Crippling fears require Christ based facts resulting in courageous faith

John 20:19-29

1. Crippling fears – The disciples had not anticipated what had happened to Jesus. They were afraid. They were in hiding and in fear of the same death happening to them. Suddenly Jesus appeared amongst them in a locked room. Jesus offered two types of peace – subjective and objective peace. Easter Sunday brings good news. The resurrection proves that reconciliation with God for our sins has been achieved by Jesus’ death on the cross. God has given us life through His Son. We all face crippling fears, but God offers us peace when we get right with Him through faith in Jesus. Jesus gave His disciples three words:
   1. Send (vs 21) – Jesus commanded the disciples to go and share His peace with the whole world.
   2. Spirit (vs 22) – Jesus breathed on them and they recieved the Holy Spirit and were born again.
   3. Sin (vs 23) – Jesus does not talk of absolving people’s sins. God has already forgiven people’s sins. We do not dispense forgiveness we are declaring it.
2. Christ based facts – People can be made right with Almighty God only through the death and resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is the bedrock of our faith. Our faith is futile if there is no resurrection (1 Corinthians 12:15-34). There are many proofs of the resurrection.
3. Courageous faith – Thomas missed Jesus’ first appearance after the resurrection. We don’t know why. When he was told about what had happened he built a defensive wall around him. The disciples repeatedly told him about the change they had experienced. Jesus knew what Thomas had been saying, but He did not reject him. Jesus encouraged Thomas to have faith. We need to have faith to see rather than see to believe. Thomas clearly declared that Jesus was his God.