he must be so spiritually disappointed too, thinking that God hasn't come through for him, that Jesus had failed him. 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:34.000 This is the dejected and unbelieving Thomas we meet here who says that in verse 25. 00:11:34.480 --> 00:11:41.840 Unless I place my hand in the mark of the nails, unless I place my hand into his side, I will never believe. 00:11:45.759 --> 00:11:46.879 So cast down. 00:11:49.840 --> 00:11:53.279 And without the resurrection, the cross is just death. 00:11:53.840 --> 00:11:55.519 It's the end, it's darkness. 00:11:56.879 --> 00:11:58.240 That's where Thomas is at. 00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:03.919 He had followed Jesus for years, and now he's gone. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:08.879 Have you felt like God hasn't come through for you before? 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:11.440 Perhaps you f you feel like that now. 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:23.519 Maybe it's not just that Jesus that God hasn't come through for you in the way you thought, that you're questioning his sovereignty, um, but that you're questioning his goodness too. 00:12:24.480 --> 00:12:30.639 Thomas witnessed the greatest injustice that's ever taken place, the suffering of his Lord and the greatest tragedy. 00:12:31.759 --> 00:12:36.960 It's not hard to imagine Thomas Downing not only that Jesus was alive, but that God is good. 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:39.919 Perhaps you're here too. 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:44.879 You might be questioning God's goodness because you're suffering, because you've experienced tragedy. 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:50.000 This is what Jesus steps into here in John 20. 00:12:50.799 --> 00:12:54.559 He steps into the midst of his disciples where they're at. 00:12:54.720 --> 00:13:00.080 He meets Thomas where he's at, even when they're gathered behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. 00:13:01.440 --> 00:13:12.000 And this is where Jesus comes to meet us in the midst of our questions, our doubts, our fears, our suffering, our humanity, and our unbelief. 00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:19.200 So we're going to look at the passage to see how Jesus helps his disciples believe. 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:22.240 We're going to look at uh three parts there. 00:13:22.399 --> 00:13:27.519 Firstly, there's the disciples in verses 19 to 20, the first uh two verses of our passage. 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:36.000 Then there's Thomas a bit later in verses 26 to 28, and we'll see how he helps us to believe from verses 29 to 31. 00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:44.799 And we'll come back to verses uh 21 to 23 later for anybody who was uh keeping an eye on what verses I was calling out. 00:13:45.039 --> 00:13:47.519 So, first of all, Jesus helps the disciples to believe. 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:52.559 Remember, he's coming in the midst of their behind locked doors and he comes to meet them. 00:13:52.799 --> 00:13:56.480 So, yeah, last week we saw uh that was Easter morning. 00:13:56.639 --> 00:14:03.600 Uh, Jesus appears uh well, first of all, sorry, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb and she finds it's empty. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:12.399 Um, and she told the disciples, Peter and John ran there to discover that the grave clothes were the only thing there, there was no body there. 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:17.600 Then we're told they go back to their homes, and Jesus then speaks with Mary Magdalene. 00:14:17.840 --> 00:14:20.159 That's the first half of John 20. 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:28.960 Um, and next in the in the narrative is that evening of the first Easter Sunday, uh, that where where our passage starts. 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:46.080 The disciples were hiding, they scared that the Jews might get hold of them since they had followed Jesus, and it was the it was the Jewish leaders, it was the Pharisees who had uh orchestrated uh Jesus' death, and now they're scared that they're going to come after the disciples, too. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:47.600 How would they not fear? 00:14:47.679 --> 00:14:52.240 They'd all be feeling those same things as Thomas and that we had just been talking about. 00:14:52.399 --> 00:14:55.519 So we find them together behind locked doors. 00:14:57.120 --> 00:14:59.039 So Jesus comes to them. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:04.399 I don't want you to miss how beautiful and significant it is that Jesus comes to them. 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:08.799 They're locked away behind closed doors, but Jesus comes to them. 00:15:08.879 --> 00:15:16.960 He seeks them out, he stands in the midst of these fearful men, bringing them peace by his presence and his word. 00:15:18.159 --> 00:15:22.639 There's some songs we sing at City that often make me well up for different reasons. 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:27.279 Uh, but one that nearly always brings me to tears is Jesus Strong and Kind. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:29.200 It's one of our kids' songs. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:31.919 Um, but the lyrics are just so beautiful. 