April 12, 2020
All Hope Was Lost
Psalms 16:9-11
Pastor Bryan Watson
(Watch on YouTube) (Audio Only) (Podcast)
I’ve titled my sermon for today, “All Hope Was Lost”. It is based on the text of Psalm 16, verses 9 to 11, in the New King James Version.
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.
10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
The man and his wife stood guilty before the Judge, the taste of their forbidden fruit still on their lips. Wearing only some leaves to hide their shame, they trembled with fear as their judgment was pronounced. Meanwhile, their tempter, the one who had invaded their paradise and tricked them into disobeying the Judge’s orders, slinked in the shadows nearby. And the penalty was severe. Spiritual death. Banishment from paradise. Curses on their world. And finally, the sting of physical death. They hung their heads in grief and guilt. All hope was lost.
The 80-year-old man stood resolutely on the beach as the surf lapped gently at his toes. To the north was a steep mountain range. Rocky. Craggy. Impossible to navigate. To the south stood its mirror image. Vast walls of rock and granite funneled the man and his entourage to the east. But unfortunately, to the east lay the mighty Red Sea. Deep and wide, it sealed off the path to freedom. Those close enough to the beach could hear the surf mocking them as it rolled in wave after wave, “It’s over. It’s over. It’s over.”
The man looked around at the ragged multitude of frightened ex-slaves who had followed him to this spot. Behind them, to the west, blocking the only way out, marched the mighty Egyptian army. Like a wounded mother bear robbed of her cubs, the enraged Egyptians were armed to the teeth and ready to annihilate the old man and his followers, enslaving all those who would survive the slaughter.
In terror, the people turned their gaze upon the old man. “Why did you bring us out here to die?” they screamed at him. The old man turned and faced the sea. All hope was lost.
When we last heard of the Man on the cross, the one named Jesus of Nazareth, whom they also called the King of the Jews, it was Friday, the day after Passover. Falsely accused and betrayed by one of His own followers and deserted by the rest, He was crucified on a Roman cross until He died, like any other common criminal. In case there was any doubt, a Roman soldier plunged a spear into His side and up into His chest cavity. Being highly trained, experienced, professional executioners, the soldiers confirmed His death. There was no doubt. Yes, if there was one thing they were good at, it was death.
Jesus’ body was prepared for burial, and he was buried in a tomb that was provided by one of his secret followers. With a heavy stone rolled against the entrance, and sealed with a legal Roman seal, the tomb was guarded by soldiers who faced the penalty of death themselves if anything happened to Jesus’ body.
After running for their lives the night that Jesus was arrested, His closest friends and followers were now in hiding, thinking they would be next. They had expected a Messiah. A king who would overthrow the Romans. That’s who they hoped Jesus was. Instead, they got a carpenter; a teacher; a miracle worker. And now, He’s a dead carpenter. A dead teacher. A dead miracle worker. And to top it off, it’s now the third day since He was murdered. All hope was lost.
There’s something about hope that is fragile, isn’t there? In times of crisis, hope has a tendency to look small. To look fragile. To look defeated.
We tend to forget what God has done in the past, and we look around at our present circumstances and feel that all hope is lost.
But in our present circumstances, we can learn something about our future by looking to the past.
Let me start with the old man. Known in the Bible as “Moses,” the old man stood on the shore of the Red Sea and turned his face to Heaven. He remembered that God had promised to free the Israelites from Egypt. The Bible says in Exodus 6:6-8, “I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment. 7 I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. 8 I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you for a possession. I am the Lord.”
Moses had come to know God personally and see His powerful hand at work as God delivered Israel from the hand of the Egyptians through the plagues, personally defeating each and every one of the false Egyptian gods in the process, showing them all to be fakes.
Moses knew that God always kept His promises. So, he knew that somehow, even though he himself didn’t know how, God was going to get them out of this hopeless situation.
In Exodus 14:21-22, we read what God did. 21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. 22 And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.
After Israel was safely on the other shore, God allowed the sea to resume its place, and the Egyptian army was drowned, forever freeing Israel from the hands of Egypt.
