 Let's begin reading here in John chapter 20. I'll begin reading at verse verse 11 and I'll read to verse 18. We'll get into our study John chapter 20 beginning at verse 11 Mary stood outside by the tomb Weeping and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb and she saw two angels in white Sitting one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain Then they said to her woman. Why are you weeping? She said to them because they have taken away my lord and I do not know where they've laid him Now when she had said this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there and did not know that it was Jesus And Jesus said to her woman. Why are you weeping? Who are you seeking? She's opposing him to be the gardener said to him Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you've laid him and I will take him away Jesus said to her Mary And she turned and said to him Roboni, which is to say Teacher and Jesus said to her do not cling to me For I have not yet ascended to my father But go to my brethren and say to them. I am ascending to my father and your father to my god and your god Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken these things to her So Jesus knew how his disciples would take his death He had taught them that this was going to take place, but he knew that no matter how much he taught them they were still going to be devastated and Because he knew this he continued teaching them because he wanted to encourage them to remain strong remember when we were in chapter 14 here in the gospel of John and we read verse 28 Jesus had said you have heard me say to you. I'm going away and coming back to you If you loved me you'd rejoice because I said I'm going to the father for my father is greater than I So he's preparing them. I'm going to go. I'll return But I'm going to go in John 16 verse 20 he had said most assuredly I say to you You will weep and lament but the world will rejoice you will be sorrowful But your sorrow will be turned into joy and so Jesus had prepared them and it even said that That the sorrow that they were going to have which they of course have and and Mary is suffering with right now It's going to be something that passes as a sorrow that will lead to joy And so Jesus had prepared them and now we have Mary and Mary and others have come to the tomb They come very early in order to complete Jesus's burial and as they've arrived even as we've read They discovered that the stone had been rolled away the Bible tells us an angel of the Lord had rolled back the stone from the door in in Matthew's gospel in chapter 28 it says that the angel was speaking to them and the angel told them go quickly and tell His disciples that he's risen from the dead and indeed. He's going before you into Galilee there You will see him behold I have told you so they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to bring his disciples word and So the angel has rolled back the stone from the door Mary Madeline had informed Peter and John that Jesus's body was missing We saw that in verse 2 of chapter 20 when it says she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other Disciple whom Jesus loved and said to them they've taken away the Lord out of the tomb We don't know where they have laid him and so she had gone and informed them that Jesus's body is missing She thought that that Jesus's enemies had perhaps taken his body because it's it says it here in verse 15 When Jesus speaks to her she says if you've carried him away Tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away. So she thought that somebody had taken the body of Jesus Christ Well when they had heard this news they they ran to the tomb to see what had happened Peter and John came They viewed the tomb as we saw but they had experienced different reactions Peter only saw an empty tomb But John saw and the scripture says that he believed he believed that Jesus had risen from the dead And last time we together we had ended at verse 10 where it simply said the disciples went away again to their own homes Either they had homes there in Jerusalem or they went to a friend's home or a rented home, but they left as The disciples leave Mary is unwilling to and she remains behind she's determined to find out what happened She's not going to leave She's waiting perhaps for someone to give her information And so verse 11 tells us that Mary stood outside by the tomb notice weeping and as she wept She stooped down when you look at your Bible and you read that word when it speaks Concerning her in verse 11 weeping if you take note you might want to know that's a very strong word in the Greek She's crying as if her heart has broken It's not just a simple tear running down the side of the corner of her eye. It's a heart broken cry She's sobbing with strong strong tears She's mourning with a pain and a grief as if her heart was breaking Have you ever done that has anybody here in this room ever done that we've done that haven't we I have You know, I when my father went home to be with the Lord, you know, it was a sudden unexpected Death and and I still remember it was the hardest thing that I had that up to that time had ever experienced I still remember when when night a few few days maybe a couple weeks after dad had died I still remember waking up because I heard somebody was I heard