Scars with a Purpose (2)

Werki N,anagalix Hydkyr

John 20:24-29

In the Armenian sermon we spoke about the peace greeting our Lord gave to his disciples: “Peace be with you” (shalom aleykem). And we also spoke about the permanent scars of Jesus. He wanted his disciples to see his wounds and scars, and turned their sorrow into JOY.

If you remember, I said the disciples were confused. They did not know what was next.

“Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." ²²And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."”

Empowering the disciples to be apostles (missionaries)

Jesus is saying, “May God’s peace be in you, may your heart be in peace so that you will go out and be my witnesses. Go and be apostles” meaning someone with a mission (arakyal in Armenian).

Starting from the first day Jesus meets them, he is SENDING them. Let us be careful; the disciples were commissioned to carry on Christ’s work, not to start a new mission. The disciples (we today) were (are) instruments and ambassadors of Christ. What we do is His work not ours.

I hope this concept stays in our mind. No church can be a meaningful church without being sent to the world. It does not mean just sending out missionaries, which is an important part of the mission of the church, it means that each of us is sent to our neighborhood to spread the Good News, the peace of Christ.

I love the way Jesus dealt with the disciples’ fear and confusion. He gave them a purpose. Many churches are dying today because they became self-sustaining “cultural” communities, which are closed and do not want to open up.

The message to CACC is very clear. Christ is risen and is here giving us a mission. CACC has many programs that aim at evangelism and mission, but I like to challenge you further. We should cease being a church that goes out to reach out to the community and bring back the “lost sheep” to the flock.

Jesus not only sends them, he also gives them the authority to preach his salvation. First he gives them the Holy Spirit. Nothing can be done without the Spirit of the Lord, NOTHING. Let us notice that this is preparation for the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit descended and the Church was born. We read in different places in the Bible that the Spirit of the Lord came to empower people. We read in Gen 2:7 that the Spirit of God gave life to Adam. We read in Ezekiel 37 that dry bones received the Spirit of the God and became an army. Let us not confuse this event with the act of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit came in full measure and a new era started in our life.

-In church history and even today, people misunderstood this sentence: “²³If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Only God can forgive our sins. Past and present “disciples” of Christ are to preach the message of GOD’S forgiveness. The verb “forgive” is in passive voice, which means God can do this act and not the disciples.

Here is the point; our message should not be compromised. Our message is that we are sinners and we need forgiveness. One either accepts it or rejects it.

To summarize this part, when the disciples encountered the resurrected Christ, they were given three things:

· They were given a purpose to be sent to the world.

· They were empowered by the Holy Spirit.

· They were given authority to preach the Good News of the Gospel of salvation.

The doubter’s unexpected proclamation

We pick on Thomas because he had doubts. I think all the disciples all of us are like Thomas. As I said in the Armenian sermon, when Jesus appeared to the disciples he showed them his scars. He knew that all of them (and us) go through the experience of doubt.

We find in John 20 that Thomas was back with the disciples one week after resurrection Sunday; Jesus appears to them and especially to Thomas. He says to him, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."”(vs 27)

The response of Thomas is incredible. I am not sure whether Thomas did touch Jesus, but I know “Jesus touched” Thomas that day. Why? Listen to Thomas’ response.”

“My Lord and My God”

Thomas made an unexpected proclamation about the Lord. He gave to Jesus the title “Lord”, which is I AM in the Old Testament for the personal name of YHWH, God. The most doubtful person made an incredible statement. This means Jesus’ scars touched him. Thomas had an incredible transformation in his life. Only the Spirit of God can do this, not us, not Thomas himself.

The Last Beatitude

“Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."” (29)

The disciples saw Jesus and believed. Thomas saw Jesus and believed. Mary Magdalene saw Jesus and believed. It is great. Yet, Jesus gives a last beatitude which is very meaningful especially for us today. “Blessed is the one does not see and can believe.”

It is us, who did not see and yet we believe.

Why does Jesus say blessed are those who do not see and believe?

It is much harder to believe in something unseen. But let us look at the picture from a different angle. We are the post-resurrection group. We are the believers who encountered with Christ after the Pentecost and Ascension. We are the believers who experienced Christ in a different way, when the Holy Spirit is here among us sustaining the work of Christ in our lives. The presence of Christ will be more intense through his Word and Spirit. Maybe we did not see Jesus in his physical presence, but I know that He lives with us in our daily life.

Peter describes it best:

“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9)

Have you had this experience?

Have you ever had doubts like Thomas?

Do the wounds and scars of Jesus mean anything to you?

Do you feel God empowers you to be sent to your neighborhood?

Questions that should be answered by you.

May God help us.

Amen