You see, it had to be this way in order for God to demonstrate that it is only because of Him that Israel was saved, lest they put their trust in themselves. Only God could help them pass from death to life. When all hope was lost, God took matters into His own hands and provided a way, leaving no doubt about who He is. This crossing of the Red Sea was a symbol of God’s redemption of mankind from slavery at the hands of sin and death.
Now let’s turn our attention to the man and the woman that I told you about earlier. Facing judgment. Banishment. Death. The rest of the story is that God made another declaration at that time, this time upon the serpent, the tempter, the devil. And He said in Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.”
In that moment, we saw the Gospel for the very first time, because God established the promise of a Messiah who would save people from their sins.
It was in that moment that the man, Adam, first gave the name “Eve” to his wife, because her name meant, “the mother of all living.” Listen to this… Adam gave that name to Eve AFTER God had pronounced the curse of death. Why? Because Adam believed God. He knew that Eve would be the mother of all living, including the one who would eventually crush the head of the serpent, making life possible again to all people. When all hope was lost, God took matters into His own hands and provided a way, leaving no doubt about who He is.
It had to be this way in order for God to demonstrate that it is only by His grace that people can go to Heaven, lest the man and the woman think that they could be their own gods.
And that brings us to the Man on the cross. The man lying in the tomb. With guards in front of it. The Man on the cross, the carpenter, the teacher, the miracle worker, Jesus Christ, dead on Friday, with ALL HOPE LOST…
His followers thought that all hope was lost because He died. What they didn’t realize was that He DIED because all hope was LOST. The Bible says in Romans 5:12 that “sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned…”
Yet now, on this third day, when all hope was lost, the stone was rolled away by angels! And Jesus Christ, the crucified, came back to life!
But it’s not just the fact that He came back to life that gives us hope. It’s WHY He came back to life, and what He ACCOMPLISHED by coming back to life. THAT’S the big deal!
You see HE WAS the seed of the woman that God was talking about in Genesis.
Usually in the Bible, genealogies are referred to through the fathers. But Jesus Christ had no earthly father. He had an earthly mother, but God was His Father. So Jesus WAS the seed of the woman. His heels were bruised by the nails of the crucifixion but HE WAS the one who would crush the head of the serpent.
In fact, He didn’t just “come back to life.” He took up HIS OWN life, in HIS OWN power, and was raised from the dead! John 10:17-18 says, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
Jesus knew exactly what He was doing when He allowed Himself to be crucified.
But why would He do this? What does it matter?
Quite simply, He gave up His life for us because He loved us. In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” And in John 15:13-14, He says, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” He gave up His life out of love for all those who would obey Him and place their faith in Him. But even that was not the end of the story!
In the process of taking up His life again, Jesus took the death that we deserved, and He destroyed it forever, because He DID NOT STAY DEAD. Written 1,000 years before Christ, Psalm 16:10 says, “you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your holy one see decay.” It was God’s plan all along that Jesus would not stay dead.
In Acts 2:24 the Bible says, “God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.”
And the ultimate outcome of Christ being raised from the dead? Jesus said it Himself in John 11:25. “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live”
Through the Resurrection, we are justified in Christ. This means that when we believe in Jesus Christ as our Saviour, God looks at us in His grace and sees us as righteous, even though we are sinners.
Mike Stallard, writing in the March/April 2019 issue of Israel My Glory magazine, says, “Justification is not a future hope; it is a past transaction with God that has a present ramification in this life. We stand righteous before God today and for all time. According to Romans 4:25, our justification stems from Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Thus, because Christ is alive, WE can live in the assurance that God does not hold our sins against us. WE CAN LIVE FORGIVEN LIVES.”
So we have hope for tomorrow. And we have peace for today.
In an impossible situation, when all hope was lost, God took matters into His own hands and provided a way, leaving no doubt about who He is. The miracle of the Resurrection took place. It had to be this way, otherwise we would think we could save ourselves. But our only hope… our only way to be saved is to put our faith and trust in Jesus in repentance and take Him as our savior. Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
There is no other way. Good deeds won’t do it. Tithes and offerings won’t do it. Going to church won’t do it. Only through the saving act of Jesus Christ dying on the cross and rising again from the dead, can we have hope.