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:41.600 The verses, I don't know if you can recall them, but the verses uh say that if we're thirsty or weak or if we fear, we should come to him because no one else can satisfy. 00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:43.840 He'll be our strength and shield. 00:15:44.159 --> 00:15:45.840 He's good and faithful. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:51.519 But then the last verse says, and this is where the emotions get me. 00:15:52.320 --> 00:15:57.840 Jesus said, If I am lost, he will come to me. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:02.559 And he showed me on that cross that he will come to me. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:08.720 We're all lost and in need of Jesus, and so he comes to us. 00:16:09.360 --> 00:16:17.200 The disciples were lost and afraid, so Jesus comes to them, he stands in their midst and he brings peace. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:26.240 The ESV, which we read from earlier, and I'm reading from now, um, it says that the disciples were glad uh when Jesus had said this. 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:29.519 You'll see in verse at the end of verse 20. 00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:34.159 But this can be translated as rejoiced, which I think is far better. 00:16:34.320 --> 00:16:36.720 Maybe it's just how we use the word glad. 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:45.919 Like it wouldn't be uh it wouldn't be incorrect to say that Dan was glad that Lizzie said uh yes to marrying him. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:50.960 Uh but that would probably uh that would probably be an underestimation. 00:16:51.120 --> 00:16:52.000 Would that be right? 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:52.799 Yeah. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:17:01.840 Um and so I think it's much better to describe the disciples' reaction here to Jesus appearing among them as being joy and delight. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:10.079 Jesus showed that it really was him and he spoke to them, and now their fear has turned to being overjoyed. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:15.440 And that's how we respond when Jesus comes to us, when we see and hear him. 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:18.400 Be overjoyed when you encounter him. 00:17:19.519 --> 00:17:29.359 The beauty of this is coupled with the supernatural power of Jesus in his resurrected body, which we should note, and this helps the disciples to believe that Jesus is God. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:34.319 It's clear that Jesus is somewhat different after his resurrection, as we saw last week. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:42.880 Um, I don't know if you're you might remember uh or or um look back up at the top half of John chapter 20, but Mary Magdalene didn't recognize him straight away. 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:45.279 Um it wasn't until he spoke her name. 00:17:45.519 --> 00:17:53.839 And now we see Jesus seemingly defying the laws of locked doors, however, he did that, um, and appearing among them, showing that he is God. 00:17:55.440 --> 00:18:01.200 So Jesus helps the disciples to believe, coming to them where they're at, uh, fearful. 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:05.359 Then Jesus helps Thomas to believe. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:07.839 So we're going to look at verses 26 to 28. 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:17.119 And evidently Thomas wasn't with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to them on that first Easter Sunday, and so Jesus comes especially to him, helping him to believe. 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:23.599 Thomas doesn't believe the disciples' testimony, even going further than what they had said about Jesus. 00:18:23.759 --> 00:18:32.400 They had said that Jesus had showed them his hands on his side, and he says, Unless I see, unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, that's what Jesus had shown them. 00:18:32.559 --> 00:18:39.599 But then he goes further and says, And place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side that I will never believe. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:47.759 So Jesus makes this second, this similar appearance the following week, when Thomas is there, especially for Thomas. 00:18:47.839 --> 00:19:00.319 And he goes, he goes as far as Thomas requests, not only showing him the wounds, but inviting him to touch them, to place his fingers in the mark of the nails and his hand in Jesus' side. 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:07.039 Jesus comes especially to Thomas, answering the questions he has to help him believe. 00:19:08.079 --> 00:19:13.200 And he encourages Thomas by saying, Do not disbelieve, but believe. 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:18.720 How kind and personal Jesus is, even with a disciple who doubted like Thomas. 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:22.960 Here we discover the again the importance of words. 00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:32.240 Jesus showed himself to Mary and then the disciples, and now to Thomas, even inviting him to touch his wounds, but in each case he speaks to them. 