John 20:19-21 19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first {day} of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, "Peace {be} with you." 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace {be} with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." (NAS) 

Introduction: 
I’ve mentioned on Wed night during prayer meeting the believer who contacted me via our web site and the struggle he was having with his faith. It was a struggle with the resurrection. Though he didn’t give any details I assume that somewhere he must have had a dialogue with someone who didn’t believe the resurrection and gave a reasoned explanation of what happened that caused this person to have some doubts about what took place on that first Easter. 

Certainly from the first moment it was known there were theories to explain away or account for the disappearance of the body of Jesus. One idea which has been prevalent is the disciples stole the body and bribed the guards to lie about what happened. Is that a plausible explanation? 

In Matthew’s account of the events of the crucifixion he tells us in chapter 27 the Chief Priest and the Pharisees had a meeting with Pilate concerning the burial of Jesus. In verse 63 they said, "Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I {am to} rise again.' "Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, lest the disciples come and steal Him away and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go, make it {as} secure as you know how." And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone. (Matt 27:63-66) 

The Living Bible uses the term Temple Police, but this was not the temple police. The word used in verse 65 translated guard refers to a Roman sentry. The Jews had at their disposal a guard of Roman soldiers who stood watch at the tower of Antonia on the northwest side of the temple. Pilate may have been referring to this group or he may have already placed another unit at their disposal, the Bible doesn’t give the specifics of where this guard came from, but they were allowed to use them. This unit would consist of between 4 and 16 men. 

We can make some logical assumptions about their assignment. One, they would take it seriously because they were Roman soldiers, the best of the best of their day. In the movie A Few Good Men there is a scene where they are talking about the duty of the Marines who stand watch on a fence line at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. The line goes something like you can sleep better at night because a Marine is standing that watch and he says nothing is going to happen to you while I’m on this fence. It’s really is a reference to more than just that duty but to the Marines since of duty and obligation to take seriously his responsibility. That would be the attitude of these Roman guards. Nobody’s going to get this body while we’re standing watch.  And they were trained fighters, no band of fishermen is going to overwhelm them. They would have no qualms whatsoever in killing any or all that made the attempt.  

The second thing is they would not want to face military justice if they were to allow someone to snatch the body. Those of you who saw the video we showed on Sunday night sometime back remember the soldier who testified at the trail talked about the penalty for failure would be death. It would be very unlikely they would fall asleep on the job, especially such a deep sleep that would allow someone to move a large stone from the entrance to the tomb. Roman justice was harsh and quick and these soldiers were very much aware of that. Of course, that being the case, it would be very unlikely the disciples would have enough resources to bribe the entire guard to face the penalty of death to turn the other way and allow them to snatch the body. 

Matthew, however, does mention just the opposite took place which gave rise to this rumor. Matt 28:11-20 11 Now while they were on their way, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and counseled together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 and said, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.' 14 "And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble." 15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, {and is} to this day. 

In this, note, they were given a large sum of money (v.12). Also this wasn’t the official version of the events. It was simply a rumor to be spread among the people that would not likely get back to Pilate, but if it did the Sanhedrin promised they would square it with Pilate. 

The last thing I want to mention in that regard is the fact we’ve mentioned before, the disciples were as surprised as anyone the body was gone. 

Now, when we pickup the account on Sunday evening we find the disciples meeting together, and the doors were locked because they were afraid of the Jews.  Not a group likely to go up against Roman soldiers, is it? 

The disciples adopted this day of the week as the day of worship which became the pattern for the early church. John in the book of Revelation refers to it as the Lord’s Day. That’s why we meet on Sunday rather than Saturday. 

According to the Bible Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mk 16:9-11); then to the other women who went to the tomb (Matt 28:9-10). He appeared to the two unnamed disciples on the road to Emmaus (Mk 16:12-13; Lk 24:13-32) then to Peter (Lk 24:33-35 also 1 Cor 15:5) and now as the disciples with the exception of Thomas are gathered discussing these events, when Jesus physically appears to them. The emphasis is on physically appearing. There are those who say the resurrection was not physical, but rather spiritual. Meaning Jesus resurrection wasn’t bodily. It was in the minds and hearts of the disciples and the early church, but He himself never actually arose from the dead. 

I remember when I was in seminary, more than ten years ago now,  watching a local church service on television. I won’t mention the pastor’s name or denomination, but it was that denominations largest church. I was stunned when I actually heard him say there was no physical resurrection that the resurrection of Jesus took place then, and still takes place today in the same way, in the hearts and minds of believers. It’s easy to understand why believers struggle, when they hear or read so called Christian theologians and leaders express these kinds of heretical ideas. 

