Our Part (John 20:19-23)

As we all know, on Easter Monday, the Pope died. 

Much has been written about him … about his life, his humility, his legacy etc.  There were some controversial things about him … one of them was that he was on record as stating that Jesus wasn’t the only way of salvation. 

That’s a really big problem considering the fact that Jesus said: “““I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.””

What we do know, is what Paul tells us: ““For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.””

That’s true of each and everyone of us.

Next up … is the conclave to elect his replacement … where everyone is waiting for the white smoke.

During his papacy we are told that Catholic Church is growing again … but we also seeing growth in Evangelical … Bible believing churches.

The Reformed Episcopal Church is growing because — as a whole — we are trying to be faithful to our Savior’s command just prior to his ascension. 

You might have noticed all the new church plants listed in the brochure for REC 100 during Lent … and we also see church plants in Europe … again … in response to our Savior’s command.

That is exactly what we see from our Gospel lesson this 1^st Sunday after Easter … the command to carry His message to the uttermost parts of the earth.

The first thing that we see is the timing: ““Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week …””  

The previous verses — as we saw last week — in John 20 tell us about the resurrection of Jesus.  

The women and the disciples had gone to the tomb and found it empty.  

Then later on we see that Jesus reveals himself to Mary Magdalene.  

We know as we compare Scripture with Scripture that Jesus also appeared to John and Simon Peter on the Emmaus road.

This is where the Gospel record picks up and we read: ““Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week …””  

It is the evening of the day of resurrection — that first Easter day. 

But there wasn’t a lot of rejoicing at the risen Christ, because the disciples and followers of Jesus did not yet fully understand everything that had transpired … even though Jesus had told them on numerous occasions that he would rise from the dead.  

What we really see … is that the opposite was true as we continue on: ““when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews.””

Everyone was hiding in that upper room where Jesus had celebrated the Passover with his disciples and instituted the Lord’s Supper.  

We need to remember … that after his arrest … the disciples all fled. 

The only disciple at the cross was John and some of the women … including his mother Mary.  

Peter … not only fled … but three times … quite vociferously … denied that he knew him!

They were hiding because they were afraid that the Jewish leaders would come after them next.  

But then … and all of a sudden: ““Jesus came and stood in the midst …”” 

As we read … the doors were shut because they were hiding and all of sudden they look … and Jesus is standing there.

Again, this is important — the impression is that Jesus went through the door — he didn’t knock, and nobody opened it.  

It is important because this is a clear indication of his resurrected body — and it is something that we as Christians will all have someday.  

We read in 1 Corinthians 15 … the resurrection chapter … these words: 1 Corinthians 15:42-44: 

““So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption.  It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.””  

The resurrected body of our Savior was a “spiritual body” — something that we will have when we enter glory or when he returns.  

We don’t know exactly what that will be … but I am hoping that mine is going to be thin! 

I don’t what to say about my non-original parts that I have … my knee, hip and shoulder! Maybe I will get the original parts back!

Again … the doors were locked, and all of a sudden Jesus appears in the midst of them … — through the locked door.  

That alone should cause them to say “wait a second, what is happening here?”  

But Jesus IMMEDIATELY puts them at ease — and says: ““Peace be with you.”” 

While this is an everyday greeting … it is important … because in it we do not see ANY rebuke of the disciples for abandoning him in his time of need.

In fact … this abandonment was something that Jesus had predicted at their celebration of the Passover.

In Matthew 26 we read: ““Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, And the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’””

… and that’s exactly what happened.

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As we continue … John 20:20, Jesus shows us that it is really him and not a ghost or some apparition — 

““When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.””  

The wounds in his hands and side showed that it was really him — that he had really risen from the dead.  

AT THIS POINT … the disciples were glad and they were finally starting to get it.

As the Gospel record goes on, he blesses them again — ““So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you!””  

And then … the commissioning …: ““As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.””

Simple words … ““As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”” 

It is here that Jesus commissions them to go out and tell others that he came into the world to save sinners.  

In Matthew 28:18-20 … we have fuller picture of this commissioning: 

““And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.””  

And then in Acts 1:8 we read: ““But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

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Jesus had prepared them for what they would do following his ascension.

They may not have fully understood — we know this because a few days earlier they all abandoned him — but they would soon fully understand.

What we do know is that following the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ … the Apostles then took the Gospel to all the known world.   

They fulfilled the commission that they had been charged with … they did not do it under their own power, as we read:  

John 20:22: ““And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.””

Jesus had promised them … that when he left, he would give them another comforter — the Holy Spirit … which would be fully given on the day of Pentecost.

It was THIS Spirit that raised Christ from the dead … and it is this SAME Spirit that empowered them to fulfill the Great Commission — to be witnesses to Jesus in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth.  