someone crying I woke out of a deep sleep because I heard somebody crying and when I woke up and looked around to see what was it was me I had actually awakened myself because I was weeping in my sleep If you ever had a heart that is so broken that you can't even sleep and when you do you still cry Well, that's Mary That's what's happening to Mary. Mary is weeping. She's sobbing. She's broken hearted and as she's crying there She's missing her Lord Jesus Christ So she's weeping and as she weeps verse 11. She looks into the tomb verse 12 She saw two angels in white Sitting one at the head the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain and they said to her woman Why are you weeping? She said to them because they've taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him Why am I crying because I can't find Jesus? It's interesting that these two who are seated there Well, it doesn't even disturb her that she's looking at them. They look human. She's crying She's upset and she begins just to speak to them, but they ask a question notice verse 13 They say why are you weeping? Now the reason they're asking her why are you weeping is very simple This question is intended to reveal the root of her sorrow. The root of her sorrow is unbelief She had not fully understood the promise of Christ and Jesus had said he would be raised from the dead So she's crying and sorrowing, but it's really an unbelief. It's a pain That is is rooted in a fact that she she's not aware She hasn't really grasped what Jesus was going to do and so when they're saying why are you weeping? It's it's actually revealing the root of her sorrow. It's her unbelief and and she responds if they've taken away my Lord I don't know where they've laid him. I Wanted to come and give him a proper burial. I wanted to show him Respect but he's gone and so as mentioned a moment ago the question reveals the condition of her heart Her heart is broken. She loved him with a pure and intense devotion But she's right now not realizing what is taking place and so in verse 14 when she had said this She turned around and saw Jesus standing there didn't know that it was Jesus. It's early in the morning She's emotionally distressed. She's blinded by tears. She sees a form of a man standing behind her She doesn't recognize him and so as she glances in his direction She sees him but doesn't know him verse 15 Jesus said to her woman shut up. No woman Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking now notice her response notice the response? She's supposing him to be the gardener It's not that he looked like the gardener She's supposed she made a mistake. She's supposing him To be the gardener said to him sir if you've carried him away Tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away So she makes a mistake. She sees this man. She sees just a man in the garden She's not really looking closely at him. Her eyes are still filled with tears. She's still in sorrow It's still a bit dark and all and so she makes a mistake She's thinking this is someone who can help her You see if he's a gardener he can tell her where the body of jesus has been taken If you've removed him, let me know where he is so I can retrieve him Now jesus did not materialize a different body for temporary use after death He was resurrected in the same body. He was crucified in Though that body Is is now a spiritual body Mary made a mistake. It says that she supposed him to be the gardener But jesus had been resurrected in the same body And jesus verse 16 said to her mary And she turned and said to him roboni Remember in john 10 Where jesus had spoken of the shepherd and his sheep and he says when he has brought out All his own he goes ahead of them his sheep follow him because they know his voice She at first didn't recognize his voice as he had spoken when he had said why are you weeping Who are you seeking But this time he spoke to her and he used her name And he said mary And when she heard him she immediately responded This is my savior. This is jesus. She recognized the voice Of her shepherd And and though it's not saying this you see by the response what she did because She must have grabbed hold of him and by the way that the word roboni He says which is to say teacher It's actually stronger than that rabbi as a teacher roboni is a way of speaking my dear or my precious teacher It's a term of endearment and so She's she's telling him how precious he is And and it's obvious that she begins to grab hold of him because jesus said to her in verse 17 Do not cling to me. I'm not yet ascended to my father You can't keep me here in the same relationship we had stone grab hold of me But go to my brethren and say to them. I'm ascending to my father and your father to my god and your god Don't try and keep me here. I am to ascend. I have work to do. I'm going to send the holy spirit I've already taught you things about this. You cannot keep me here. I need to go a new work is occurring I'm not going to be physically present with you. You need to remember. I promise I would send the holy spirit the comforter I have yet to ascend to my father So he said that's going to take place But I want you verse 17 to go and tell my disciples go and tell my disciples what you've seen Well verse 18 Mary manglin came and told the disciples that she'd seen the