KJV 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
KJV John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord. 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The 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. 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. 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. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Background for the Sermon
The Virgin Birth of Jesus is directly related to His resurrection appearances, especially in regard to His two natures - divine and human.
The Isaiah 7 and 9 prophesies are about the future Messiah who will be God and man. This is also reflected in John 8, where Jesus spoke of existing before Abraham was born, and yet Abraham rejoiced to see His day - the Word in the flesh. That transcends our notion of time, the Son of God existing before Abraham and also the object of Abraham's faith (Genesis 15:6), which gladdened Abraham. He believed in these Promises and was Justified by Faith.
Therefore, the two natures of Christ, divine and human, are heavily contested by unbelievers. The two natures are made to disappear by the boll weevils who occupy teaching positions in the institutional Church. They allow for Jesus being remarkable, loved, innocent - but God in the flesh? - that is too much for their Barth-infused minds. The more they insist in denying the two natures, the blinder they become.
But that is the nature of the mysteries revealed by the Holy Spirit. We cannot come to a rationalistic conclusion about something beyond human grasp. So the details are given to us in the simplest words by the power and effective influence of the Holy Spirit in the Word. The internal evidence of the Scriptures says - Yes, this is all true, revealed by God, taught through the ages. From the moment of Incarnation - conceived by the Holy Spirit - the promised Messiah, the Son of God, took on our human flesh, yet without sin. That Incarnation continues to this day, so Jesus does not come to us only as the Son of God, but as the Incarnation - God and man, two natures in the One Person.
The appearances of Jesus after His resurrection teach us that His two natures continued, united in One.
KJV John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
This is another case of a sentence giving us details, each one having great significance. But our tendency is to fast-forward and get to the main part. However, that is a mistake because every phrase is a significant part of the chief story.
- The same day - that is Easter Sunday. The verses before (John 20:1-18) included multiple visits to the empty tomb - Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John.
- It was evening, the first day - Sunday.
- The doors were barred shut and the group assembled - they were afraid of armed opposition in light of Jesus' punishment and their implied guilt. The opposition of the Jewish leaders had already manifested itself. Fear multiplies the sense of danger.
- Jesus stood in their midst. His divine nature was not hindered by His human nature.
- Jesus spoke the traditional greeting, still used - Peace be with you. Shalom.
These resurrection appearances teach us that they were seeing the risen Christ, God and man, with the marks of the crucifixion. He did not appear as a vision, as a spirit without a body, but as the Word Incarnate, carrying with Him the experiences of His earthly ministry and crucifixion.
20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
Jesus did not need to prove Himself, but the assembled group needed to see that this was indeed the risen Christ, the crucified Messiah. They saw that this was not a vision, a dream, or a spirit, but the Crucified.
When we are afraid, we see things that are not there, and we also miss what is there. The appearance of Jesus in a *heavily protected room and showing His wounds came with the message - "Peace."
And they were glad.
*We lived in a house where all the doors were chained or heavily barred - because of their genuine fear of an errant son-in-law. That was quite a message because we never lived in a house with so much protection.
As Luther wrote, this are two of the fruits of the Spirit, which cannot come except from faith - Galatians 5 - Love - Joy - Peace.
We can hardly imagine the great burden lifted on them as they saw Him risen. They were filled with joy at His resurrection, and they were absolved of their guilt (Peace) for being fearful.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
Throughout the Fourth Gospel is this verb form found - sent. Messengers were sent from the Temple. John was sent. Jesus was sent and would send His disciples - all for a purpose.
Peace - because their faith received His forgiveness. Jesus was sent by His Father, not working on His own. Everything He did was a reflection of His Father's will and gracious nature. That will continue with sending the apostles (apostle means sent), and they will have the same Word as the Son and the Father, led by the Spirit.
Some of this is overdone, as if to make the clergy godlike, which happens when they read their own press office notices. But the everyday reality is - the faithful minister represents God in harmony with the Scriptures (but not apart from or against the Scriptures). This sets up an automatic negative reaction, because our human nature has a tendency to resent and oppose God's Word.