Where is your hope placed today? Because if it’s in government, you’re going to be disappointed. If it’s in pastors, you’re going to be disappointed. If it’s in your pension plan, you’re probably already disappointed. If it’s in your health, or your youth or your good looks, well, you’re going to be disappointed, because all these things are fleeting.
There’s only one place to get hope! And that is right here… the blood stained cross and the empty tomb. This cross is empty! The tomb is empty! He is NOT THERE! He is RISEN just as He said He would.
And so as a Christian, what once seemed hopeless to me is now a hope that can never be taken away. It doesn’t matter if my last heartbeat comes because of cancer, or car accident, or coronavirus. Psalm 139:16 says “all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” So, my last heartbeat cannot come without the permission of my Merciful God, and on that day, I will receive the promise of something greater. The promise of something eternal. Paul said in Philippians 1:21, “To live is Christ and to die is gain,” and on the day I lose my heartbeat, I gain EVERYTHING!
Death is TOOTHLESS for the Christian. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” <1 Cor 15:55> Death is nothing more than a shadow that disappears in the light of the glory of Christ!
If you’re hearing this message and you would like to know what it means to live a forgiven life, and to have hope for tomorrow and peace for today, I want to let you know that you can have that peace right now. The peace that comes from knowing Jesus Christ as your Saviour can come right now.
To sum all this up, the Bible says in John 3:16 that “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans 10:9-10 says, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
Because of our sin, we deserve eternal death and punishment. But because of His love, Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sin, and He rose to life again to free us from death. If you want to experience this freedom in Christ, you can pray with me right now. But remember, it’s not the prayer that saves; it’s the repentance and faith behind the prayer that lays hold of salvation.
This prayer begins with David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51. Let’s pray,
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy; blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin!
3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Lord Jesus, by faith I gratefully receive Your gift of salvation. I am ready to trust You as my Lord and Savior. I believe you are the Son of God who died on the cross for my sins and rose from the dead on the third day. Thank You for bearing my sins and giving me the gift of eternal life. I believe Your words are true. Come into my heart, Lord Jesus, and be my Savior. Amen.
If you’ve prayed this prayer today, it’s important that you let somebody know. You can go to our website at www.lefchurch.com, and find our contact information there. Or call our church office. We’d love to talk with you further about being a Christian and how you can grow in your walk with God.
Amen.
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April 19, 2020
Open Hearts
Acts 16:12-15
Pastor Dennis Elhard
(Watch on YouTube) (Audio Only) (Podcast)
In her memoir about the journey from being a committed lesbian to a committed Christian, Rosaria Butterfield says that, as a non-Christian, her impression of evangelical Christians was that they were poor thinkers, judgmental, scornful, and afraid of diversity. After publishing a critique of an evangelical Christian group in her local newspaper, she received an enormous volume of polarized responses. Placing an empty box in each corner of her desk, she sorted hate mail into one and fan mail into the other.
Then she received a two-page response from a local pastor. “It was a kind and inquiring letter,” she says. It had a warmth and civility to it, in addition to its probing questions. She couldn’t figure out which box to put the letter in, so it sat on her desk for seven days. “It was the kindest letter of opposition that I had ever received.” Its tone demonstrated that the writer wasn’t against her. Eventually, she contacted the pastor and became friends with him and his wife. “They talked with me in a way that didn’t make me feel erased.” Their friendship was an important part of her journey to faith.
Instead of bringing condemnation, this pastor offered kindness and warmth. Sometimes a simple act of kindness can bring huge returns – even eternal ones. Instead of closing their hearts because of this woman’s criticism, the pastor and his wife opened their hearts and hands to reach out to her. Today we are going to look at a very short story from the book of Acts about a woman named Lydia who also opened her heart. We see that: When our hearts are touched by God, He will open our hearts and hands to Himself and to others. While there is not a lot of content here, there are principles to be learned from this woman’s life – today we will consider three. However, first some context:
While still in Asia Minor (Turkey), the apostle Paul had a dream in which the Lord revealed to him that he should leave Asia and travel to Macedonia (European continent). In obedience to the Holy Spirit, he and his companions jump a boat and travel to Macedonia – which is the journey detailed in vs. 11-12. It is not until they come to the city of Philippi that they stop and see if they can find an opportunity to share the gospel.
