Well, I have so much felt privileged that I can walk with you through these incredible recordings of the final moments of Jesus and his death and resurrection. And this is a very, very sweet moment that we're invited into. I love the fact that we're able to view in and eavesdrop on these holy, private moments. And I love the fact that John, by the inspiration of God's Spirit, recorded these for us, and God worked to preserve these for us so we would be able to experience these moments, and in experiencing them, have our belief in His grace and our celebration of His grace stimulated.
This is John 20, 19 through 23.
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending 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 are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."
Well, we get to hear this private appearance of Jesus to his disciples. It's important to understand that this is more than an appearance; this is a commissioning of Jesus. He's going to leave earth. He won't be physically with these men forever, but he's commissioning them to complete his work. Here he stands in front of this fearful band of confused disciples and sends them out in the same way the Father has sent him.
Look at the steps of this commissioning. First, he reassures them that his resurrection presence with them and power demonstrated is a reason for peace; "You can have peace; look what I've just done, I've defeated death, I'm with you, I'm for you." Second, he confronts their doubt. That's why he shows them his hands and his side just in case they would doubt that this really is Jesus. He tells them, this is the third thing, that just like he was sent by the Father, this is an amazing thing to say, "I'm sending you!" This is a divine commissioning. "You now stand as my representative; you are my ambassadors. You carry my message with my methods and my character to the world, you incarnate me. As I incarnated the Father, you now incarnate me on earth!" What an amazing thing to say to this band of fearful, confused, weak men!
Now, all of this should be hugely comforting to us. Yes, Jesus knows that we're weak; yes, he knows we're fearful; yes, he knows we struggle with doubt; yes, he knows our struggle with sin isn't over. But God sends weak people to do powerful things. He sends doubting people to people who need their faith strengthened. He sends fearful people to do work that's fearless. This is only possible by grace. God doesn't call us to his work because we're able; he calls us because he's able! And you have that demonstrated right here in this moment. And then Jesus gives them the Holy Spirit. What's that about? Power to do what he's called for them to do. If Jesus sends you, he enables you! And if he sends you, he goes with you!
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1. Where do you think God might be asking you to go as his sent one? What makes you nervous about that? What emboldens you? What do you hope to see God do in and through you as you walk in the ways he has for you?
2. In the past, how have you seen God use weakness to do powerful things? In witnessing weakness to display God's power, how was your faith strengthened as a result?
3. Have you ever counted yourself out as not qualified to be an instrument in God's hands? If so, why?
4. Knowing that God calls us not because we're able, but because he's able, how does this truth take the pressure off of you? Why is there comfort in knowing that God not only enables us as we're sent, but that he also goes with us as sent ones?
Conversation Prompts to Use with Children
For Younger Children:
• Why do you think weakness is usually seen as a bad thing? What can be good about weakness?
• How can our weakness as human beings help us understand God's strength? Why is that so important?
• The Bible says that God gives us his power and his presence--why are God's power and presence so important?
For Older Children:
• How do you usually feel about weakness? Why do you think our culture believes that weakness is usually (if not always) a bad thing?
• How can our weakness as people highlight the power of God? Why is that so important?
• What do you think it means that God "enables" us to represent him?
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