ENCOUNTERS WITH JESUS // Week 3
Nick Wallsteadt
March 31, 2019
Purpose of John’s Gospel:
THAT YOU MIGHT BELIEVE.
John 20:31 // “…these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”
3 JESUS ENCOUNTERS:
1. Mary, the DISCOURAGED.
John 20:11-16 // Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 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.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
To the discouraged, Jesus reminds us
HE CALLS US BY NAME.
2. Thomas, who is experiencing DOUBT.
John 20:24-29 // Now Thomas (also known as Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 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.”
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!” 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.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus addresses our DOUBTS with his SACRIFICE.
3. Peter, who has DENIED JESUS.
John 21:15-17 // When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep”
Jesus calls us to our GREATEST PURPOSE from the place of our GREATEST PAIN.
