Evangelism – The Way of God

Scripture Text John 20:19-23

Introduction: This was the first appearance of Jesus to His disciples as a group after His resurrection. What would He say and talk about? What would be the topic of conversation and the subjects covered? Whatever He chose to say would be of critical importance. Jesus used this first appearance to discuss three most important subjects to His disciples.

I.  Resurrection: The first subject was the risen Lord Himself. His presence was very real.

   John 20:19-20 (NLT) ¹⁹ That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. ²⁰ As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!

a. He used the simple day to day greeting among Jews, "Peace be unto you." Shalom!  By Using the greeting so familiar to the disciples would help to put them at ease. They could see it was really Him and not just a vision or a spirit.

b. He showed them His wounds. They could see that this was His body, the body of their wonderful Lord, the very same Jesus whom they had known before His crucifixion.

c. But now they knew. When Jesus had said that He was going to die, He meant He was going to die. When He had said that He was going to arise, He meant He was going to arise.

    And here He was standing before them, revealing the most glorious truth in the entire universe. Man could now conquer sin and death and live forever. He had actually come "that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10b)

   Can you just imagine the joy of the disciples to see their Lord overcome death!

II. Witnessing: The second subject was the great commission.  John 20:21 (NLT) Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

 a. There is one great qualification for being commissioned: receiving, possessing, and knowing the salvation and peace of Christ. Unless a person has been reconciled to God by Christ, and really given peace with God, he cannot represent God before the world.

b.  There is the great link between the mission of Christ and the disciple. The disciple is sent on the very same mission as Christ. God sent Christ on a specific mission of seeking and saving the lost. As Disciples of Christ Jesus, He sends us on the very same mission.

     We are to seek and lead the lost to salvation in Jesus. The disciple is sent forth to proclaim and bear witness of the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. The disciple is the prophet and witness of the living Lord.

     We Disciples of Christ are to proclaim He is the only Way to salvation. Christ is the Truth; the disciple proclaims the Truth. Christ is the Life; the disciple shares the Life. (John 14:6)

III. Holy Spirit: The third subject was the Holy Spirit. Christ had just commissioned His disciples. He now gave them the power to carry out His orders. John 20:22 (NLT)  Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

 a. There was the giving of the Spirit. Jesus' breathing on the disciples was a prophetic sign of the Spirit's coming and a spiritual power for the disciples. It was both a symbolic and a spiritual preparation. Jesus was showing His followers that the Spirit's very special presence and power was to indwell believers as the temple of God. The Spirit, of course, came at Christ’s ascension. Acts 1:8 (NLT) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”                   IV. The authority: Jesus has given the church the authority to preach forgiveness in His name. John 20:23 (NLT) If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” When someone believes this gospel message, the church has the right to declare this person forgiven of their sins against God and to promise them Heaven when they die. If they refuse the message, we are to tell them Hell will be their eternal home. As His disciples we are to be busy about telling others about the salvation that Jesus brings.

Conclusion: We have before us the opportunity to help change the way our nation is going. If we really want our nation to change, one good way is to stand up for the gospel and help take the message of Christ to those around us. We do this in obedience to Jesus’ command to take the good news of Christ to the ends of the earth. Our nation is on the brink of ruin and only a spiritual awakening to the things of God through Jesus Christ can save this nation.

Invitation: Make sure you have received Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord. If you are not sure, now is the time. For God says in 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NKJV)
² For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

 If you have received Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord, look for opportunities to share Jesus with those around you in your circle of influence.