lord And that he had spoken these things to her Now when you look at mark's gospel and compare mark's account with what we're reading here and john It's clear that initially these men didn't believe they weren't receptive to what she had to say In mark 16 verses 9 through 11 it says when he rose early on the first day of the week He appeared first to mary magdalene out of whom he had cast seven demons She went and told those Who had been with him as they mourned and wept And when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her They did not believe they refused to believe to them. It was like a It was just a story. It wasn't really a fact now Why is it that she that he first appeared to mary? I was asked about that just the other day and One of the commentators I use his name is benzin Benzin said this. I think this is a good explanation. He says it much better than I could perhaps the men Had a mark of disrespect put on them Both because they had with cowardice forsaken jesus And because their faith was so weak That they had absolutely given up on his being messiah when they saw him die on the cross How different was the conduct of the women? Because of this they were honored with the news of christ's resurrection And they preached the joyful tidings of his resurrection to the apostles themselves You know the men where were they well? They were hiding for fear of the jewish authorities. We'll see that in just a moment It says in verse 19 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 Jesus came and stood in the midst of midst and said to them boo. No said to them peace be with you I don't know why I say that i'm sorry, but it just makes me laugh Wouldn't you do that? I mean, I'm anyway When he had said this he showed them his hands in his side and the disciples were glad when they saw the lord and so His disciples were assembled They more than likely were discussing the events of the day Notice how john tells us that the doors were shut in in fear of the jewish authorities And that's understandable after all if they took jesus why would they not be taken? Remember how that when jesus had been arrested remember how he had protected his men When they entered in to take him there in the garden how it says in john 18 7 through 9 As they came and he said whom are you looking for and they said jesus of nazareth And he said i am he and when he did so they fell to the ground and then he asked them again whom are you seeking and They said jesus of nazareth and he answered i have told you that i am he therefore if you seek me let these go their way That the sane might be fulfilled which he spoke of those whom you gave me i have lost none and so initially When jesus was taken They were still protected But jesus is now gone And because jesus is no longer physically there to protect them they're hiding from the jewish authorities For fear that they would also be arrested if they arrested christ and put him to death Why would the authorities not arrest him and so jesus is no longer physically with them and therefore they're afraid And so in verse 19 It says that jesus came and he stood in the midst And he said peace be with you now he didn't knock on the door He simply entered into the room He had what is called a glorified body giving him the ability of simply passing through any barriers And he says to them peace be with you Remember they're assembled for fear of the jews and his appearance would have certainly scared them Not just a few days before jesus had promised them that they would have peace And he had said this to them to prepare them for the for what they were now enduring you see god can make a promise But we don't necessarily receive the promise it's fulfillment immediately jesus said i'm giving you peace But he gives them peace when they need it In john 14 27 peace i leave with you my peace i give to you not as the world gives do i give to you Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid He said i'm giving you my peace But he also had said i'm leaving you But you'll see me again In john 16 verse 16 a little while you will not see me again a little while you will see me i go to the father And so there's this interim period where he says i will give you peace while they need peace right now He's entered into a room they're assembled there for fear of jewish authorities as they see him they're frightened So he speaks and says you can have my peace even as i promised Now as this is taking place verse 20 when he had said this he showed them his hands and his side Then the disciples were glad when they saw the lord He shows them his wounds Now he shows them these wounds for at least two reasons One he shows them his wounds that they might know that it is really him When you look look at luke 24 verses 36 to 40 It says as they said these things Jesus himself stood in the midst of them and said to them peace to you They were terrified and frightened and supposed they had seen a spirit He said to them why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet that it is I myself Handle me and see For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have When he had said this he showed them his hands and his feet So one he's showing them this is actually me This is how they can know it's really him But also the wounds that he shows them reveals how deeply he