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:40.559 The clearest uh example of this was last week when Jesus spoke Mary's name and she recognized and believed him. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:45.200 When Jesus comes to his disciples, he says, Peace be with you. 00:19:45.359 --> 00:19:49.200 And now with Thomas, he says, Do not disbelieve, but believe. 00:19:50.640 --> 00:19:55.599 Meeting the resurrected Lord Jesus isn't just seeing, it's hearing. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:20:00.319 Faith comes from hearing and hearing through the word of Christ. 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:03.359 So Thomas believes. 00:20:03.599 --> 00:20:10.400 He has faith, having seen the risen Lord Jesus, touching his wounds, and hearing him say, Do not disbelieve, but believe. 00:20:10.720 --> 00:20:17.599 And then he responds in worship, proclaiming that Jesus is his Lord and that he is God. 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:26.240 And this is no small thing for a Jewish man to say, to say that Jesus is God, recognizing him as a member of the Trinity. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:40.079 And I think uh I think Thomas gets a bad rap uh for ever being known as doubting Thomas because he's actually believing Thomas, he's worshiping Thomas, he's proclaiming Jesus as God Thomas. 00:20:40.960 --> 00:20:43.680 And this is how we respond to hearing and believe him. 00:20:44.559 --> 00:20:47.680 We proclaim who Jesus is and we worship him. 00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:57.119 And so Jesus helps us to believe looking at verses uh 29 to 31. 00:21:01.279 --> 00:21:06.720 You see, Jesus helps us to believe by coming to us in his word. 00:21:08.240 --> 00:21:13.039 Who he is, what he's done, and what that means for us is all revealed in his word. 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:19.920 That's what John tells us in verses 30 to 31, especially um yeah, 31. 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:37.440 He says that all these things are written about Jesus, the signs, his interactions with people, his words throughout the book, but most significantly what we've just looked at the resurrection and the testimonies of Mary, of the disciples, of Thomas, they're all here so that we might believe. 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:40.319 And what are we to believe? 00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:44.240 John tells us that we're to believe that he's the Christ. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:54.000 Christ is uh the word for the Old Testament Messiah, uh, who was the anointed one by God to save his people. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.839 That's who Jesus is. 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:59.279 And we're also to believe that Jesus is the Son of God. 00:22:00.319 --> 00:22:01.599 And why would we believe that? 00:22:01.759 --> 00:22:05.359 Why would we believe that Jesus is the anointed one, the Son of God? 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:08.480 Well, Jesus said that's who he was. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:10.240 Other people said it about him. 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:18.240 The signs that John talks about, they show how he has fulfilled all the prophecies about Christ, about the Messiah in the Old Testament. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:25.519 And the resurrection confirms all this, without a doubt, because Jesus said he would die and rise again. 00:22:26.559 --> 00:22:27.839 And then he did. 00:22:29.359 --> 00:22:34.079 Jesus said he would rise from the dead, and then he rose from the dead. 00:22:35.519 --> 00:22:39.920 Jesus shows with certainty that he's divine, that he is God. 00:22:40.960 --> 00:22:47.839 And we're no less than the disciples and others who saw the resurrected Lord Jesus in the flesh, even though we haven't seen him. 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:52.240 Jesus confirms that to us in his comment to Thomas in verse 29. 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:58.480 You here who believe are blessed, even though you haven't seen. 00:22:58.720 --> 00:23:02.480 You're blessed because you've heard the word and believed. 00:23:03.519 --> 00:23:05.119 And how are we blessed? 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:11.279 What does hearing the risen Lord Jesus and believing that he is the Christ, the Son of God, do in us? 00:23:11.759 --> 00:23:13.759 Well, it means we have life in his name. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:15.200 Verse 31. 00:23:15.599 --> 00:23:20.319 Encountering the one who rose to life and having faith in him gives us life. 00:23:20.480 --> 00:23:22.559 In him we have life. 00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:26.960 Throughout John, Jesus has shown that life is found in him. 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:32.079 He's the one who satisfies every desire of ours, every hunger, every thirst. 00:23:32.240 --> 00:23:37.359 He gives life, he heals, he raises Lazarus from the grave, and he preserves life. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:42.799 In Jesus, we're no longer dead because he has defeated sin and death. 