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)

A friend of mine, a physical therapist, said that his manager said to him when he expressed concern about being in close proximity to patients who could have been exposed to coronavirus:

Now, now. It’s not time to be paranoid.

Really? It’s precisely the time to be paranoid! That’s all they are selling right now. Compliance with stay-at-home orders is based exclusively on fear. Colorado’s governor was clear about that:

Enforcement? Yes, we have an enforcer. His name is The Grim Reaper. If you don’t socially isolate, you put your mothers and fathers, grandparents, aunts and uncles, even yourself, in danger. – Colorado Governor Jared Polis

And that brings us to projections. Someone said simply, “All projections are wrong.” That would include the one I posted back on March 15. But the purpose of projections is not that they be accurate predictors but that they change our behavior today.

This is the same function of most Biblical prophecy. Its purpose is not as much to predict the future but to change behavior now. Jonah rolled in on Ninevah and said:

Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown! (Jonah 3.1 – 4, ESV)

Was Ninevah overthrown in 40 days? No! Why not? Because the people repented:

And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it. (Jonah 3.5 – 10, ESV)

We need just enough fear to change our behavior but not so much that we are incapacitated.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (2 Timothy 1.7, NLT)

Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the LORD of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. (Isaiah 8.12, 13, ESV)

When I wrote yesterday about Mary Magdalene’s post-resurrection encounter with Jesus and the hymn “In the Garden,” I didn’t tell the whole story of Mary or the hymn.

I didn’t quote, nor did Elvis Presley sing, the third stanza, which I believe reads like this:

Some versions have the third line as “through the voice of woe,” but I believe it’s “to the voice of woe.” Jesus sends Mary to the other disciples (“the voice of woe”).

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. (John 20.17, 18, ESV, emphasis mine)

The lesson for us is clear. We don’t get to keep our time with Jesus and knowledge of Jesus to ourselves. It’s our joyful responsibility to share the good news with others.

And when these lepers came to the edge of the camp, they went into a tent and ate and drank, and they carried off silver and gold and clothing and went and hid them. Then they came back and entered another tent and carried off things from it and went and hid them. Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news. If we are silent and wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come; let us go and tell the king’s household.” (2 Kings 7.8, 9, ESV, emphasis mine. Read the whole story here.)

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” (John 20.21, ESV)

I’m enjoying post-resurrection stories, especially this one involving Jesus and Mary Magdalene:

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). (John 20.11 – 16, ESV)

Did you know that the well-known hymn “In the Garden” is not about just any encounter with Jesus in a peaceful setting, but it’s about this encounter? Here’s what the author and composer himself said:

One day in April 1912,…I drew my Bible toward me and it opened at my favorite book and chapter, John chapter twenty. I don’t know if this was by chance or by the work of the Holy Spirit. I will let you the reader decide. That story of Jesus and Mary in John 20 had lost none of its power and charm.

It was though I was in a trance, as I read it that day, I seemed to be part of the scene. I became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary’s life when she knelt before her Lord and cried, “Rabboni”. I rested my hands on the open Bible, as I stared at the light blue wall. As the light faded, I seemed to be standing at the entrance of a garden, looking down a gently winding path, shaded by olive branches. A woman in white, with head, bowed, hand clasping her throat, as if to choke back her sobs, walked slowly into the shadows. It was Mary. As she came unto the tomb, upon which she placed her hand, she bent over to look in and ran away.

…As [Peter and John] departed, Mary reappeared leaning her head upon her arm at the tomb, she wept. Turning herself, she saw Jesus standing there, so did I. I knew it was He. She knelt before Him, with arms outstretched, and looking into His face cried, “Rabboni”.

I awakened in sunlight, gripping my Bible with my muscles tense, and nerves vibrating, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I wrote as quickly as the words could be formed the lyrics exactly as it is sung today. That same evening, I wrote the tune. It is sung today as it was written in 1912. – C. Austin Miles

There are myriad recordings of “In the Garden” including my own as found on my first CD Impromptu Piano Praise, but there’s none better than the one by Elvis Presley! (Just close your eyes and listen so as not to be distracted by the irrelevant pictures.)

Incidentally, C. Austin Miles is practicing what some call “Imaginative Prayer” when he writes, “I seemed to be part of the scene. I became a silent witness to that dramatic moment in Mary’s life…I seemed to be standing at the entrance of a garden, looking down a gently winding path, shaded by olive branches. A woman in white…” His practice of the exercise that day has blessed millions for more than 100 years.

I’ll have more to say about Mary’s encounter with Jesus tomorrow.

I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, “Write what you see in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.” (Revelation 1.9 – 11, ESV, emphasis mine)