loves them In isaib 53 4 and 5 The prophet said surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows Yet we esteemed him stricken smitten by god and afflicted But he was wounded for our transgression He was bruised for our iniquities The chastisement for our peace was upon him by his stripes We are healed He loved us so much That it hurt And the wounds that he had Is an outward reminder of what love does And what it cost Their souls were so important to jesus that he was willing to receive these wounds And to see those wounds Was a way of reminding them of the depth of the love that god has For them god demonstrated his love for us and that while we were yet sinners christ died for us Think about that It wasn't when we were trying really hard to make him love us doing our best to be Winsome to him to win his affection Now he loved us while we were yet his enemies when we were hostily opposed to him paul says in romans 5 We were his enemies we were opposed to him And yet jesus christ came and laid his life down and somebody says lord How much do you love me and he says this much and he shows the wounds in his hands Because the lord loves us that much and he demonstrated his love when he gave up his life for us So he loved us so much that it hurt Well the disciples in verse 20 were glad When they saw the lord And so verse 21 says so jesus said to them again peace to you As the father has sent me i also send you And when he had said this he breathed on them and said to them Receive the holy spirit If you forgive the sins of any they're forgiven them If you retain the sins of any they're retained And so He's commissioning them But he begins by saying peace to you Then he moves on to say the father has sent me and i'm sending you So peace to you peace will come through my death and resurrection I just showed you my wounds and that's where peace will come from understanding this But the father in verse 21 has sent me and as he sent me i also am sending you You're going to go into the world And you're going to preach the wonderful gospel of jesus christ We're going to preach a message guys that is unique You see the gospel of god is unique And it's a message that you have been that i have been entrusted with It's a message that is not to be altered It's a message that is to be communicated clearly And it's the only message that changes lives Eternally I've had people in the past say that one of the things that they have grown to appreciate about our ministry Is that we try to teach what the word actually says well, that's because that's what we're supposed to do We don't try and make the gospel attractive to people What we try to do is present it as it is because jesus is very attractive when he's presented properly And we value the message of the gospel because it's the only message that god has ever given to mankind That can save them. It's the only message that god has given to us that actually transforms us from the inside out It's a message that promises that god by his holy spirit will work within us guys It's a it's a promise where god says that he will transform us by the renewing of our mind to Through the washing of his word and the yielding to his holy spirit That we can actually be new creations that the old things really can pass away that we who at one time had been had been enslaved enslaved by sin at one time We were known for the sins that we did we who at one time were known for being a drunk or are angry or lust filled or A druggy or you name it, you know just an angry person We we have been transformed and when people say what happened to you That's when we have an opportunity to say well the life changing message of the gospel. Oh you got religion No, I didn't get religion. I already had it That's how I lived before I was already religious. I already was religious following my the dictates of my own heart I had already created a god that I worshipped and that god was me And then I heard a message of jesus christ somebody god who took upon himself human form god who dwelt amongst men God who loved me so much. He died on a cross for me god who poured out his blood Jesus god in the flesh whose blood was poured out and and washed me and cleansed me of all my sin God who said that you can't do this You're trying to make it on your own But I can give you the power to be able to do that through my holy spirit And god can transform you and he does he does it through his powerful spirit And he changes our mind by his by his word and and what god did is he has he has washed us And I've said this a thousand times. I'll say it again Somebody says that's what's wrong with you christians your brainwash and of course we are our dirty brains need a good washing And the blood of jesus christ washes us from all sin, of course So he yes So this gospel Don't be ashamed of it Don't be ashamed of it. I am not ashamed of the gospel of jesus christ It's a power of god into salvation to all who believe to the jew first and also to the gentile Paul said I'm not ashamed. Jesus said if you're ashamed of me, my father will be ashamed of you I'm not ashamed of jesus christ And he's not ashamed to call you his brother and neither by the way He loves you. Do you know that today? He loves you. Do you know that how madly in love With you god is and you say how could he be? I know what I am