2. Surprise visits by our Risen Lord! John 20:19-31 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, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” -- 26 A week later His disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” John 20:19 & 26 (NIV84)

3. It was unimaginable to the disciples that Jesus would be killed, let alone be raised from His grave three days later.

4. “We left everything to follow Him. Surely, we will be the laughing stock of everyone in Jerusalem.”

5. The process that the Apostle John went through to come to that place of complete trust in Jesus Christ for the totality of his life can now encourage each of us to place our complete trust in Jesus Christ.

6. John 20:1 (NIV84) 1 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.

7. Luke 24:6 (NIV84) 6 He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee?

8. John 20:2-9 (NIV84) 2 …, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

9. Luke 24:11-12 (NIV84) 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

10. John 20:10-14 (NIV84) 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put Him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

11. John 20:15-18 (NIV84) 15 “Woman,” He said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell Me where You have put Him, and I will get Him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward Him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to My brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that He had said these things to her.

12. Events were breaking holes in the disciples’ cloud of despair.

13. This didn’t yet translate into their believing that Jesus had indeed been raised from the dead.

14. It was to Mary Magdalene, one of the least of these, that Jesus first reveals Himself as the risen Lord.

15. Our Lord has been giving you glimpses of His glory and maybe you are in the process of opening your heart to the transforming presence of Christ. See the complete trustworthiness of Christ. Welcome Him as your Savior and Lord.

16. John 20:19-23 (NIV84) 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, 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. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

17. John 20:24-25 (NIV84) 24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it.”

18. John 20:26-29 (NIV84) 26 A week later His disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

19. John 20:30-31 (NIV84) 30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.

20. No evidence that any of the disciples camped out near the tomb.

21. It’s like the enemies of Jesus understood Jesus better than the disciples.

22. The disciples were surprised by Christ’s resurrection in spite of all the times He had told them to expect it.

23. John 20:19-20 (NIV84) 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, 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. 1. Coming to place complete trust in Jesus Christ for the totality of our life both now and for eternity is a process. Jesus’ Second Surprise Appearance

24. Even these stalwart leaders of the early church, were confused and unable to comprehend all that they had experienced until they met their risen Lord face to face.

25. Apart from His intervention, His disciples wouldn’t be able to connect all the dots.

26. Jesus initiated showing the disciples His hands and His side.

27. John 20:21-23 (NIV84) 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” The church is intended to be the extension of the physical and spiritual body of Christ in the world. Jesus’ Second Surprise Appearance

28. John 20:21-23 (NIV84) 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” We exist to mediate the reconciliation of the world to the Father. Jesus’ Second Surprise Appearance

29. 2. Coming to place our complete trust in Jesus Christ for the totality of our life means owning His mission and His purpose for the church.

30. Only if we have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ can we stand before Him and make a plea.

31. John 20:21-23 (NIV84) 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” As messengers of peace our obedience or disobedience will result in others finding God’s forgiveness or not finding it.

32. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through our lives preparing us to extend Christ’s forgiveness to penitent sinners can we be Christ’s presence in this world.

33. 2. Coming to place our complete trust in Jesus Christ for the totality of our life means owning His mission and His purpose for the church.

34. John 20:24-25 (NIV84) 24 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe it.”

35. John 20:26-29 (NIV84) 26 A week later His disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” 28 Thomas said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus’ Third Surprise Visit

36. The other ten told Thomas about those wounds.

37. Jesus is not put off by genuine doubt.

38. Thomas was ready to believe when the barrier to his belief was removed.

39. 3. Coming to place complete trust in Jesus Christ for the totality of our life may require us to confess our doubts and invite Christ to help us believe.

40. Confess your doubts to the Lord. Be ready to give yourself fully to Him.

41. May Christ’s joy overflow within you and create an overwhelming desire to share that joy with others!

42. Welcome Him to reign as King of your life!

46. The Commissioning of Micah Adamson as Senior Pastor of New Heights Christian Church

48. The Lord’s Prayer 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, 10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ Matthew 6:9–13 (NIV84)

49. We celebrate Communion with our Lord at His Table

53. www.christnow.com