It was THIS Spirit — the 3^rd person of the Trinity that gave the Apostles — including Matthias who replaced Judas, and then later Paul … to go into all the known world and preach the Gospel.  

It was this Spirit that enabled them to endure the hardships … the beatings … the imprisonments … the rejection that each and everyone of them went through — and then … with the exception of John … to finally die for the resurrected Christ.

It was THIS same Spirit that enabled those 1^st Century Christians who responded to the gospel … to suffer and die for their faith in Christ …

It was this same Spirit that enabled Martin Luther to step away from the Roman Catholic Church and plant the seeds of the Reformation … 

— it was THIS same Spirit that lived in the lives of the great Christian witnesses of the past — Calvin, Cramner, Ridley, Edwards, Spurgeon, Hudson Taylor  — and I could go on and on.  

— it was THIS same Spirit that enabled Bishop George David Cummins to step out from the Episcopal Church and start the REC.

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All these and countless others stepped forward in faith and in the Spirit of Christ to proclaim the one and only true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

BUT … BUT … the other foundational thing that we see … is that it is THIS SAME Spirit that lives in EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US who are called by the name of Christ.  

If we have trusted in Christ as Savior and Lord — then we have his Spirit — and it is the EXACT SAME SPIRIT that was in the Apostles and is in every Christian since the Day of Pentecost.

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What does this mean then for us as 21^st Century Christians?

I guess the easiest way to say this is that if the great Christians of the past could do it … then we can also!  

Now … I will grant you that not everyone is called to be a Pastor, or to be a Missionary, or to be an Evangelist, or to be a great teacher … or some other super Christian however you might want to define it. 

But WE ARE ALL CALLED TO BE WITNESSES 

… witnesses to the saving Grace of Jesus Christ 

… witnesses to what he has done in our lives 

… witness to the fact that we believe that he died for OUR sins, in OUR place.

And remember … as I have said before … witnessing is NOT necessarily something that we do … BUT IT IS something that we are … 

This witness does not have to be verbal … although at times, it should be and must be …

This witness can also be with our actions and reactions … the evidence in our lives.

Again … as you have heard me say before … we are witnesses when we get up on Sunday morning and drive to this place to worship God … instead of sitting at home enjoying a cup of coffee and relaxing … or going fishing or shopping …

… we are witnesses when we don’t do certain things … and when we do certain things …

And … as Jesus sent those first followers … HE SENDS US!

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IF we believe that there is ONLY ONE WAY of salvation … AND that those without Christ are open to the wrath and judgement of God — then we are compelled to tell others about Jesus.

And for those of us who have faith in Christ as Savior, WE HAVE THE SAME POWER — the same Holy Spirit — that those first Apostles did … to tell others about Jesus Christ.

We know that it is God who does the saving … but we have been given the responsibility to tell others … to show others … to plant the seeds, as it were … AND let God do the rest.  

BUT we must  also remember … that we have been told NOT to make converts, but to ““make disciples”” — that is, TRUE followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.  

As we read in St. Matthew 28: ““teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.””

We have all been sent — not just those with collars or those who have gone to Seminary … some exceptional or super Christian … but each and everyone of us!

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Every week we pray for church growth.

But think about what we have … or should I say … what we don’t have.

We don’t have a big church building on a busy road to attract people.

We don’t have a variety of programs that draws some people to a church.

What we do have is true Biblical, God-focused and God-centered worship … our liturgy is about 2/3 scripture … and in my mind … what better way to worship God than through the very words that He has given us!

I realize that many of you have been Christians for a while and that probably most of your circle of family and friends are believers and may even be members of other churches.

Statistically we are told that church attendance in the US is under 50%.  

That sounds bad … BUT from a positive point of view, that means that MORE THAN 50% of the people out there are unchurched … so that means, as Jesus said: 

““The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.””

So … even though the Sanctuary is small and intimate … there is still room for growth!

And remember … the BEST outreach is person to person and prayer!

As I have encouraged you before … think about ONE person or ONE family of those whom you know … that does NOT know Christ as Savior and Lord … or that is unchurched … or that is going to a place where the Gospel is absent …

— and begin to pray for them … pray without ceasing … and pray for the opportunity to invite them to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

And pray … that in the providence of God … they would come to know Christ as Savior and Lord … and who knows … maybe Saint Peter’s would grow … spiritually first AND then numerically.

I always think of this way … and this has been my mantra for 40 plus years of ministry … if everyone brought just one person … we would double in size … and the sanctuary would be mostly filled … and we might even run out of parking spaces.

BUT … above all … remember that your are not alone in this endeavor … you have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead in you and with you!

We read this promise in John 14: 

““Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.””

And so I say — AMEN … and let’s pray for that greater work … to the Glory of God ALONE!