Philippi is a unique city in that is was designated as a Roman colony. It was a retirement place for Roman soldiers. Everyone who lived there was considered a Roman citizen and received tax benefits from Rome as well. Because it was a main trading center along the major Roman highway, Paul probably thought this a great place for the gospel to get a foothold. Most commentators also believe that Philippi was the hometown of Luke – who wrote the book of Acts. Consequently, they “stayed there for several days.”
Paul and his companions probably asked around in order to have found out about the “place of prayer” located outside the city near a small river. We can assume from this information that there were few Jews living in Philippi because there was no synagogue – since to have a synagogue a city needed to have 10 Jewish men. And the synagogue would’ve been the usual place Paul would have sought out. In a place where there was no synagogue it was typical for Jews to gather for worship in a secluded, sheltered “place of prayer” somewhere outside the city near a source of water. On the Sabbath, then, Paul and his companions walk out to the river where they “expect” to find this place of prayer. Apparently, there are only women there, but upon finding the location the men engage with them in conversation and eventually share the gospel with them. So here’s our first principle:
First: God finds a way to touch those who have a heart for him (vs.14). One of the women who were at the river that day was Lydia. Many assume that Lydia was a woman of means because she is described as a dealer of purple cloth and one who came from the city of Thyatira. Thyatira was especially famous for its purple cloth – a luxury item associated with princes and wealth throughout Mediterranean culture. Lydia was possibly an agent for some of her home-town manufacturers – and sales were probably quite profitable.
However, most importantly, she was a worshiper of the God of Israel and the Lord opened her heart to Paul’s message. She was the first convert to Christianity in Europe and, interestingly enough, a woman. There were others in the book of Acts who were described as God-fearers or worshipers of the true God. The Ethiopian eunuch was one and the centurion Cornelius was another, both were met by God in miraculous ways and who opened their hearts to the message of the gospel. God orchestrated the meeting of Paul and his companions with Lydia that day – he moved them to seek out and find the remote “place of prayer” where God was able to open her heart. Hungry hearts; open hearts, God finds ways to touch them and draw them to himself.
We have here an example of how God works in conversion. The human agent, Paul, presented the message, but it is the Lord – through the Holy Spirit – who opens the heart to respond to the message. We cannot in our own human strength or ability, or power of persuasion open the heart of anyone to receive the gospel - it is the Spirit’s work alone. We a have part, however, and that is to present the message. (Quote) “When God sends us somewhere to minister, he has someone ready to listen”
If you have a heart for God, he will find a way to touch and to minister his grace to you. So often the issue with us is closed hearts – that become a stronghold against God’s desire to touch us and open our hearts to his message. So I urge you, have an open heart before God.
Second: Service is the natural response to those who know him (vs. 15). “When she (Lydia) and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home.” Upon being baptized, Lydia immediately extended an invitation of hospitality to Paul and his companions even though in reality they were yet strangers to her. Motivated by her joy in receiving the gospel, her natural response was to welcome them into her home where they remained for the duration of their stay in Philippi. (Had to persuade: impose, Jews, men)
Each person who claims to be a Christian should be actively involved in some level of service for the Kingdom of God. One commentator put this way: At conversion, “There is an immediate participation in the ways of the Lord. The moment a Christian has found the new joy of heart, there is a desire to share or to help.” Authentic conversion should produce in us the desire to serve – it should be a natural outflow of our new joy. Sadly, it not always is – I know of a church who once a year has what they call “Purge Sunday,” where they ask those who are not actively engaged in serving, and have no intention to serve, to find another church. They’re not interested in pew fillers. I have read that they can lose up to 200 people that Sunday. The biblical call to service is not presented as an option – and it should a natural response of a changed heart.