Yeah, so does he and he loves you anyway And he loves you anyway. He knows exactly what you are Guess what? He knew what you would do with the gospel when he gave it to you And he still gave it to you Because you know what that gospel changes lives. Don't forget that It isn't because you tried so hard and you became so good. No, no, there's none good. No not one It's because he's so good And he gave us his spirit and he gave us his word and he washed us and cleansed us And we became a new creation in christ jesus and this is the message that transforms In first Corinthians chapter one verses 17 and 18 christ didn't send me to baptize but to preach the gospel Not with wisdom of words Lest the cross of christ should be made of no effect For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing But to us who are being saved it's the power of god His men are about to go into the fields He had earlier said in chapter four verse 35 that these fields were white for harvest In order to do so they need to have authority And they need power So jesus is giving this to them notice in verse 21. He says as the father sent me I send you Now in verse 22 it says and when he had said this he breathed on them and said to them Receive the holy spirit You breathed on them Receive the holy spirit It's interesting how when adam was just a formless not formless just a A form of a man Laying there god had created him from the dust of the earth. He had formed the man You remember the story in the book of genesis of creation out of the dust of the earth god formed man made him in his image But when you look at it, it says that god breathed into him and he became a living soul He breathed into him. I've shared this with you many times. Perhaps some of you have heard this before How that When it says in that god breathed into him that the word breathed At least some commentators related to An understanding of the nuances of the Hebrew language said that That god's face-to-face breathing was an intimacy. It was Some some commentators have gone so far as to say that he actually it was a form Of closeness and intimacy that could be portrayed as kissing life into adam To show the intimacy of god You can almost see god's face I'm not saying that you know, I'm not making god. I'm not creating an idol I'm just a picture of god breathing into a Beautiful adam must have been an absolute hunk. He had to have been He had to have been Just a very I can you imagine the very first man Who had an unbelievably beautiful beautiful handsome whatever the word you want to use for him The very first man beautiful, but lifeless lifeless beautiful, but lifeless Until god breathed into him And he became a living being You need God's life in you And if You're going to be used by god He gives you the power of his holy spirit his life in you And so he's giving his life if you will the spirit is entering in he's saying receive the holy spirit And he's breathing on them So receive the spirit You need to welcome by the way when he says receive you need to welcome What what jesus is imparting they need to desire this is something they're open to And so i'm going to be sending you out But i'm and giving you authority, but i'm also giving you power And that power comes through the holy spirit In first chrithians 2 verses 4 and 5 Paul said my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom But in demonstration of the spirit and of power that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men, but in the power of god Now this breathing is what is called a pre pentecost empowering And a commissioning it is strengthening them empowering them But on pentecost are going to receive the fullness of the holy spirit And as he's sending them out and preparing them for their ministry He says in verse 23 and this is an interesting scripture if you forgive the sins of any They are forgiven them if you retain the sins of any they are retained now I'll say this very quickly, but hopefully clearly they're not being given the power of Solution of sin What they are being given authority is to declare that sin has been forgiven They're going to declare sins forgiven And sins are forgiven Based on the reception or rejection of the message of the gospel This is not someone said an apostolic privilege It is one enjoyed by the body of christ in general. This is what it means If you leave tonight and you're sharing with a brother sister mom dad grandmother aunt neighbor, whatever co-worker And you share the gospel with them and you say to them, you know Jesus christ died on the cross for you And uh You begin to share the essence of the gospel and as they're listening to you You can pick up a that they're receptive and so you say to them Would you like to give your heart to christ? And they say yeah, I do I've been I've been wanting to get right with god and And so you give them an opportunity and they receive it you now have the authority to say to them your sins have been forgiven you You didn't forgive them of their sins You are declaring something god has promised Now if you're speaking to them and you say would you like to give your heart to the lord? And they say no well I'm not saying you should say this but Your sins are retained You didn't release them. You didn't ask for god to forgive them They're not being washed and so you walk away