Romans 8:21-26 New King James Version (NKJV) 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of [a]corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. 23 Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. 26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession [b]for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Colossians 2:14-15 New King James Version (NKJV) 14 having wiped out the [a]handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
Revelation 12:11 New King James Version (NKJV) 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
If you could look at Jesus Christ who broke through the darkness of death and sin, you could break through your darkness. In John 20, the disciples were in a lockdown stage after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. But that did not lock out the risen Saviour from coming to them and making His presence known to them in a very personal way. Why? Because He's alive. The fact of resurrection is the King is alive. Jesus is alive. The Lord is alive. And because He is alive, we can engage with Him. He can come to us and we can draw near to Him. We can walk with Him through this time of darkness. In John 20, there is a movement from the tomb to the garden to the room. There was a breakthrough in the tomb. There was a breakthrough in the garden. And there was a breakthrough in the room.
John 20:1-11 New International Version (NIV) The Empty Tomb 20 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. 2 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!” 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 came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, 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.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. If He had not risen, then the forgiveness of sin becomes of no use. But because He was resurrected, He had broken through death and He had broken through sin.
John 20:11-18 New International Version (NIV) Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene 11 Now 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. 15 He asked her, “Woman, 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 ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending 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. Mary was standing outside the garden and she was filled with sorrow. She was filled with grief. Then Jesus appeared to her. And it turned into joy, devotion and understanding who she is--that she belongs to God.
John 20:19-23 New International Version (NIV) Jesus Appears to His Disciples 19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, 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’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” The disciples actually fled from the scene when He was crucified. Now they're hiding because of the Jewish leaders. They had already heard from Mary. There was a sense of shame and fear. So when He came, the first thing Jesus said was, "Peace be with you!" He showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. And again He said, "Peace be with you!" They were restless and troubled in their souls as to what had happened at the crucifixion. Here, they're hiding in the room and Jesus appeared. Just as He had calmed that storm before their very eyes, He said, "Peace be with you!" And He had calmed the storms in their own hearts. We need the peace of Jesus Christ to calm the storm in our own hearts because of this pandemic. When He said "Peace be with you!" what it means is that "You will have peace with Me. And when you have peace with Me, you have peace with yourselves. And when you have peace with yourselves, you have peace with one another." So when Jesus said, "Peace be with you!" it is threefold. It is powerful. And they were filled with joy. He broke through their fear and confusion. He gave them a commission: "As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." This is the first day of resurrection. In the morning He met Mary. And on the evening of that first day after resurrection, He told them "Peace be with You!" and the next thing He gave them a commission. How important is the Great Commission? It is very important for Jesus Christ. And with that He breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." It is simply the proclamation of the gospel.
Luke 24:47 New International Version (NIV) 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Not only He broke through death and sin at the empty tomb, not only He broke through sorrow and grief at the encounter with Mary in the garden, He also broke through fear and confusion with the encounter with His disciples.
John 20:24-29 New International Version (NIV) Jesus Appears to Thomas 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus[a]), 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.” 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 broke through doubt and disbelief when Thomas met, saw, heard and touched Him. That doubt and disbelief became faith and he worshipped Him. Mary came and said, "I have seen the Lord!" The disciples came and said, "We have seen the Lord!" Thomas came and said, "I have seen, heard and touched the Lord!" What would we say?
John 20:30-31 New International Version (NIV) The Purpose of John’s Gospel 30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe[a] that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. By believing, you may have life in His name. Jesus wants to come into our lives and give His life--eternal life. Our sins would be forgiven and we are saved and He gives us eternal life. When He appeared to Mary, He imparted His presence to her. What about the disciples? His presence again. And to Thomas? His presence. What about us? How does His presence come to us? Whenever you see kindness and love, there is His presence. Mary experienced His kindness and love. Sometimes you might now see it physically but someone calls you and express his kindness and love, that's Him. The disciples were frightened and confused and He came and said, "Peace be with you!" When someone prays for you for peace and comfort, that's Him. They fled but He came because He hoped in them and trusted them and He didn't give up on them. When someone comes to you in spite of what you had done to them and doesn't give up and still maintains that relationship, it's Him there, showing that love, care and concern. That's His presence. And Thomas in his doubts and disbelief, He came. How many people that we have met in spite of their doubts and disbelief, we still reached out and touched them and encouraged them? It's Him. It is His presence that works through you. When we believe in Jesus Christ, we are called to do His will. Whenever we do His will, it is His presence that goes forth. Whether it is love, peace or faith, it is Him doing His will. Philippians 1:21 New International Version (NIV) 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. This is a time to embrace God's purpose and share the gospel with whoever is in touch with us. They need the forgiveness of sin. They need eternal life.
Cultivate His presence in prayer, worship and reading the Word. Listen to His voice. He speaks to you.
Carry out His purpose. Pray for those who are still lost. Share the gospel wherever and whenever you can.
Do His will. Walk in His life. The greatest breakthrough in your life is to have Jesus Christ in your life. When you have Jesus Christ in your life, you have His life, His presence and His purpose.
