TEXT: John 20:19-23:
19 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.
20 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.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
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Today, I am continuing the daily Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign sermon series, which is aimed at sharing the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ with unbelievers and reminding Christians, in this important election year, to keep the main thing the main thing — and that is reaching unbelievers with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and praying for their salvation, for the problem in America is not only disobedient presidents, politicians, and people, but disobedient pastors, preachers, and parishioners who have refused to obey the Lord’s Great Commission which is to, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” and who have refused to obey God’s repeated commands to “pray without ceasing” for unbelievers, believers, and political leaders. Yes, you should pray for the right candidate to win; yes, you should vote for the candidate that the Lord gives you peace about voting for. But, don’t get caught up in it like the world does. Nothing much is going to change until people get saved and get their hearts right with the Lord.
This campaign is inspired by the following three verses: 1 Corinthians 2:2 which says, “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Acts 5:42 which says, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” And 2 Timothy 2:4 which says, “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”
This series is not for Christians necessarily. However, I do hope you are one of those saints who still loves to hear the “Old, old story of Jesus and His love” — As another hymn says, “For those who know it best Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest.” This series is primarily for unbelievers, so they can hear and understand the Gospel and be saved from sin and the punishment of sin which is hell. This is message number 334.
G. Campbell Morgan said, “Jesus had faced and defeated all the forces which destroy the peace of man. As He said, ‘Peace be unto you,’ He was doing infinitely more than expressing a wish. He was making a declaration. He was bestowing a benediction. He was imparting a blessing.”
After sending Mary Magdalene to tell them that He was risen from the dead, Jesus went and visited His disciples Himself that evening. Most of the Twelve and some others were gathered at a house with the doors locked “for fear of the Jews.” They were afraid that, with Jesus gone, the Jewish authorities would come for them. We can imagine them eating dinner and discussing the news that Mary Magdalene had delivered that morning. Maybe some believed. Some thought she was delusional. Some decided that they would wait to see if any other proof would turn up before making up their minds. But all of a sudden, Jesus is standing in the middle of the room — without a knock, without the doors being unlocked and opened. He’s just there.
Dr. John Walvoord writes that Jesus’ entrance “shows the power of His resurrection body. But His body had substantial form and continuity with His pre-Cross body.” In other words, these disciples immediately recognized Jesus. They saw the marks of the torture and pain He had endured. Of course, they marveled at Him being alive. They were startled at His sudden appearance. But Jesus “shewed unto them his hands and his side.” He proved to them that it was Him beyond a shadow of a doubt. He gave them the best kind of proof that anyone could give — not words, not a message, not a spiritual vision, but hard, concrete, physical proof. But that is not all He gave them.
At this appearance to most of His disciples and a few others, Jesus gave peace. He said, “Peace be unto you.” Prior to this, the disciples were not at peace. Ever since the day before Passover, when Jesus plainly revealed that He would be arrested, tortured, and killed, the disciples had been in a state of unrest. There was turmoil in their souls over Jesus being taken away from them. They had fled when Jesus was arrested. Peter had denied Jesus and his heart broke with sorrow. John had stood by and watched Jesus being nailed to the cross. After the crucifixion, they all went into hiding, fearing for their own lives. In light of all this, what a wonderful message it was that Jesus delivered: “Peace be unto you.”
This peace dissolved their fear. Now that Jesus was resurrected, the disciples knew without a doubt that He was more powerful than the Jewish religious authorities and the Roman government combined. Could there be any greater threat to their lives? Certainly not. More importantly, they knew without a doubt that Jesus had conquered death. Could they imagine anything more frightning than death? Certainly not. Now they had nothing to fear from life, death, or even that which lay beyond death because Jesus had told them that He was going to prepare a place for them where they would be with Him forever. The sight and knowledge of the resurrected Lord brought peace to their troubled hearts.
Not only did this peace dissolve their fear, but it removed their condemnation. When Jesus suddenly appeared in their midst, many of the disciples likely thought that He would have words of rebuke for their lack of faith, their fear, and their disbelief. He had rebuked them before for such shortcomings. But not this time. When Jesus returned from the dead, not only did He bring mental and emotional peace, but He brought spiritual peace. He brought the assurance that, whatever had happened in the past, all of these disciples who believed on Him were now in a right relationship with God. Their sins, faults, and failures were under the blood which He had shed on the cross. Since God no longer imputed or ascribed their sins to them, Jesus did not either. They were now at peace with God.
Look around the world today and you will find many peace who are without peace. Do you know what the message of the resurrected Lord is to them? To you? It is the same message that He gave to His followers in that locked room 2,000 years ago. “Peace be unto you.” Mental, emotional, and spiritual peace. Peace from fear of life, fear of death, and fear of what comes after death. Peace from condemnation. Peace.
William Josiah Irons wrote:
Sing with all the saints in glory,
Sing the resurrection song!
Death and sorrow, earth’s dark story,
To the former days belong.
All around the clouds are breaking,
Soon the storms of time shall cease;
In God’s likeness we, awaking,
Know the everlasting peace.
Would you like to know everlasting peace today? You can have this peace if you believe in Jesus Christ for your salvation from sin and from the consequences of sin. Here is how you can place your faith and trust in Him today.
First, accept the fact that you are a sinner, and that you have broken God’s law. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now that is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. I am sorry for my sins, and today I choose to turn from my sins. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. I trust Jesus Christ as my Savior and I choose to follow Him as Lord from this day forward. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you believed in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and rose again, allow me to say, congratulations on doing the most important thing in life and that is accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour! For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
If you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior today, please email me at dw3@gospellightsociety.com and let us know. There is some free material that we want to send you. If you have a prayer request, please e-mail that to us as well, and we will pray for you until you tell us to stop.
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
Daniel Whyte III has spoken in meetings across the United States and in over twenty-five foreign countries. He is the author of over forty books including the Essence Magazine, Dallas Morning News, and Amazon.com national bestseller, Letters to Young Black Men. He is also the president of Gospel Light Society International, a worldwide evangelistic ministry that reaches thousands with the Gospel each week, as well as president of Torch Ministries International, a Christian literature ministry.
He is heard by thousands each week on his radio broadcasts/podcasts, which include: The Prayer Motivator Devotional, The Prayer Motivator Minute, as well as Gospel Light Minute X, the Gospel Light Minute, the Sunday Evening Evangelistic Message, the Prophet Daniel’s Report, the Second Coming Watch Update and the Soul-Winning Motivator, among others.
He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Bethany Divinity College, a Bachelor’s degree in Religion from Texas Wesleyan University, a Master’s degree in Religion, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree from Liberty University’s Rawlings School of Divinity (formerly Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary). He is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree.
He has been married to the former Meriqua Althea Dixon, of Christiana, Jamaica since 1987. God has blessed their union with seven children.
BCNN1 WP 