knowing that they're still in their sins And that's basically what jesus is saying when you take the gospel and present it And whenever I've given invitations and people have come forward and I'm able to speak to them This is what's taking place. I'm literally saying to them. Though not in these words your sins are forgiven you Not because I forgave them and not because I have the power of absolution But because I'm declaring a message that promises forgiveness And when they receive by faith that message, I'm able to declare Hey, welcome to the family of god. Your sins are forgiven you and praise god I can say that not based on my goodness, but because I've given them the gospel And that's what jesus is doing here guys. He's speaking to his men. He breathes on them says receive you the holy spirit It's a pre pentecost kind of thing. They're going to go out continue ministry But on the day of pentecost when when the holy spirit comes and baptizes them That's when the church's birth. This is what they call just a pre pentecost commissioning And later on they're going to receive the fullness And they're able by god's authority and and and the promises that they find in his word to declare what god has decided Now as this is taking place There's thomas your old tommy boy Thomas called the twin dinimus One of the 12 was not with them when jesus came The other disciples therefore said to him we've seen the lord So he said to them unless I see in his hands the print of the nails And put my finger into the print of the nails And put my hand into his side I will not believe And after eight days his disciples were again inside thomas with them Jesus came the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said peace to you He said to thomas reach your finger here and Look at my hands Reach your hand here Put it into my side Do not be unbelieving But believing And thomas answered and said my lord and my god And jesus said to him thomas because you have seen me you believed Unless it are those who have not seen And yet have believed thomas The twin that simply tells you he had a brother was also a twin And he was a twin. He had a brother was his twin He's called, uh, what's his nickname? Everybody knows his nickname Doubting thomas, right doubting. How do you like to have that as a nickname doubting thomas? He's known as doubting thomas You know over the years I If I were to give him a name, I I don't know that I'd give him the name doubting thomas to be honest with you That's a traditional name. They've given him because because of this I would I I'm I'm more inclined to call him disappointed disappointed thomas remember all the way back in chapter 11 when jesus was entering into An area that he he was in danger in in john 1116 thomas had said let's go with him so that we may die with him He was willing to die with jesus christ. I don't think that he was a coward I think he was disappointed As we read about thomas in scripture, we see that he he loved the lord, but he didn't really understand him In chapter 14 in in verses 4 through 6 Jesus said where I go, you know and the way, you know, but thomas said to him lord We don't know where you're going. How can we know the way and jesus said to him? I am the way the truth and the life no one comes to the father except through me We don't know where you're going. We don't know what you're up to. He was he was aware of jesus. He loved jesus He's just not really fully understanding the ways of jesus And so jesus had died And thomas had found a place to sorrow and privacy The news that he was alive was too good to be true Even though his friends Said it was Again, I I don't want to over personalize this but but I can tell you You From from personal experience and others can share their experiences more than likely very similar That there are times in your life if it hasn't happened yet It will There are times in your life Where your faith is put to the test in a way that's very extreme And maybe you're not as prepared for that test as you thought you were Again when my father went home to be with the lord we were we were at the um The mortuary chapel and it was time for viewing and the family was there my My wife marie my kids my mom My my brother and sister Or sisters I believe And there's this casket and it's just the family in the room and And I still remember while people were speaking by the family was speaking amongst themselves I went and stood there looking into the face of of my my my father And I I was staring staring into his face looking at my dad knowing that that soon he'd be placed in the ground and And you know, those are those are touching strong moments very very grievous moments. They really are No matter how prepared you can be No matter how prepared you've been When it happens, it's Right in front of you. It's And I remember standing looking And and I began to think and And it's a small voice within me said do you believe in the resurrection? Do you believe in the resurrection? And I remember responding just me nobody obviously knows what you're thinking My family didn't my wife didn't But that's what I was thinking. Do you believe in the resurrection? And I remember as I was there I prayed I said, you know God I have taught about resurrection For many many years now And I've presided over many funerals And I've given words