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Call to worship: Jonah 1:17-2:9

Text: John 20:19-31

Summary:

Summary: On the night of the first Easter Sunday, the disciples are gathered together under the premise that the tomb is empty and the report that Jesus is apparently risen. Amid their fear, Jesus, never minding closed doors, appears, preaching the grace of peace to them. He invites them to see Him, that neither the cross, nor the grave have conquered Him---or them. Again, He preaches peace! He then breathes on them, and they receive the Holy Spirit from Him for the sake of the task in front of them, which appears to be authoritatively preaching the message of forgiveness and charitably affirming true faith in Jesus Christ. Thomas was not present, so he missed this blessing. Though the others tell Him the good news, he refuses to believe it unless he can see Jesus Himself. Jesus appears again. In mercy, He invites Thomas to examine Him. Thomas believes and gives the great confession: Jesus is his Lord and his God. Blessed, Jesus says, are those who do not see as Thomas did and still believe. John notes that he's been selective in his reporting, choosing things he thinks most conducive to faith in Jesus as the divine Christ and Giver of spiritual life to sinners.

Sermone Outline:

1. The peace of the risen Christ to combat all fear. (20:19-20)

2: The power of the risen Christ for carrying out His commission. (20:21-23)

3: The presentation of the risen Christ to remove all doubt. (20:24-31)

a: Christ's presentation to Thomas. (20:24-29)

b: John's presentation to all. (20:30-31)

Prepare

Discussion Questions:

Read John 20:19-31.

What is the setting for this next appearance of the risen Jesus? Day, time, situation, emotion? How does Jesus speak into this? What does He invite them to do? How would this appearance serve their hearts and their courage?

It appears, in 20:21-23, that Jesus gives a specific commission to His disciples here out of this word of peace. What's the relationship between having His peace and being faithful to His commission? What is the commission here? What gift does He give them for it? Who is this Gift? How does He come to be received by them?

In some part, Thomas must serve to show us how important it is to gather with the disciples of Jesus on the Lord's Day if at all possible. Why might that be? What has Thomas missed by being absent? How does Thomas respond to the apostles' report? Shouldn't that be enough for faith? Why is it not for Thomas? What does Thomas know for certain? What does he certainly doubt?

What does Jesus say (for the third time) to them all in 20:26? How does Jesus minister to Thomas specifically? What does this tell us about Jesus and His character? What excellencies? What does He charge Thomas? Does Jesus want any of us to live in doubt, to abide in the land of non-conviction? What is Thomas' response to this presentation of Jesus? How does Jesus minister to us in view of Thomas' faith? What is John's central purpose, not only in this book, but in his life? Is it ours?