Many clergy are duped, like the one who had gimmicks to make sure the congregation was a bunch of "happy campers." He said, "Do this and you will have a lot of happy campers." He sounded like the anti-hero in a summer camp B-movie. So the clergy and the members are tricked by their Father Below into measuring success by popularity.
The Bible teaches success only in one category - faithfulness to the Word. As Paul taught the Corinthians, there is only one measure for a steward, who acts on behalf of another - he must be faithful. In this case, it means faithful to the mysteries (the doctrines) of God. Stewards of the mysteries of God.
We can see that the Apostles were faithful and lived only a short time. If tradition is correct, only the Apostle John lived to old age. But they were not keen on maintaining their own biographies, only in teaching about Christ. The Roman world opposed them and persecuted them, but converted to Christ in miraculous numbers.
Faithful pastors are sent by God to teach only what God teaches in the Scriptures, nothing more or less.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
These are often called the keys, and they call for faith as well. It is God's forgiveness that is proclaimed - and for the unrepentant - God's refusal to absolve those who are not contrite. Jesus gave them a power and responsibility that transcended anything they could do on their own.
That is why it is so appalling when church leaders absolve someone for a large sum of money when the man is obviously not contrite, only looking for some earthly approval. The irony is that the lavish gifts are appealing at first, they are sterile and accomplish nothing, becoming expensive white elephants to maintain as the glitter and glamour wear off.
Luther:
2. Faith, as we have often said, is of the nature, that every one appropriates to himself the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, of which we have already said enough; namely, that it is not sufficient simply to believe Christ rose from the dead, for this produces neither peace nor joy, neither power nor authority; but you must believe that he rose for your sake, for your benefit, and was not glorified for his own sake; but that he might help you and all who believe in him, and that through his resurrection sin, death and hell are vanquished and the victory given to you.
3. This is signified by Christ entering through closed doors, and standing in the midst of his disciples. For this standing denotes nothing else than that he is standing in our hearts; there he is in the midst of us, so that he is ours, as he stands there and they have him among them. And when he thus stands within our hearts, we at once hear his loving voice saying to the troubled consciences: Peace, there is no danger; your sins are forgiven and blotted out, and they shall harm you no more.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The 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.
Doubting Thomas is the same disciple who was so glum that when Jesus went to see His friend Lazarus, he said, "Fine. We will all die together." That is how tense the disciples were before the entry into Jerusalem. Let's face it, faith in the resurrection came first with seeing the empty tomb, reinforced with the Emmaus experience and Jesus appearing in the locked room.
However, this is not parallel, because the disciples and witnesses testified to Thomas that this was true. Rejecting that, he insisted on physical proof, even to the point of touching the wounds of Jesus.
Luther had much to say about faith here:
2. Faith, as we have often said, is of the nature, that every one appropriates to himself the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, of which we have already said enough; namely, that it is not sufficient simply to believe Christ rose from the dead, for this produces neither peace nor joy, neither power nor authority; but you must believe that he rose for your sake, for your benefit, and was not glorified for his own sake; but that he might help you and all who believe in him, and that through his resurrection sin, death and hell are vanquished and the victory given to you.
3. This is signified by Christ entering through closed doors, and standing in the midst of his disciples. For this standing denotes nothing else than that he is standing in our hearts; there he is in the midst of us, so that he is ours, as he stands there and they have him among them. And when he thus stands within our hearts, we at once hear his loving voice saying to the troubled consciences: Peace, there is no danger; your sins are forgiven and blotted out, and they shall harm you no more.
4. And this entrance the Lord made here through barred doors, going through wood and stone, and still leaving everything whole, breaking nothing, yet getting in among his disciples. This illustrates how the Lord comes into our hearts and stands in us, namely, through the office of the ministry. Therefore, since God has commanded men to preach his Word, one should in no wise despise a mortal man into whose mouth he has put his Word; lest we get the idea that every one must expect a special message from heaven, and that God should speak to him by the word of his mouth. For if he imparts faith to any one, he does it by means of the preaching of man and the external word of man.
