Last Sunday, our church used a fabulous Easter hymn, written by popular hymn writer Carolyn Winfrey Gillette especially for 2020. It applies during this time of social isolation:

Tomorrow, I want to write about the lines from the third stanza: “With sanctuaries empty, may homes become the place we ponder resurrection and celebrate your grace.”

But for today, let’s meditate on the last stanza, which correctly describes what churches ought always to be:

A scattered, faithful body that’s doing ministry. In homes and in the places of help and healing, too, we live the Easter message by gladly serving you.

There are two excellent books challenging churches to major on scattered as much as they do on gathered. I recommend them both.

• And: The Gathered and Scattered Church by Hugh Halter
• Scattered and Gathered by Neil Hudson

And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. (Acts 8.1, 4, ESV, emphasis mine)

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia… (1 Peter 1.1, NIV)

I wrote yesterday about the thick-headed, slow-hearted doubters to whom Jesus entrusted the Great Commission. Today I want to add one more thing about doubters, an idea from my friend Bill Mowry, author of Ways of the Alongsider, an excellent tool for developing disciple-makers. Here’s the text:

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. (Matthew 28.16, 17, ESV)

Bill’s observation?

They doubted, but they showed up!

Same with Thomas, whom we wrote about last week. He may have doubted, but he showed up!

Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. (John 20.26, ESV)

We don’t need to be superstars. We don’t need to be free of doubt…of our ability or of Jesus’ ability to use us. We just need to show up – another word for that is faithful.

What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others also. (2 Timothy 2.2, ESV, alternate reading, emphasis mine)

I wrote yesterday about the minimal instruction Jesus seemed to leave the disciples with after the resurrection.

Did you ever consider that immediately before his ascension, Jesus entrusted doubters with the Great Commission?

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28.16 – 20, ESV, emphasis mine)

Consider the audience of the Great Commission from Luke 24:

²⁵  Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said?
²⁶  Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?”
²⁷  Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him…
⁴⁴  Then he said, “Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled.”
⁴⁵  He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way.
⁴⁶  He said, “You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day,
⁴⁷  and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem!

Jesus left the most important mission in history to thick-headed, slow-hearted doubters! Terrific! I’m qualified, right along with the “unqualified” Apostle Paul:

I’m so grateful to Christ Jesus for making me adequate to do this work. He went out on a limb, you know, in trusting me with this ministry. The only credentials I brought to it were invective and witch hunts and arrogance. But I was treated mercifully because I didn’t know what I was doing—didn’t know Who I was doing it against! Grace mixed with faith and love poured over me and into me. And all because of Jesus. Here’s a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I’m proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever. (1 Timothy 1.12 – 16, MSG)

I was struck with this little sentence in John 21:

This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. (John 21.14, ESV)

Only the third time? It’s interesting that Jesus appeared to the disciples only a few times post-resurrection. His meetings with the disciples seem to be occasional and relatively infrequent.

Earlier we saw Jesus appearing to the disciples in John 20.21 – 23, and then, not again for eight days when he appeared to the disciples including Thomas. I wonder what he was doing in between? You’d think he’d be spending a lot of time with them, teaching and clarifying, knowing that he was leaving soon. But that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Compare the week before the crucifixion when he spent a lot of time with them. You’d think this would also be a time that he would be cramming last-minute instructions into them. But maybe it’s like the college-bound daughter when her dad was trying to cram a few additional hours of instruction while she was packing: “Dad, you’ve trained me for 18 years. I’m ready!”

Jesus wanted the disciples to get used to relying on the Holy Spirit and figuring things out on their own. A few appearances and gone is better than a barrage of information cut off abruptly, leaving them “now what?” As it happened, Peter is leading in Acts 1, and the disciples are making plans to do what he asked them to do. Peter said:

So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection. (Acts 1.21, 22, ESV)

There’s a major lesson. If I’m a leader, I don’t need to tell people everything they need to know or make them think that they’re not “ready” or “finished” until I’ve told them one more thing. Or, that they’re never finished because I’m not finished teaching and they still have a lot of room to grow.

I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. (John 16.12, 13, NIV)

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14.26, NIV)

I’m indebted to my friend Hanh for this new perspective on Thomas. Yes, good old “Doubting Thomas.”

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, 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 in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” (John 20.24, 25, ESV)

Hanh believes that Thomas was simply not content to ride on others’ experience of Jesus. Hanh points out that John’s gospel is full of people having individual encounters with Jesus:

• Nicodemus (John 3)
• The Woman at the Well (John 4)
• The villagers she invited: what did they say?

Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” (John 4.39 – 42, ESV, emphasis mine)

• The man born blind (John 9)
• And now Thomas

Thomas becomes the prototype, not of doubters, but of all those who want a personal encounter with Jesus. We can’t base a life on our parents’ faith, our pastors’ faith, our friends’ faith. There comes a time when it has to become our faith. Our encounter with Jesus.

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20.27, 28, ESV)

Yesterday we looked at Jesus explicitly telling the disciples to “go and tell,” a theme we have seen in his encounter with Mary Magdalene (John 20.11 – 18) and the two from Emmaus (Luke 24.13 – 35) whose immediate response was to go to the gathered disciples. Tell them what? About the resurrection, to be sure, and also, in yesterday’s text, forgiveness of sins.