of comfort to many people over the years This is the first time I've ever asked myself Do I really believe that because up to this point I have always believed that I did believe that And I still remember looking down at my dad And I still remember saying yes lord, I do you are the resurrection and the life You are You stand in a place sometimes When your faith becomes real When all of the facade and all of the exterior and all of the Things that go into who you are are stripped away and and you're just left with what really is Thomas was like that and you have to put yourself in his place He had heard the words of christ. He had seen the works of jesus He had been imparted the spirit prior to this This event that has been spoken up. He had he had Uh Done so many things preached so many places But he saw him die He his heart was broken. He was shattered And he had Descended into this despondency He had found a place to be alone to wrestle And the news that jesus is alive. Well, that almost seems like a cruel joke. It's too good to be true Even if my friends are saying this So so for me, I am not going to exalt unbelief god knows that But I do I do see an honesty in thomas He wasn't hiding disappointment. He he wasn't hiding unbelief Jesus's death was so brutal It left him shocked Would take more than their testimony to convince him He he had he had seen what had happened to christ. He knew how he died And now jesus is saying to him Do you want to put your hands into the the wounds? Jesus isn't rebuking him by the way. He's offering him proof. He's meeting him where he is jesus is aware of what had been said In psalm 139 verse 4 there's not a word on my tongue, but behold, oh lord, you know it all together And so when they were saying we've seen the lord Thomas says I need to touch the wounds and then verse 26 There's there's there's uh thomas and and jesus comes the doors are Shot he speaks and then he challenges him. He says you want proof reach your Reach your finger here. Look at my hands reach your hand here Put it in my side. Don't be unbelieving But believing And what was his response my lord my lord and my god Now i'm going to give you a real quick approach to that my lord and my god There are those who say that jesus christ is is not god in the flesh Jehovah's witnesses for example all of us have spoken to jehovah's witnesses They have come to everybody's door and spoken more than once probably to you if you open the door to him They will speak to you and they will tell you what they believe and and all and and They will tell you that that uh that jesus christ is not god in the flesh They will tell you this is jehovah's witness teaching that that he is michael the archangel the first creation of god That's what they will tell you all of you know that if you've ever spoken to them That's what they'll tell you so you say to them No, jesus christ is god in the flesh and and that jehovah's witness will say no no, he's not He is michael the archangel first creation of god They'll tell you the the name michael in in he grew as who is like god and so jesus is michael He is the first creation and they go that route and so when i've spoken to them i have said but In john chapter 20 verse 28 thomas called them my lord and my god You need to mark this in your mind because you will have this conversation if you haven't already In john 2028 thomas calls him my lord and my god and the jehovah's witness will tell you He was surprised. He was basically just saying oh my lord my god And my response is this and that's that's what they'll say and my response has always been the same. No No, because that's blasphemy To just use the name of the lord in vain is blasphemy Jesus is a rabbi as a rabbi. He would have corrected him immediately for using his name Or using god's name in vain, but he did not Rebuke him. He offered him a blessing verse 29 because you have seen me you believe Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. No, it's not blasphemy me What's what whatsoever what it is is a recognition of who jesus christ is thomas was telling the truth you are my lord You are my god and instead of a rebuke His declaration of faith is affirmed by jesus christ. He even went on to pronounce a blessing on such who believed like that The bible in first peter 1 8 says whom having not seen you love though now you do not see him yet Believing you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory Thomas had a chance to see him. He saw his wounds and he said you are my lord and my god You and I have not physically seen him yet having not seen him yet We love him and we trust him and that's why jesus said Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed we have believed having not physically seen him And then finally truly jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples Which are not written in this book But these are written that you may believe that jesus is the christ the son of god And that believing you may have life in his name Why did you write this gospel john? I wrote it so that you might believe I chose the works that I listed and the words that are recorded So that you would know that jesus christ is who he says he is That you would know that jesus is the messiah That he is the son of god And that believing you may have life in his name This is an apologetic