He Keeps Showing UP
Disciple Makers
He Keeps Showing Up.
Jhn 20:19 So when it was evening on that same day, the first day of the week, though the disciples were [meeting] behind barred doors for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”
Jhn 20:20 After He said this, He showed them His hands and His side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with great joy.
Jhn 20:21 Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].”
Jhn 20:22 And when He said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. [Act 1:8; Act 2:1-3]
Jhn 20:23 If you forgive the sins of anyone they are forgiven[because of their faith]; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained [and remain unforgiven because of their unbelief].”
I want to take you back to day 1 of the resurrection and give you a chronology. This is paramount to your salvation, and your faith. We are about 4 weeks from our celebration of resurrection. We are reminded in Acts 1 that Jesus showed himself with many infallible proofs for 40 days after His resurrection. I want you to understand know these encounters. Let’s review and we’ll get to today’s lesson.
(John 20, Luke 24, Matthew 28, Mark 16)
- Jesus rises from the dead early in the morning (Matt. 28:1–6).
- Mary Magdalene sees the empty tomb, runs to tell the disciples (John 20:1–2).
- Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11–18).
- Jesus appears to other women (Matt. 28:8–10).
- The guards report to the chief priests (Matt. 28:11–15).
- Jesus appears to Peter (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor. 15:5).
- Jesus appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13–32).
- Jesus appears to the Ten disciples in the locked room (without Thomas) – evening of Day 1 (John 20:19–23).
Jesus Appears to the 10 Disciples
- They knew Jesus resurrected but they were still afraid
Have you ever struggled with fear? Not just the kind that makes you jump in the night — but the kind that locks you in mentally, emotionally, or spiritually?
Have you ever known that God was real… that Jesus had risen… but still found yourself behind closed doors, afraid of what might happen if you stepped out?”
Fear is a powerful emotional response to a perceived threat, danger, or loss — whether real or imagined.
It causes us to hide, hesitate, or hold back, even when we know the truth.
In biblical terms, fear often means being gripped, paralyzed, or tormented by the anticipation of what might happen. It’s the opposite of faith
Just like the disciples in John 20:19, who were:
Hiding, even though they had heard the testimony of Mary
Locked in, even though the tomb was open
Afraid, even though the risen Savior had already defeated death
Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of abandonment, fear of success, fear of death, fear of sickness, fear of letting go, fear of loving again.
- Jesus shows up in their fear with the greeting of peace. 19.
-He did not rebuke them or correct them. He did not judge them and ask them where they were in his darkest hour.
Peace (eirēnē / shalom) means more than the absence of conflict. It means wholeness, completeness, harmony, health, well-being, and restoration.
It carries the idea of everything being put back in order, as it was meant to be.
When Jesus said “Peace,” He wasn’t just calming their emotions —
He was realigning their identity and restoring their mission.
His peace is what calms the water, causes your heart to stop racing, reminds you of His sovereignty.
He gave them:
- Peace with God Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
Peace within themselves Php 4:6 Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]
- Peace for their mission Jhn 20:21 Then Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you [as My representatives].
- Their joy was restored
- When you are in fear it saps your joy. V.20
Fear Focuses on What Might Happen — Not What God Already Did
- Joy is rooted in trusting God’s presence, promises, and provision.
- Restored joy gives you strength. Neh8:10
- Renewed joy gives you a new perspective. Ps.51:12
- Restored breaks the chains of condemnation. Ps.30:5
“Fear is the thief that sneaks into the house of your heart and robs you of the celebration of what God has already done.”
- He showed himself to His disciples for their reassurance. 20
He showed them His wounds.
He revealed His humanity and divinity. Scars reminded them of his pain and suffering, but also the power of God to resurrect and restore.
It showed them that Glory comes through suffering and sacrifice
It was the same Jesus. So, he fulfilled his own prophecy of dying and
resurrecting
He invites them to intimacy and fellowship as He shows them His scars
Your scars prove that you are human.
Your scars prove that you’ve been through something and survived
Your scars show others your pain, and your Power to be healed.
Scars are not signs of weakness — they are proof that healing happened. In Christ, your scars become your sermon: not of what broke you, but of what God brought you through.”
It’s a model for true ministry of disciples.
He affirms His deity. Only God can get up from the grave and appear….
- He sends them out and empowers them for the next 49 days until Pentecost by breathing on them the Holy Spirit.
This is the first breath of new creation —
Just like God breathed into Adam (Gen. 2:7), Jesus now breathes into the new humanity.
They had peace.
They had purpose.
But now they needed power.
This was preparation for Pentecost — the Spirit within to shape character, and soon the Spirit upon to empower calling.
- Only God can forgive sin.
Jhn 20:23 If you forgive the sins of anyone they are forgiven[because of their faith]; if you retain the sins of anyone, they are retained [and remain unforgiven because of their unbelief].”
What Jesus is doing here is commissioning His disciples to proclaim the message of forgiveness, by the authority of the Gospel, through the power of the Holy Spirit.
They are not the source of forgiveness — but they are the announcers of it.
As disciples today, We don’t forgive sins on our own authority, but:
We preach the Gospel, which offers true forgiveness.
We declare freedom to those who believe.
We warn those who reject Christ that forgiveness is withheld — not by us, but by their own refusal of grace.