Trinity Fellowship Assembly of God

Impartations of Jesus’ Resurrection

John 20:19-23    Impartations of Jesus’ Resurrection A/G  4-12-09  Easter

Introduction: Easter Sunday was a Sunday different than any other that Jesus’ disciples had ever experienced!  There was such a mixture of emotions: doubts, faith, unbelief, joy, despair, fear, fright, uncertainty…

MAIN THOUGHT: Every believer can experience the power of Jesus’ resurrection by receiving the impartations that Jesus gives to His disciples.

Jesus’ resurrection conveys peace.

Resurrection Sunday Occurrences

Mark 16:1; Matthew 28:2-4  (Matthew 28:1) Angel rolling stone away
Mark 16:2-8  (Mat. 28:5-8; Luke 24:1-8; John 20:1) Angels at tomb
Luke 24:9-12; John 20:2-10  Report of women; Peter & John run to tomb
John 20:11-18; Mark 16:9-11 Jesus meets Mary (Magdalene)
Matthew 28:9-10  Women returning from tomb
Matthew 28:11-15  Report of soldiers to Jewish authorities
Luke 24:33-34  Jesus appears to Peter (circumstances unknown)
Luke 24:13-35; Mark 16:12-13  (1 Cor. 15:5a)  Emmaus Road
John 20:19-20; Lk 24:36-43; Mark 16:14  To disciples (not Thomas)

The following was later Sunday evening and they were eating.

John 20:19 NKJ “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, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’”

I do not believe that this was just an ordinary greeting, but something more.  It was an impartation to His disciples!

Following is a Compilation of the Gospels.

“They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.  He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?’ He rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.  ‘Look at My hands and My feet.  It is I Myself!  Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.’

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet and side.  And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, ‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in their presence.  So the disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.”
(Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19b-23 NIV)
(”The Gospels Interwoven,” Kermit Zarley, page 253)

Jesus said: “‘Peace be with you.‘”

Isaiah 9:6  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 26:3 NKJ “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”

Mark 4:39 NKJ “Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!‘  And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”

John 14:27 NIV “‘Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’”

Jesus’ peace is one of the greatest blessings of our inheritance!

John 16:33 NIV “‘I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.’”
Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
(Imagine an angel, not a girlie, petite little angel with a fluffy dress & curly hair, but a 10′ 6″ broad-shouldered, muscular, powerful angel)
8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.
9  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me — put it into practice.  And the God of peace will be with you.”

Jesus’ resurrection unveils our commission.

John 20:21 NIV “Again Jesus said, ‘Peace be with you!  As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.’“

Jesus’ Further Commission 40 days Later

Mark 16:15 NKJ “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”
16  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.’”

Matt 28:18 NIV “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
19  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

Jesus’ resurrection enables us to receive the Holy Spirit.

John 20:22 NKJ “And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.‘”
These disciples received the Holy Spirit and were born again!
Before this: temporary anointing to heal the sick, cast out demons & raise the dead.  They were empty on the inside.
NOW - Holy Spirit living on inside - They received the Holy Spirit!
Romans 8:9 NIV “…And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”
They have the Spirit of Christ, so they are now born again!

Jesus’ resurrection makes forgiveness available.

John 20:23 NIV “‘If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.‘”

You or I do not have the power or authority to forgive or not forgive men’s sins, neither does a priest of any religion.  But Jesus only has the authority and power to forgive.  We proclaim the good news of forgiveness by declaring the gospel.  That is how we tell of forgiveness.

“God does not forgive men’s sins because we decide to do so nor withhold forgiveness because we will not grant it.  We announce it; we do not create it.  This is the essence of salvation.  And all who proclaim the gospel are in effect forgiving or not forgiving sins, depending on whether the hearer accepts or rejects the Lord Jesus as the Sin-Bearer.”
(”The Expositor’s Bible Commentary,” Vol. 9, 193)

“Some commentators have given this statement an extreme interpretation.  The prerogative of forgiving sins belongs only to God.  Jesus had just commissioned His apostles.  Their message was to be the same He had proclaimed.  Those who heard had a choice, to accept or reject the message.  The apostles could assure those who accepted that their sins had been forgiven, and those who rejected that they were still guilty.”
(”The Complete Biblical Library,” John 20:23, 537)

“This is an important verse which is greatly misunderstood.  John Calvin writes: ‘When Christ enjoins the apostles to forgive sins, He does not convey to them what is peculiar to Himself.  It belongs to Him to forgive sins.  He only enjoins them in His name to proclaim the forgiveness of sins.’”
(”Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee,” Vol. 4, 497-498)

Are you telling people about God’s forgiving power?

CONCLUSION:

Billy Graham - New Suit & Resurrection

In January 2000, leaders of Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson’s disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, “We don’t expect a major address.  Just come and let us honor you.”  So he agreed.

After wonderful things were said about him, Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, “I’m reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century.  Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of each passenger.  When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket.  He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his other pocket.  It wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it.  Then he looked in the seat by him. He couldn’t find it.  The conductor said, ‘Dr. Einstein, I know who you are.  We all know who you are.  I’m sure you bought a ticket.  Don’t worry about it.’  Einstein nodded appreciatively.

“The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets.  As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.  The conductor rushed back and said, ‘Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry.  I know who you are. No problem. You don’t need a ticket.  I’m sure you bought one.’  Einstein looked at him and said, ‘Young man, I too know who I am.  What I don’t know is where I’m going.’”

Billy Graham continued, “See the suit I’m wearing?  It’s a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age.  I used to be a bit more fastidious.  So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion.  You know what that occasion is?  This is the suit in which I’ll be buried.  But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to immediately remember the suit I’m wearing.  I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am, I also know where I’m going.”

John Huffman, “Who Are You, and Where Are You Going?” Preaching Conference 2002