Easter Sunday – John Chapter 20 v1-29


Sermon Notes. Easter Sunday – John Chapter 20 v1-29

I wonder have you ever asked yourself the Questions:

1: What proof would I need to really believe all this stuff about Jesus?

2: What would convince me that Jesus really is God’s only Son and this world’s only Saviour.

3: What evidence would you need to help you come to a place where you could believe that.

1: v18, Mary is the first person that John records who personally sees the Risen Jesus. V18, ‘Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: I have seen the Lord! And she told them that he had said these things to her.’

This is the first appearance of the Risen Jesus early on Easter Sunday morning.

Then the second appearance of Jesus later on that very same day, v19, ‘On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’

We find the disciples are self-isolating – worried – anxious – nervous – afraid – fearing for their own lives in case the authorities come and take them too.

When the Risen Jesus, the same Jesus who was crucified, dead and buried on the Friday, comes into the room where they are hiding, they are absolutely frightened out of their wits. He shows them clear, visible, concrete proof that He is the very same Jesus who died on that Cross.

It is true that Jesus is ALIVE and they are overjoyed, overwhelmed, hardly able to take it in, what they are seeing with their own two eyes and hearing with their own two ears.

Question: How could You take it in? No one has ever gone fully into death and come out alive – it just doesn’t happen. They have never seen anything like this before, because they have never met anyone like Jesus before.

V21 Jesus commissions His disciples to go and proclaim this wonderful message of forgiveness, freedom and new life, over all the world. ‘As the Father sent me, I am sending You.’ Then v22, Jesus breathed on them the Holy Spirit.

We’re told that one of the disciples is missing, it’s Thomas the twin. Where was he? Needing time on his own to try and process the pain in his heart? When he returns the others are all over him with this fantastic news v24, ‘We have seen the Lord.’

Jesus is Risen, He’s been here in this very room. But Thomas is having none of it v25 – ‘unless I see the nail marks in his hands – until I put my finger where those nails were – unless I put my hand into his side.’ ‘I WILL NOT BELIEVE.’ He needs clear concrete evidence that he can verify and see with his own two eyes.

Question; What evidence would convince you that it’s not made up?

Question: What would you need to see – hear – touch before you will believe that Jesus is no longer dead – BUT He’s ALIVE?

A week later v26, they are still in lockdown in the house, still in fear. When Jesus once again comes into the room and stands before them. This time Thomas is there. V27, Jesus directly answers Thomas’ scepticism and addresses Thomas’ doubts. ‘Thomas, put your finger here, see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side.’ Examine the evidence, the proof, and be convinced. Thomas falls before Jesus in awe, in wonder and says, ‘My Lord and My God.’

Jesus says to Thomas in verse 29, ‘You believe because you have physically seen me, but better and blessed are those who have not seen me physically and who have believed.’

Nothing delights the heart of Jesus more than when you and I, or anyone reads this account and comes to a place where you are so convinced, that you are ready and willing to surrender your life and choose to follow Jesus as your Saviour.

John tells us v30 that he could have written so many more stories about Jesus, told us about so many more miraculous healings. But these are enough for someone, anyone who is searching for the truth, to know for sure that Jesus really is God’s One and Only Son. The world’s Saviour and Lord.