Lydia’s response to her new faith in Jesus was hospitality. That she may have been a woman of means is suggested in that she had a place large enough to house at least four men and feed them for a number of days. But we don’t know that for sure – all we know is that she extended the gift of hospitality, and God used that gift mightily. Hospitality was greatly valued in the world of the NT, and hosts played a very important role in the mission of the church in Acts – often they were even named because they were key partners in the missionary enterprise.
Hospitality can and should play an important role in the mission of the church today – to both strangers and our brothers and sisters. Sadly, it’s not what it used to be. (Ill. Phoenix) Even within our Christian culture we don’t have the same level of opening our homes to others. (Quote) “A key to recovering hospitality in the church’s life is to liberate it from the performance trap. When hospitality becomes a performance, it becomes a strain on the host, hinders true fellowship, and makes both the hosts and the guests feel uneasy.” When you think your house needs to be spotless before you invite in guests, you’re never going to do it. And why worry about it, because your guest’s house is not spotless either! Don’t buy into that lie.
Maybe your act of service is not hospitality, but you do have abilities that the church can use and needs. For a body to work, every part must be serving the other parts. If you are not serving, you are actually weakening the church body. We are all called to service and good works, and they should be a natural response to those who know Jesus. Is that true of you?
Third: Small kindnesses can have eternal effects. Lydia’s small act of kindness towards Paul and his companions had lasting and eternal effects. If we jump to verse 40, it says: “After Paul and Silas came out of prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them.” There is good reason to believe that the church began to meet in her house, and that Lydia’s home became the centre for Christian outreach and worship in Philippi. It is also believed by many commentators that Lydia became a major contributor not only to the ongoing work in Philippi, but to the missionary activity of Paul at large. Through the beachhead established for the gospel in Philippi, and the support given by that church (Philippians), the gospel was spread throughout the European continent. Small kindnesses; eternal effects.
Each of us, like Lydia, has been called by the Lord to invest our lives to make a difference for eternity. We have been called to present our resources, our abilities, our gifting and our very lives to the Lord. Even our simplest acts of kindness can inspire others and those whom we don’t even know. Jesus taught us that only when we give our life away for his sake do we find it. What do you have to offer him? What do I? Remember the story of the boy with the five loaves and two fish – Jesus took his small unselfish offering and fed over 5000 men and their families as well. God can take your small acts of kindness and do great things with them. That is a key element of His economy. (Remember my opening story)
In this season of pandemic, we have a great opportunity to do small, simple acts of kindness for our neighbors and community. Just think, just a random act of kindness to a neighbor who is closed to the gospel may be just the thing that the Lord can use to begin to soften their heart – and maybe someday in the future they will receive Christ – now that’s an eternal effect. Showing kindness will break down walls – it’s hard to resist. So what are some ways we can show kindness during this unprecedented time? Here’s a few of ideas:
-Let your neighbor or friend know that you are available to talk or pray with them at any time.
Especially stay in contact with those who are living alone and probably fearful. Ask them what their greatest fear is right now and pray specifically for that. Make a phone call, not an e-media!
-Ask them if they can think of any good things that have come out of this situation right now, in order to help bring about a change of focus. (Take them a roll of toilet paper!)
-Take a meal or a care package over to someone who is alone or is struggling with health issues.
- Support local businesses and thank them for being willing to work and serve the community.
- Shop for a senior: Offer to help shop for food and pick up medications for seniors and others at risk. (Lina).
- Express your appreciation to someone who is working in Health Care.
Also, turning our thoughts to serving other people will help us alleviate of own fears because we take the focus off of ourselves. So be creative – ask the Lord for ideas. We should be God’s hands and feet in these days. Small kindnesses can have eternal effects.
When our hearts are touched by God, He will open our hearts and hands to Himself and to others. Lord, we thank you that you find ways to touch those who have a heart for you. You are looking for faith. Help us to desire to be the kind of servant Jesus was – and that as our relationship with him grows, so will our hearts of service. Open our hearts to our neighbors and friends these days with random acts of kindness and may you use them for eternal purposes. In Jesus name, Amen.
