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John 20:20
Easter, March 23, 2008
Exordium: Usually on Easter morning the preacher takes the morning of that first Easter day and describes the glad surprise and blessing of the Lord’s rising from the dead. But I will depart from tradition and speak of Easter Evening because there the factuality and the meaning of Christ’s rising from the dead are summarized very well for us.
Explication: It is twilight in the Upper Room. They are lighting the lamps in the city and in the building. The doors are shut –tight, against any hostility left over from excitement. The disciples of Jesus are huddled together. They have been busy talking together since morning, trying to understand what has happened. Peter and John have the floor most of the day, describing very carefully what they saw early that same morning.
And then there stands the Master Himself, the One about whom they have been speaking. He passed into the room somehow. He did not come through the bolted doors.
Their experience tells us so much – and brings us close to the fact and the significance of the Easter miracle. The Holy Spirit sums it up for us in verse 19 and 20 of chapter 20.
“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, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them. “Peace be with you.” And He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.” What struck the disciples in this moment?
THEY WERE STRUCK WITH THE REALITY OF THE RISEN CHRIST