This is going through closed doors, when he comes into the heart through the Word, not breaking nor displacing anything. For when the Word of God comes, it neither injures the conscience, nor deranges the understanding of the heart and the external senses; as the false teachers do who break all the doors and windows, breaking through like thieves, leaving nothing whole and undamaged, and perverting, falsifying and injuring all life, conscience, reason, and the senses. Christ does not do thus.
Such now is the power of the Word of God. Thus we have two parts, preaching and believing. His coming to us is preaching; his standing in our hearts is faith. For it is not sufficient that he stands before our eyes and ears; he must stand in the midst of us in our hearts, and offer and impart to us peace.
As Luther explains so well, worldly peace depends on circumstances. When food and water are short - or threatened - fear and depression weigh people down. For the last few weeks, people have been asking, "What is missing now? Paper is back but canned goods are ravaged." Then "more canned goods but not a single pack of dishwasher pods." Those who lost the skill of manual washing of dishes are frightened. But when restrictions are lifted, worldly peace returns with no change of heart. The next shortage will probably bring more instant hoarding.
Godly peace is just the opposite, because it comes from God and has no connection with circumstances.
Luther:
8. Christian or spiritual peace, however, just turns the thing about, so that outwardly the evil remains, as enemies, sickness, poverty, sin, death and the devil. These are there and never desist, encompassing us on every side; nevertheless, within there is peace, strength and comfort in the heart, so that the heart cares for no evil, yea, is really bolder and more joyful in its presence than in its absence. Therefore it is peace which passeth and transcendeth all understanding and all the senses. For reason can not grasp any peace except worldly or external peace, for it can not reconcile itself to it nor understand how that is peace if evil is present, and it knows not how to satisfy and comfort a person; hence it thinks if the evil depart, peace departs also. When however the Spirit comes, he lets outward adversity remain, but strengthens the person, making the timid fearless, the trembling bold, changing the troubled into a quite, peaceful conscience, and such an one is bold, fearless and joyful in things by which all the world otherwise is terrified.
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. 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.
Jesus returned on this Sunday, eight days later - by the way they counted days. The doors were still barred shut, and Jesus said "Peace" again.
Thomas demanded proof and Jesus commanded him to do exactly what the disciple laid down as his condition. Many have thought, "That alone was enough," but it is more fitting to consider this to be His lordly command, not a suggestion. Thomas had to do what he said he required from the Son of God.
Probably most could acknowledge that they required something of God along the way, and God provided as asked. I can think of so many times a person has recovered, a child has lived, beyond all hope, after I prayed for them. The latest few are quite recent. The conclusion from this is not - God will answer exactly as I asked - but God has the power.
Philippians 4 - 6 Be careful for nothing [do not be anxious about anything]; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
The peace that passes all understanding - that is a prayer from Paul. The church likes Latin, so it is called The Votum - prayer - at the end of a sermon. That is godly peace - no matter what is happening at the moment - Love, Joy, Peace.
How can you be so sure? "I am not sure of anything, except God." If we truly believe all that the Scriptures say about God, then whatever happens is His gracious will and well within His power. The prayers answered in powerful affirmations teach us that the rest is being managed quite well. Nevertheless, we have this privilege in having Jesus as our Brother - we can ask anytime, any place.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Jesus gave Thomas what he demanded. Thomas believed and confessed - "My Lord and my God!"
Jesus rebuked Thomas for only believing what was proven for his human senses and demands. Jesus warned and encouraged His disciples in His sermon, John 16 - The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, because they do not believe on Me.
The foundational sin is unbelief, which is often preceded by weak and wavering faith, and finished off by the rationalism of the great and wise.
blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
You have not seen and yet believe, so Jesus has promised - You are blessed. You love the Son, so the Father loves you because of that love - great encouraging statements.
Purpose!
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
The purpose of the Gospel of John is clearly stated by the disciple Jesus loved. Written that -
You might believe in Jesus the Christ, the Son of God,
In believing you might have eternal life through (as a result) of His Name.