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April 26, 2020
Isolation Transformation
John 20:19-22
Pastor Bryan Watson
(Watch on YouTube) (Audio Only) (Podcast)
Let’s begin our sermon time with a word of prayer:
Merciful Father, as we draw near to hear Your Word today, we humbly ask that You give each one of us a real sense of Your presence. We ask that You prepare us to hear the truth of Your Word… that You would open our ears and our hearts to be in tune with You. Father, may the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be found pleasing and acceptable in Your sight, my God and Saviour. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
Our text for today is found in the Gospel of John, chapter 20, verses 19 to 22. Let’s read it together. John 20:19-22
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."
22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
I’ve titled this message, “Isolation Transformation.” I want to demonstrate to you that even during periods of isolation and stress, as Christians, we still find God in our midst, and we can emerge from times of isolation even better than we were going into it.
Who was there?
The first thing that I want to do is set the context for you.
It is now evening on the first day of the week, the same day of Christ’s Resurrection. The disciples are all gathered together in a house in Jerusalem. All of them, that is, except Judas Iscariot, the traitor, who had already hung himself, and Thomas, who is off somewhere else at this time; we don’t know where. Perhaps he is doing a grocery run, or maybe he hasn’t checked his text messages yet to know where the disciples are gathered together. Whatever the reason, Thomas is notably absent from this gathering. A good reminder to all of us that we shouldn’t skip church, because you never know what you are going to be missing. 😊
We also know that the 2 other disciples whom Jesus met on the road to Emmaus were present at this gathering. We learned that from Luke’s account of this event. In Luke 24:33 we read, “And they (referring to these 2 disciples) rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together…”
We can also assume, although it isn’t perfectly clear, that Mary Magdalene and the other women who had seen the risen Christ were also at this gathering, for they had been instructed by the angels, and in some cases by Jesus Himself, to go and tell the other disciples.
But whoever was there, we know that there were enough people that there was no way for them to practice safe physical distancing, if you know what I mean! 😊
Why were they hiding?
Another detail that we know is that the doors were locked for fear of the Jews. The disciples saw what had happened to Jesus, and considering their close association with Him, they logically concluded that the same fate awaited them if they were out and about. They were afraid of the Jewish leaders who were behind the false arrest and kangaroo court that Christ endured. They were afraid of the Jewish mobs who lauded him with praises shouting “Hosanna” only one week earlier, and then screaming “Crucify Him” just a few short days later.
Quite frankly, they were self-isolating because they feared for their lives. Despite 3 years of travelling with Jesus and being personally taught by Him; after 3 years of witnessing His miracles first-hand and even being instruments in several of them, it is apparent that they still did not fully comprehend who He was, or that He would rise again from the dead. They still didn’t get it.
They had a tendency to be this way, didn’t they? In Mark chapter 4, and Matthew chapter 8, we read about an incident where Jesus was on a boat with the disciples. While Jesus was asleep, a violent storm came up, and the disciples were panicking. “Lord, don’t you care that we are perishing?” Quite an accusation against Christ! He knew more about their perishing than they could possibly understand until much later. But Jesus calmed the storm with a word.
A little later, there was another incident on a boat. This incident is recorded Mark chapter 6 and Matthew chapter 14. This time, the disciples were on a boat by themselves. In the middle of the night, literally sometime between 3 and 6am, Jesus went out to them, walking on the water. The Bible says in Matthew 14:26, “when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear.” I can only imagine the screaming and hollering that went on!
And the night that Jesus was arrested, these strong rugged men, who so bravely said that they would be willing to die with Christ, ran for their lives. Mark 14:50 simply says, “And they all left him and fled.”
So, it’s understandable, considering their track record, that they were afraid and hiding behind locked doors in a house in Jerusalem. And by no means am I condemning them for this. I keep a prayer journal, and I am amazed when I go back and see the number of times God has answered my prayers with a “yes”. But I confess that in times of stress and struggle, I tend to forget how God has acted in my life, and I doubt. So, if I had been one of Christ’s immediate disciples, I probably would have been right in that room with them, afraid for my life. Or out with Thomas, fending for myself.
What were they talking about?
Finally, we wonder what they were talking about.