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:46.880 We have eternal and present life in his name. 00:23:48.640 --> 00:23:57.359 So, like the disciples, our fear is turned to rejoicing, and like Thomas, our doubts are turned to believing and to worshiping Him. 00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:02.480 If you're a skeptic, we're so glad you're here. 00:24:02.640 --> 00:24:04.960 But ask your questions, like Thomas did. 00:24:05.839 --> 00:24:07.279 Explore this book. 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:12.559 Explore John's gospel and see if you can say that Jesus is not the Christ, the Son of God. 00:24:13.119 --> 00:24:29.440 Hear the testimony of the men and women in John chapter 20 and elsewhere, many of whom went to their deaths for proclaiming Jesus, for proclaiming that he was indeed who he was, who he said he was, that he was Christ, the Son of God, that he rose again from the dead. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:35.039 Research the reality of the resurrection and see that Jesus truly died and rose, as we read about here. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:38.960 Jesus did literally and physically rise from the dead. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:40.319 Christians believed that. 00:24:40.400 --> 00:24:41.680 We at City believe that. 00:24:41.839 --> 00:24:43.039 I believe that. 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:48.799 There's plenty of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus too, and you should go and look at it. 00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:56.720 The kids were invested, they were investigating the validity of the resurrection last week, and they concluded that Jesus rose from the dead. 00:24:56.960 --> 00:25:02.960 There's plenty of places you can look in and out of scripture which supports this central claim of Christians. 00:25:04.079 --> 00:25:09.039 This text is part of what gives us reason to believe that Jesus rose from the dead and that he is who he says he is. 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:14.319 He appeared to many people in between the time of his resurrection and then his ascension. 00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:18.640 If you're wondering about the accuracy of these texts, then do your research. 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:22.079 You can go to the Chester Beattie Library here in Dublin. 00:25:22.160 --> 00:25:28.400 It's beside Dublin Castle, and there's fragments of John's Gospel from the third century. 00:25:28.640 --> 00:25:37.200 You go over to, I can't remember the name of the library, it's over in Manchester, where there's fragments from the second century from John 18. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:40.720 There's ample evidence for the resurrection. 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:46.880 Christianity rigorously holds up to historical, archaeological, and textual scrutiny. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:53.200 But if you're struggling with faith, look to Christ who comes to you. 00:25:53.680 --> 00:26:01.440 See his death for you in the pages of scripture, and remember it in the breaking of bread and taking of wine, which we'll share together in a few minutes. 00:26:02.960 --> 00:26:07.839 Know the power of his death beating resurrection, and that it means life for you. 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:13.279 Hear the words Christ speaks to you in his word. 00:26:14.400 --> 00:26:18.960 Be encouraged by the faith of those around you when we gather and sing on Sunday mornings. 00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:26.799 I pray that you're empowered by the Holy Spirit, who's present in all believers, the seal of their salvation. 00:26:30.799 --> 00:26:37.599 And Jesus not only comes, this brings us on to our final point, that Jesus sends his disciples, including us. 00:26:37.920 --> 00:26:48.480 Jesus not only comes to them to bring peace and faith, but he appears to the disciples to send them out in the power of the Holy Spirit with his authority to continue the work he was doing. 00:26:50.000 --> 00:26:55.039 At the start of the passage, we see that Jesus knows his disciples are fearful and afraid. 00:26:55.200 --> 00:26:58.559 He knows they're doubting and struggling for faith, so he comes to them. 00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:03.279 But we see that a week later they're still meeting together behind locked doors. 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:06.720 If you look at verses 19, that's where he comes the first time. 00:27:06.799 --> 00:27:13.759 And then in 26, they're still, I think eight days there, funny way of counting, just means a week. 00:27:14.640 --> 00:27:24.079 But it doesn't say in verse 26, you'll notice it doesn't say that they're behind locked doors for fear of the Jews the second time, but I think we can safely say it's for the same reason. 00:27:24.640 --> 00:27:26.880 That's not quite what we're expecting. 00:27:26.960 --> 00:27:28.640 It's not quite what I was expecting. 00:27:28.799 --> 00:27:32.880 Surely, having seen the risen Lord Jesus, they'd have courage. 00:27:33.119 --> 00:27:34.960 And they'd be out telling everyone about him. 00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:37.119 They'd be preaching every street corner. 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:55.680 And since Jesus seems to give them the Holy Spirit in verse 22, I'm thinking about Pentecost and to the boldness with which Peter and the other disciples they spoke in Acts 2 after Jesus had ascended to heaven. 