4/19/20 Sermon Notes
“So I Send You”

John 20:19-31
When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." 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 retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Traditionally, the Sunday after Easter is the least attended worship service in the calendar year. Maybe we feel like we got our fill of Jesus during Holy Week, so it’s ok to take a week off? However, this scripture suggests that the week after Easter is equally as important as Easter Sunday. Last week, we heard the good news: Christ has died. Christ is Risen. Christ will come again. This week, we receive our commission: As the Father has sent me, so I send you.

Throughout Jesus’ life & ministry, he preached amazing messages, taught amazing lessons, performed amazing miracles, and served in amazing ways. But that is not all He did. During this time, Jesus was also preparing His successors to continue His amazing work. Those He was counting on to continue preaching, and teaching, and performing miracles, and serving.

Join us LIVE this Sunday at 9:00am and 11:00am to receive Christ’s commission, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, so that you can be bearers of the Good News, and help others “come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing [they] may have life in His name.”

Rev. Carrie Jones
Associate Pastor of Children & Families