Today, let’s think about how Jesus told them to go.

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. (John 20.21 – 22, ESV)

First, we are sent as the Father sent Jesus. How was that? Here are a few things that come to mind:

• Incarnationally (John 1.14 – “The Word became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” Philippians 2.5 – 8, Luke 1 and 2)
• Relationally (Matthew 4.19, Mark 3.14 – “with him”)
• As a servant (Mark 10.45)
• Preaching, teaching, healing (Matthew 4.23)

In short, we are to be among people (as much as we can during the lockdown!), serving them, meeting their needs, sharing God’s love and the message of God’s love.

Second, we do all this in the power of the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, some of us just skip over that part. The Holy Spirit’s power doesn’t seem to be part of our tradition. But the Holy Spirit’s power is indispensable! Jesus appeared to them in John 20.19 – 23, and a week later, they’re still hunkered down (John 20.26). The disciples didn’t catch fire until Pentecost.

I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you…The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. (John 14.16, 17…26, ESV)

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. (Philippians 2.14 – 16, ESV)

Yesterday, I shared what our pastor said about Jesus’ peace from John 16, John 20, and Philippians 4. Today, I want to continue in John 20 also continue our “Go and Tell” theme. Today: Tell them what? What’s the significance of the resurrection? It’s all in John 20:

Jesus repeated his greeting, “Peace to you!” And he told them, “Just as the Father has sent me, I’m now sending you.” Then, taking a deep breath, he blew on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. I send you to preach the forgiveness of sins—and people’s sins will be forgiven. But if you don’t proclaim the forgiveness of their sins, they will remain guilty.” (John 20.21 – 23, Passion Translation)

This is one of those “obvious” alliterative outlines:

• Peace in verse 21 (and also verse 19)
• Process in verse 21 (“as the Father has sent me…”)
• Power in verse 22 (“Receive the Holy Spirit…”)
• Pardon in verse 23 (“Proclaim forgiveness of sins”)

I might talk more about the others on another day, but today, let’s think about the message: “Forgiveness of sins.” The idea of the proclamation of the forgiveness of sins is not in the standard translations of verse 23, but it is clearly there in Luke 24:

Then [Jesus] opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem…” (Luke 24.45 – 47, ESV)

The message is forgiveness of sins. Not just sins! “You sinners better shape up!” No, the forgiveness of sins. Some Christian writers emphasize the holiness and justice of God. A good message to be sure, but can we temper those with the love of God? It’s the kindness of God that leads to repentance. 

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? (Romans 2.4, ESV)

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3.16, 17, ESV)

Sometimes I’m amazed at what the Bible speaks to… I credit this to our pastor, Dr. Dave Jordan-Irwin, who pointed out Jesus’ words to the disciples in John 16:

Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home… I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. (John 16.32, 33, ESV)

We are indeed scattered each to our own homes during this coronavirus lockdown, but Jesus is not limited. Pastor Dave also pointed out that Jesus appeared to the disciples during their lockdown:

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.” (John 20.19, ESV, emphasis mine)

“Peace be with you,” the same thing he promised them in John 16. Peace is not in our circumstances but in the presence of Jesus.

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4.5 – 7, ESV)

When we last saw Mary Magdalene, she had gone to tell the other disciples about Jesus’ resurrection:

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. (John 20.17, 18, NKJV)

That seems to be a common theme. I love the story of Jesus’ conversation with the two on the road to Emmaus. “What things?” Jesus had a sense of humor, make no mistake. And what about that sermon?

Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?” Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him. (Luke 24.25 – 27, MSG)

I used to think, “Wow, I wish someone had written down that sermon!” But they didn’t need to. We have the same book. Read it. See him in Genesis 3.15, Psalm 22, Isaiah 53. (Who did they think that was about?) Messiah will be “cut off” in Daniel 9. Looking ahead, Peter preached from Joel in Acts 2. Jesus didn’t tell him that in advance. Peter figured it out. And then, the lesson is the same:

Go and Tell.

They left at once and hurried back to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples. When they found the Eleven and the other disciples all together, they overheard them saying, “It’s really true! The Lord has risen from the dead. He even appeared to Peter!” Then the two disciples told the others what had happened to them on the road to Emmaus and how Jesus had unveiled himself as he broke bread with them. (Luke 24.33 – 35, Passion Translation)

I received a message from my friend in Haiti, Vilmer Paul, about whom I’ve written several blogs. Vilmer’s message prompts me to request:

While we are hunkered down in our mansions, give thanks for what you have, and please remember to pray for folks in Haiti.

Here’s some of what Vilmer writes:

My conclusion: There is no suitable solution for Haiti apart from home confinement. However, confinement is simply impossible to apply in Haiti. The people live from day to day on the street and in the street.

The social distancing advocated can only be the affair of a few privileged. In other words, in Haiti, the Coronavirus will worsen the social divide by exacerbating disparities, in particular access to basic necessities (health care and food)…

Confinement, applied to the letter, would cause more deaths in the population than the epidemic itself. In other words, the remedy would kill more than the disease.

Here’s an article in a Haitian publication saying the same thing. And this article in the Miami Herald questions the wisdom of the Haitian government declaring victory and returning to work too early.

I don’t know the solution or even what we in the US can do to help…other than join them in prayer.

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5.18, NKJV)

They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. (Galatians 2.10, NKJV)