Andy Nagahara
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I am sending you
(John 20:19-22)
A. Not because you are special
1. You are easily frightened (19a)
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews,
2. You are filled with joy when you see the Lord (19b-20)
Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
B. Because you are loved
1. As messengers of peace (21)
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
2. By the power and authority of the Holy Spirit (22, 23)
So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to their homes,
Summary
We have been appointed by Jesus to live the lives we have been given. We are called to share the peace and forgiveness we have experienced with as many people as possible. We are weak and easily frightened, but the Lord gives us his power and authority to answer his call.
For Discussion
1) Where has Jesus sent you?
2) What kind of authority have we been given?