Well, for starters, we know that they were arguing. They had a tendency to argue with each other, as we discovered in Matthew chapter 18 and Luke chapter 9 when they were arguing about which of them would be the greatest in Christ’s kingdom. (They weren’t thinking about a Heavenly kingdom. They still thought that Christ was going to defeat the Romans and set up His kingdom on earth at that time.) But Jesus had scolded them and taught them that “whoever humbles themselves like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 18:4)
So here again behind locked doors, the disciples were arguing. This time it was about the Resurrection, for several eyewitness accounts started coming in.
First of all, from Mary Magdalene in Mark 16 verses 10 and 11. “She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.”
And the two disciples that met Jesus on the road to Emmaus, in Mark 16 verses 12 and 13. “After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.”
We also have reason to believe that Jesus had appeared to Peter prior to this gathering, and that this was part of the argument, because referring to these two disciples from the road to Emmaus, we read in Luke 24:33-35, “And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.”
As a side note, it’s interesting here that they are referring to Peter by his original name, Simon. You see, Peter had just finished denying even knowing Christ, and he had not yet been restored to fellowship by Jesus. And in the gospels, whenever Peter was in trouble with Jesus, he was called “Simon,” his original name from his old nature before he was changed by Christ.
But I suspect it wasn’t just arguing. For most of the disciples, who were not prepared to accept the hope of a Resurrection, this was more like a funeral wake, and they were probably reminiscing, just like we do in times like these.
“Do you remember that time we were out on the boat and Jesus came walking on the water? That was awesome. Andrew, you squealed like a little girl with a spider.” “I did not, that was YOU, Phillip.” “No, it wasn’t me. It must have been Bartholomew.” (Matthew 14, Mark 6, John 6)
“What about that time there was this great big crowd listening to Jesus preach. And then he turns to us and says, ‘Give them something to eat.’ Like I’ve got a couple of food trucks at my disposal or something. And then this little kid comes up with his lunch and offered it to Jesus. He was so cute, and we all laughed. But Jesus… He just smiled at that little boy and accepted his little basket, and then looked to Heaven and said, “Thank You, Father.” And we just stood there, stunned. And He fed that whole crowd, men and women and children, and we picked up so many leftovers we could have fed an army. I couldn’t believe it. I still get tingles when I think about it. And then He did it again later.” (Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, John 6)
“Yeah, or that other time when Jesus was teaching and all these people tried bringing their little kids to Jesus. We told them to stop… that Jesus was too busy to be bothered with kids. I thought we were doing Him a favor, but boy was He mad! I remember Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ (Matthew 19:14)
“He had such a soft spot for little kids. I just can’t believe He’s gone.”
Jesus Appears
Suddenly, there He was! In the midst of the reminiscing and arguing, Jesus just shows up! In what is probably one of the most classic understatements of history, the Bible says in John 20:19, “Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, Peace be with you.’”
It’s almost like Jesus shows up and says, “Hey guys!” And the disciples say, “Hey Jesus!” Let me tell you, that’s not what it was like.
Outside of the small handful of people who had seen Him alive that day, the majority of the group still believed He was dead.
Now we have to understand that Jesus, at this time, was physically resurrected. He was in a physical body, one that could touch and be touched; one that could eat and drink. However, this glorious, resurrected, immortal body was not like the mortal body He had before the crucifixion, or like the mortal bodies that you and I dwell in today. This immortal body, while physical, is not limited to the laws of physics. You see, Jesus didn’t knock on the door and ask to come in. He “appeared.” I don’t know if He walked through a wall, or if He just manifested in front of them, but all of a sudden, there He was.
Mark says He “appeared.” Luke says He “stood among them.” John says He “came and stood among them.” However He appeared to them, we know that it was supernatural in nature, because He scared the wits out of the disciples. Again.
Luke 24:37 says, “But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.” I’ll bet there was a little bit of a commotion when Jesus first showed up. These people were already on edge. And they had shown previously that they could be frightened. All that was really needed right about then was for somebody to step on a cat’s tail! If that door hadn’t been locked I bet they would have been out in a hurry!
