CHRIST LIVES TODAY
JOHN 20:19-31
Introduction:
The resurrection had taken place and Jesus had been seen by Mary Magdalene who had told the disciples. Peter and another disciple (probably John) had run to the tomb to find Jesus gone. They were perplexed and did not fully believe what Mary Magdalene said, Mark 16:10-13, “And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.”
Now the Lord shows Himself to the other disciples establishing the testimony of the resurrection which the Apostle Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.
I. THE INFALLIBLE PROOF OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION
A. Christ shows Himself ALIVE, v. 19; Acts 1:3, “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”
1. Mary Magdalene had seen Jesus at the tomb, vs. 15-16, “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”
2. Now the Lord reveals Himself to the other disciples, v. 19; Mark 16:14, “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.”
3. Thomas was not present at that first meeting, v. 24, “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.”
a. Thomas did not believe the report of his brethren, vs. 25, “he other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
b. Later the Lord deals with his unbelief, vs. 26-27, “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.”
c. Thomas is assured by the Lord, v. 28, “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”
B. Shalom = “Peace be with you,” John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
1. This is NOT the peace of the WORLD, but the peace of God, Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
2. This peace was because their sins were forgiven and the “peace of God” would guard their lives, Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
3. The world is unable to give this kind of peace.
a. Fear of death and fear of the future are removed as Jesus’ followers trust in Him, Hebrews 2:14-15, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
b. Thus they need not be troubled, John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
II. THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK
A. It was the same day that he rose, being the first day of the week, v. 19.
1. It was a PRIVATE MEETING of the Apostles, eleven of them, and some more of their friends with them, Luke 24:33, “And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,”
2. According to John the Lord ESTABLISHED THAT DAY as the day of Worship by appearing on that day to His worshippers, Revelation 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”
B. The Lord’s churches have met on the first day of the week since then, Acts 20:7, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”
1. The second meeting of the Lord after His resurrection was on the first day of the week, John 20:26, “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.”
2. Paul reinforced this precedent during his ministry, 1 Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”
CONCLUSION:
“This is the clearest verse in the New Testament which indicates that Sunday was the normal meeting day of the apostolic church. Paul stayed in Troas for seven days (v. 6) and the church met on the first day of the week. Luke’s method of counting days here was not Jewish, which measures from sundown to sundown, but Roman, which counted from midnight to midnight. This can be stated dogmatically because “daylight” (v. 11) was the next day (v. 7).” The Bible Knowledge Commentary.