and this is this is the an evangelistic message So that you might come to faith in the lord jesus christ remember That when john was writing and i'll close with a couple of thoughts when john was writing That there was a movement that had arisen remember this that were called the gnostics The gnostics did not believe that the spirit could inhabit the material The gnostics believed during the time of of the writing of the gospels That that uh, there is no way that god who is spirit would take upon himself human flesh And so john is convincing those who have been Affected by and he's speaking to those who have yet to be He is letting them know that jesus christ is god in the flesh That's why he began in the beginning was a word the word was with god the word was god The word became flesh dwelt amongst us we beheld his glory the glory of the only begotten son of god That's why he began his gospel that way He was writing as an apologetic to those who were being infiltrated by gnostics And he's closing his gospel by reminding them jesus is the son of god jesus is the christ Jesus christ was was resurrected from the dead Thomas could have reached and touched this physical body of christ He wasn't a spirit. He was a resurrected body. He had a resurrected body. That's the whole point that he's making And i'm writing this to let you know But i also want to declare the truth so that you may believe who jesus christ actually is When somebody first gets saved you probably were told this What is the first book they tell you to read the gospel of john? why Because of what we just read That reading you will be believing that was the first book they told me to read when i got saved They said you need to read your bible start with the gospel of john Because john tells you why he wrote this Truly jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples which aren't written in this book But these are written that you may believe that jesus is the christ the son of god and that believing You may have life in his name If you have any friends that you want to have to come to faith in christ encourage them to read the gospel of john One last little story and we'll close with prayer My mom when she first got saved and she had been a christian a couple of years I went into the military got out. I was living at home When I was living at home, my mom said a woman has come and wants to she wants to Teach me the bible son and my mom wanted to learn the bible and i'm a new christian myself But i've i've already started to study and i've already started moving in the direction of of growing in my understanding of the word In all I was about 23 at the time and she says that she's a jahovish witness And she wants to teach me the word of god And I already had had some encounters with people from that particular cult and and so I said to my My mom. Well, let me talk to her. I didn't really know that much yet about What they believed in all but I did know a few things and I still remember this this woman coming to the house And talking wanted to talk to my mom, but I was there And I said well, I'd like to talk to you and the woman said of course I said, uh, you're here to want to teach my mother the bible and she said yes I am and I said well that that's interesting. I said, how about this? How about you and I studying the bible together? How about you and me? You know, I got my mom out of the situation and I wanted to talk to her myself And she says well, yeah, I'll study with you. I said wonderful Well, I said let's study the gospel of john She says oh, no No, we can't do that And I said why not She says no What we have to do is we have to study the materials that the jahovish witnesses the watchtower organization Gives to us we have to go through their study plans and I said and why is that? She says because that's how you learn the basics of of christian faith No, I knew otherwise because I knew that The guy who had who had started the uh, the jahovish witness organization Had uh, charles days. I think it was charles tays russell. I'm not mistaken russell Had it's been a long time since I remembered his blasphemous name, but it's been a long time since I thought of him but He had written that He said if you read the if you read my materials and read the bible You will remain in the truth But I have discovered that if you read the bible just by itself That it's a short time that you are no longer in the truth Even the russellites they were called the russellites before watchtower organization took over and jahovish witnesses became their name and so He said that it was reading the bible that took him away from being in A jahovish witness and I knew that and that's why he told her I said let's read the bible together Oh, no, I can't do that. I said no, no, we should let's read the gospel of john and I'll tell you what You can read and explain to me what you're reading and then I'll explain to you what it's saying She said oh, no, I can't do that and she wouldn't do that You know why? Because the truth sets you free and the way that they stay in bondage is they keep them from the truth And so when you read your bible john just told you why he wrote this that you may believe And that you might have life in his name. There is no other source of spiritual life guys outside of the word of god Never forget that