Focus: Encountering The Resurrected Christ

Text: Jh.20:19-20

"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. 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."

The resurrection of Christ is the biggest event of history. The Christian faith rests on the fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Christian hope is a sure thing because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The lives of those who encountered the resurrected Christ were radically changed forever. They lived and died for Jesus Christ. They went everywhere preaching Jesus and the resurrection with utter certainty and deep-rooted conviction. Their fears melted away and their sorrows vanished forever. Also, those who are encountering Him today are being changed for good and yielding to His great purpose.

Let's examine our text and see what happened when Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection.

*His presence

John reports, "…came Jesus and stood in the midst…" (Jh.20:19). He came through shut doors. Closed doors could not keep Him out. His visible and tangible presence charged the atmosphere and emboldened their spirits. He took their fears away, quieted their troubled hearts, and replaced the sadness in their souls with gladness. Their faces were radiant with joy and hope. His presence in their midst was a declaration of victory over death. He was truly what He claimed to be: the resurrection and the life. His presence spoke of a sure hope. His presence declares in no uncertain terms that death is neither fatal nor final, and that evil will never last forever. 

His presence is a declaration that God never fails and that His power is absolute. His presence is totally revitalizing, reinvigorating, reassuring and transforming to our hearts.

*His peace

Jesus says to them, "PEACE be unto you… Then said Jesus to them again, PEACE be unto you…" (Jh.20:19,21).

*His pierced body

"And when he had so said, he SHEWED unto them his HANDS and his SIDE" (Jh.20:20). He showed them His wounds which were still fresh. They saw His pierced hands and side. I believe that He did that for a reason, apart from the fact that some were in doubt that He had risen from the dead, one of them being Thomas. I bring to your notice the fact that it was immediately He showed them His wounds that He also said to them, "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." The scars they saw had something to do with their mission. Their message is in His wounds.

He bled to bless. All blessings flow from His vicarious wounds. The Savior of the world is no other than the crucified Christ. Therefore the cross is at the heart of their mission and message.

Thank you, Jesus! 

Another point worth noting is that encountering the resurrected Christ means catching a vision of the scars of Christ. He is still bearing the marks of crucifixion. The cross is still present in His resurrection body. The crucifixion and the resurrection are forever linked. Even as He sits on the throne in the book of Revelation He is still seen as the Lamb that was slain. The evidence is eternal. It is not possible to encounter the resurrected Christ without seeing His wounds.

*His power

"And when he had said this, he BREATHED on them, and saith unto them, RECEIVE ye the HOLY GHOST" (Jh.20:22). He breathed resurrection power into them. He imparted to them supernatural energy.

*His purpose

"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath SENT me, even so SEND I you" (Jh.20:21). Remember that the disciples locked the doors for fear of the Jews. Now Jesus has commissioned them to go forth in His name and continue in His place as His sent men to the world. It is now time for them to banish their fears, unlock the doors and get on with the mission of God. It is the one mission of God started by Christ and continued by His disciples. They are empowered to continue the unfinished mission of Christ, which involves bringing souls to Christ.

They have encountered the presence of the resurrected Christ, received His peace and power, and got delivered from their fears and sadness, and now they have His backing to serve the purpose of God in the world. They are now peace-makers and joy-givers.

Truly, the goodness of God takes us into the purpose of God. We receive His goodness to engage in the pursuit and performance of the purpose of God.

Our resurrection hope is sure. Be encouraged and galvanized by it.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter