THE FIRST SEVEN WORDS OF JESUS

“THE FIRST SEVEN WORDS OF JESUS”
MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2009

JOHN 20: 15 – 30

¹⁵Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. ¹⁶Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. ¹⁷Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. ¹⁸Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the LORD, and that he had spoken these things unto her. ¹⁹Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. ²⁰And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD. ²¹Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. ²²And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: ²³Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained. ²⁴But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. ²⁶And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. ²⁷Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. ²⁸And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. ²⁹Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. ³⁰And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, ³¹But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

The Resurrection of Christ was the miracle of all miracles. Yesterday was Easter and churches around the world celebrated the Risen Savior! From these services we heard the cry of forgiveness as Jesus said, "Father forgive them, they know not what they do." We heard the cry of salvation as Jesus told the penitent thief that "Today thou shalt be with me in paradise." We heard the cry of provision spoken concerning Mary and John. We heard the cry of desertion as Jesus asked, "My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me?" We Heard the cry of suffering as Jesus said, "I thirst." And We Heard the cry of victory! When Jesus shouted… "IT IS FINISHED!" There are many sermons and books on the last seven words of Jesus on the Cross. These words explain the purpose of the cross and the character of Christ. But this week I want to you to think about this event again because as there were seven last words of Jesus and each were significant, I believe that much followed beyond the grave. From which, explains what the Resurrection has done for us and what the Resurrection has to offer us. The seven first words of Jesus thus gives a message from God to all the World beyond the grave. The seven first words of Jesus gives a message from God to the Church. The first seven words of Jesus gives a message from God to his people. The Seven First Words of Jesus...

1. “WOMAN WHY WEEPEST THOU” (Vs. 15) The first word of Christ after the Resurrection is to a woman in a garden. I wonder if there is not some symbolism here. It was in the first garden with another question asked that a woman was questioned and as a result sin was brought into the world.

2. “MARY” (Vs. 16) Jesus called Mary by name. Christ knows his disciples individually. He called Thomas who was a doubter at this time but still a disciple by name and Jesus is calling you! Are you listening to what God is saying? Jesus knew people in the resurrection and so will we. (See I John 3:2) Moses and Elijah knew Christ and each other on the Mt. of Transfiguration. I believe we will know each other in heaven. Our relationship to each other will be different than here on earth but we will know. Those who hear the Lord and love the Lord the most get the greater blessing. The disciples loved but it seems by her actions that she loved Jesus more and had the blessing of meeting him first.

3. “GO TELL MY BRETHREN” (Vs. 17) Mary! Yes, a woman had the message of the Resurrection. The Resurrection gives us a message to tell to the world. It is a message that sin had been paid at the cross. It is a message that we have a hope beyond the grave. It is a message of a resurrection for us one day and a great reunion with Jesus. Mary had a message for the disciples - then they had a message for the world. We have a message too! The cross gives us a message. The resurrection gives us the authority and validates the message and the Holy Spirit gives us the power to deliver it. Now are we going to tell it?

4. “PEACE BE UNTO YOU“ (Vs. 19 – 21) Jesus gives us the promise of peace. The peace with God and the peace of God in our lives. We need to be searching for peace and not blame. Searching for peace and not fault. Searching for peace and not rebuke... Sin takes away peace. Without Peace all you’ll have a Troubled heart. Without Peace you’ll have troubled circumstances. Without Peace you’ll have a trouble due to the consequence of sin. There is no peace to be found in the world without Jesus. Without peace all you will find is war, fear, troubles, and death but you will never any peace with out Jesus in your life.

5. “AS MY FATHER HATH SENT ME SO SEND I YOU; RECEIVE YE THE HOLY GHOST”

(Vs. 21 – 23) Here is the call to service and the power to serve. There is a job to be done for the Lord. That is the reason he has left us here instead of taking us all home to heaven immediately after conversion. We are powerless without Him. He puts his power inside us through the Holy Spirit. The Cross gives us the message - The Resurrection gives us Authority and the Holy Spirit gives us the power. (See Rom.1:1-5)

6. “REACH HITHER...BE NOT FAITHLESS BUT BELIEVING” (Vs. 27) This is a word to doubting Thomas. Many folk are just like Thomas today. But notice several things here; Notice how much a Christian may lose out by not regularly attending church. (Compare Vs. 24 and Vs. 26) Furthermore, there is no account in the bible as to where Thomas was or what he was doing but the brother was (MIB) missing in getting his blessings. However, notice how kind and merciful God is to the show the sincere doubter His truth. When someone doubts after proper evidence, God calls it folly and foolishness. But to the sincere doubter, the Lord says, "be not faithless but believing!” Thomas was there at the second meeting and JESUS CAME! Jesus is always there when you need him even in the midst of your doubts.

7. “BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET HAVE BELIEVED” (Vs. 29) This is a word for us today. He is speaking of us. We are saved by faith! (Eph.2:8 – 9) We are to walk by faith and not by sight (Rom.3:24) Faith brings blessings! Faith brings power! And faith brings us closer to God. Mary lost the Lord in vs. 13 --- but she found him because of her faith and because of the resurrection and his love. My question this week is… What are you looking at and who are you looking to? You should be looking to the hills from which your help comes. If you are looking to anything other than Jesus - you are looking in the all the wrong places. You are blocking the way for Jesus to help you and put you over. You need to ask the savior to help you. You need to ask Jesus to comfort you! You need to ask Jesus to strengthen you! You need to ask Jesus to keep you! I know that Jesus will carry you through! Just look for the one set footprints in the sand! Jesus’ presence in your life - gives you life! Jesus’ presence in your life - brings joy in the midst of you sorrows! Jesus’ presence in your life - brings you strength in the midst of your weakness! Jesus’ presence in your life - brings you living water in the midst of your draught. Jesus’ presence in your life - brings you heavenly manna the midst of your famine! Jesus’ presence in your life - brings you spiritual wealth the midst of your financial poverty! Jesus’ presence in your life - brings you love, grace and mercy in the midst of a crude mean world! Brothers and sisters I here to tell you that nothing compares to the presence of Jesus in your life.

How do I know that Christ is risen? What proof do I have to give? First of all He rescued me from sin’s dark prison & I began to live. How do I know He left the tomb That Easter long ago? I met him at the dawn’s fresh bloom and life is all aglow. How do I know he gained for me? Well I have access to Heaven’s door? Christ’s work in me is guarantee of life forevermore. How do I know that Christ still lives? He has given me rich blessings to impart! His abundant grace, love and peace he gives me as he lives within my heart. The resurrection proves Jesus Lives! Have a blessed resurrection week! In Jesus’ name! AMEN!

Adapted By: Elder Michael L. Hargett

Associate Minister

Peace of God Outreach Ministries

Pastors and Overseers Drs. Gary and Patricia Stern

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