The Bible says that Jesus said, “Peace be with you.” That’s likely paraphrased, “Calm down! Calm down, everybody. Look, it’s Me. It’s ok! Relax. Deep breath!”
And then, over the next few verses, Jesus shows them His resurrected body. He showed them His hands and side. He ate a piece of fish. He proved to them that He was real, because a hallucination doesn’t eat fish, and a hallucination is usually quite a private event, and yet ALL of them could see Him.
What a difference a few minutes with Jesus makes! I can only imagine the jubilant eruption that took place in that moment. If they thought they were hiding behind a locked door, I’m sure the whole neighborhood was wondering what kind of party was going on. For the second time in short order, Jesus again has to come them down! John 20:20 says that “the disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” Overjoyed. Ecstatic. Bringing Jesus to say once again, “Peace be with you!” “Guys, guys. Calm down! Calm down. I have something I need to say to you.”
First, we need to note that Jesus scolded them for their unbelief. We read in Mark 16:14 that “He rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw Him after He had risen.” They had seen enough and heard enough over the previous 3 years, that they should have known better. Jesus is patient and loving, for sure, but He is also holy and just, and since He is truth, He is going to reveal the truth.
But then Jesus proceeds to tell them something that is going to change their lives from that moment on. Reading in John 20:21-22: “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.” In Mark 16:15, we get a little more detail. Jesus told them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.”
Coming out of their time of isolation, the disciples were given the charge by Jesus to do in the world what He had done in the world. They would spread the Good News of the Gospel all the rest of the days of their lives, starting a movement that continues to this very day.
And when Christ breathed on them, He gave them the promise of the Holy Spirit, who was to come a short time later, at Pentecost. The fact that Christ breathed on them is not insignificant. It’s like He gave them new life… a new spirit. God breathed life into Adam at the creation. That was physical life. After the cross, Christ breathed life into the disciples. That was spiritual life.
It was a transformation from fear to faith!
Lesson for Today
So, what can we learn from this in our current state, where we are, for the most part, living in isolation, however temporary?
1) The first thing we need to learn is that even when we are in isolation, we cannot ever truly be isolated from Christ. He is right there in our midst, encouraging us, strengthening us, and if necessary, correcting us. “Behold, I am with You always, to the end of the age,” He says in Matthew 28:20. That’s a promise we can count on.
2) The second thing we need to learn is that a time of isolation can make us stronger. It was during their time in hiding that the disciples had a transformation experience with the resurrected Christ. If we look for opportunities during this time, we can find them. For starters, we can read the Word. The Bible. If you need a place to start, start with the Gospel of John. A good friend of mine said that he started with Revelation and that it really helped him to discover who Christ is. We can take online classes. We can catch up on reading good books the help us to grow in our faith. We can use this time to improve our physical health. Believe it or not, we can also use this time to grow our fellowship with each other by having real conversations on the phone, rather than a casual nod in passing in the hallway. Whatever it is, we can emerge from this time even better than we were going into it.
3) Finally, we can be prepared to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ once we are back in business in our day-to-day lives. When someone asks us what we did with ourselves during this time, we can boldly and confidently say that we learned just how much God loved the world, that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Is there a better way to emerge from the isolation? We went into this like caterpillars. Let’s come out of it like butterflies. If there is going to be the revival that we all pray for, let it start with us.
Maybe you’re listening to this sermon today, and you’re behind closed doors and isolated from friends and family, and you’re afraid. Maybe you can feel Christ wanting to reveal Himself to you, but you aren’t sure what to do next. Maybe you aren’t sure why He would even come to you.
Can I encourage you to reach out to us? You can find our contact information at www.lefchurch.com. We’d love to hear from you and pray with you and help you to understand how to make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior. You CAN have the peace that Christ offers. The peace that passes understanding.
Amen. Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus, we thank You that You have not abandoned us at this time, or at any other time in our lives, nor will You ever abandon us, but You promised to be with us always, and we believe Your promise. Thank You for Your loving guidance. Please show us how we can make the best use of this time to grow and be transformed at this time. May this time be used for Your glory. In Your precious name we pray, Amen.