We have a number of times talked about the reliability and trustworthiness of the biblical record. I won’t repeat those proofs this morning, but just remind you of them because Jesus dealt with that erroneous idea. It’s recorded in Luke’s account in Luke 24:37-43 the Bible says: But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." [And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.] And while they still could not believe {it} for joy and were marveling, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; and He took it and ate {it} before them. (NAS) 

Jesus resurrection was a physical, bodily resurrection. Why is that so important? For one thing the Christian faith stands on that fact. In 1 Cor 15 :12-14 listen to what the Apostle Paul wrote: 12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. (NAS) He goes on to write: 15 Moreover we are even found {to be} false witnesses of God, because we witnessed against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. (NAS) 

If the resurrection didn’t happen just as the Bible said it did our faith is worthless. But it’s not worthless, the resurrection did take place as Luke wrote in Acts 1:3 “. . . He also presented Himself alive, after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over {a period of} forty days, and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. (NAS) 

I’ve said all that to say this. Because the resurrection is a reality, we have a commission, an assignment or a mission. Jesus said, “as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." Jesus was sent and He in turn sends us. He sends us to the world to proclaim the good news. What is the good news? It can be expressed in many different ways but basically it’s this: men and women don’t have to work their way into heaven. You see the history of religion is that men and women have to try in some way to be good enough for God to accept them, they have to earn God’s favor. The bad news of course is we can’t.  The good news is we don't have to, Jesus did. 

In Luke 24:47 Jesus said, “that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” (NAS) That’s the message of the church, repentance in His name. Acts 4:12 says, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved." (NAS) That means we don't have to try and work our way to heaven.

That the resurrection of Jesus was bodily and physical is also important in defining the authority of for that commission. The commission to go and the message we proclaim are not just the work of some deluded Jewish fishermen. It is not the work of an early church trying to create a miraculous Savior, it’s not even the work of enlightened religious thinkers. It is a commission from God Himself. 

Paul wrote in Rom 1:4 [He] ” was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.” (NAS) That means Christianity, by its very nature, can not agree with any system that teaches there are many paths to God. Christianity can not validate any religious system that says there is a way to obtain salvation apart from Jesus Christ. Christianity can teach no message apart from the one given by God which says, no one comes to the Father except through the Son. That becomes a little more clear in verses 22 and 23 although these verses seem so confusing. 

First how do we understand John’s account of the giving of the Spirit and reconcile it to the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, and then how do we understand the forgiving or not forgiven of sin? I realize this would make for an entire sermon but let me see if I can get it into something short and simple. 

First in the Greek it simply says He breathed, on them is added for English translation. The symbolism is from the Old Testament, first in Gen where God Breathed into Adam and gave the gift of life, also Ezek. 37:9-10 Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones. We have said many times, the Spirit of God is not an impersonal force, the Bible makes that abundantly clear. He is a person, the third person of the Godhead. The Spirit of God has been present in the world from the beginning as evidenced in Gen 1:2, what changes in the New Testament is the ministry He is given. 

Here Jesus promises the indwelling presence and power of the Spirit and symbolizes that by His breath. Just as life came to Adam when God’s Spirit entered him, and life into the dry bones of Ezekiel’s vision, Here, new life, the Spirit's life, comes into these disciples. Just as the coming of the Spirit upon Jesus at his baptism by John marked the beginning of his ministry, so this giving of the Spirit marks the beginning of the ministry of these disciples and the New Testament church led by the Spirit of God. 

When we study this we always have to remember this is a transitional phase of Jesus’ ministry. You recall from our study of Jesus’ prayer in chapter 17, they had been kept by Jesus' power up to now, in that He was with them personally and physically; from this time on they are to be kept by the power of the Spirit resident within them. Dr. Merrill Tenney has said, “The words of Jesus emphasize that the Holy Spirit is not bestowed on the church as an ornament but to empower an effective application of the work of Christ to all men.” (EBC, vol. 9, p. 193.) 

Also, verse 22 and 23 are not separate but must be understood together in light of this gift of the Spirit. We know the power to forgive sin belongs only to God.  We can certainly be thankful of that.  I know I would not want my forgiveness to be dependent on someone else.  They might be having a bad day or just might not like me and decide not to forgive me. However, as we have seen this was one of the ways Jesus affirmed His divine nature, He claimed and exercised this power and right of forgiveness (Mark 2:5-7). 

What He commits to the disciples and to all believers is the power and privilege of giving assurance of the forgiveness of sins by God by correctly announcing the terms of forgiveness. There is no Scriptural evidence that He actually transferred to the apostles or their successors the power in and of themselves to forgive sins. “God does not forgive men’s sins because we decide to do so nor withhold forgiveness because we will not grant it.” (Tenney, EBC vol. 9, p. 193.) It’s John himself who wrote in I Jn 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (NAS) 

Dr. A. T. Robertson said, “Jesus put into the hands of Peter and of all believers the keys of the Kingdom which we should use to open the door for those who wish to enter. This glorious promise applies to all believers who will tell the story of Christ's love for men.” (from Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament) 

We announce it, we don’t create it. That is our commission. And without His presence and empowerment through the Holy Spirit we can do nothing. Are you fulfilling your commission this morning? The Father sent Jesus,  He faithfully and obediently went. Jesus has sent us to the world to live and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ will you faithfully go? Is your life and witness proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ? He challenges each of us to follow His example wherever we are to go.

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