00:27:56.079 --> 00:28:05.039 And that's the thing you might remember through John that Jesus has said many times that it's not until he goes that he'll send the helper, he'll send the Holy Spirit then. 00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:12.960 Jesus isn't giving them the Holy Spirit here in John 20 like at Pentecost, but he is teaching them more about what the Holy Spirit will do in them. 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:20.160 And one thing we learn from the Pentecost is that the Holy Spirit empowers and emboldens them to proclaim the gospel. 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:27.279 We see that here too, in that Jesus is giving them authority, he's giving them confidence as he sends them out. 00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:35.839 And he's drawing them into the unity and mission of the Father and the Son, and He's giving them the authority to carry it out. 00:28:36.079 --> 00:28:40.079 You see, as the Father has sent me, so I am sending you. 00:28:40.640 --> 00:28:43.039 The authority part comes in verse 23. 00:28:43.119 --> 00:28:46.000 He says, if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. 00:28:46.079 --> 00:28:49.119 If you withhold forgiveness from any, it's withheld. 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:56.079 That might sound a bit tricky, uh, but Jesus isn't saying to the disciples that they decide who gets eternal life. 00:28:56.240 --> 00:28:59.440 He's not making them judges over people's souls. 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:10.960 What he's saying is that as they carry out this mission, as they preach the gospel, and as the Holy Spirit Spirit works in and through them, people hear the gospel. 00:29:11.440 --> 00:29:14.480 They hear and believe the truth about Jesus. 00:29:14.640 --> 00:29:20.640 They're convicted of sin, they turn in repentance and faith, they seek God's forgiveness and they're forgiven. 00:29:21.119 --> 00:29:29.440 Likewise, if people, like many of those who come, we come, we've already come across in John's gospel, if they don't believe, they're convicted already. 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:34.319 They're condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:36.799 We saw that all the way back in John 3. 00:29:39.200 --> 00:29:47.839 And what Jesus says to the disciples here is true of all believers, that he sends us out on the same mission to tell the world that he is the Savior. 00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:55.599 And like with the disciples, he sends us out with the Holy Spirit working in and through us as we carry out this mission. 00:29:55.920 --> 00:29:59.200 This is hugely comforting and freeing for us. 00:29:59.920 --> 00:30:03.680 It frees us to do his work without fear that we're going to mess up. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:08.880 It's not on our own strength that we go and tell the world of our resurrected Lord Jesus. 00:30:09.039 --> 00:30:10.079 It's not all on us. 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:15.759 The Spirit is in us, and we've been sent by Jesus as he was sent by the Father. 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:22.079 I'd love to draw out more of the Trinity here and how amazing it is that it's in the context of us being sent. 00:30:22.480 --> 00:30:26.799 But I want to bring us back to how Jesus helps us to believe for a moment. 00:30:27.519 --> 00:30:33.039 Remember, I said that Jesus helps us to believe by coming to us and revealing himself in his word. 00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:40.880 We hear his voice as God's word is read because he is God, as Thomas so helpfully exclaims here. 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:48.160 But it's not only that Jesus speaks through his word, we need the help of his Holy Spirit to understand it. 00:30:48.240 --> 00:30:53.359 Like we sang in our kids' song, our help to understand your word. 00:30:53.759 --> 00:30:59.680 The Spirit helps us to know and understand the truth, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:04.559 So these verses give us comfort that we're not on our own. 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:09.440 We have his Spirit who confirms to us who Jesus is and that we're in him. 00:31:10.240 --> 00:31:25.200 And not only does the Spirit help us to believe, we have confidence to proclaim the truth about Jesus so that those who hear may believe that he is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing they may have life in his name as we do. 00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:37.599 So if you're fearful like the disciples, if you're doubting like Thomas, if you're not experiencing life in his name, then look again at what John has written. 00:31:37.839 --> 00:31:39.920 Be strengthened in your faith. 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:47.440 See that Jesus is who he says he is, that he is God, and that he is the anointed Savior of the world. 00:31:47.759 --> 00:31:59.599 Go as Jesus has sent you to proclaim to a world that is lost those same truths about Jesus, knowing that you're not alone, but that his spirit dwells in you, empowering you for that mission. 00:31:59.839 --> 00:32:02.000 And hear the words of Jesus. 00:32:02.319 --> 00:32:03.920 Peace be with you. 00:32:04.160 --> 00:32:08.559 Do not disbelieve, but believe and then turn to worship him.