Jesus Gives Us What We Need

In John 20 we have the account of Jesus’ resurrection.

In the resurrection of Jesus, we see Jesus defeating:
Death
Sin
Satan

The resurrection of Jesus is the very core of Christianity.

We see in Jesus’ resurrection the fact that He gives what each person needs to believe, to be able to fully trust Jesus as the Son of God.

The first person to whom Jesus reveals that He has resurrected from the dead is Mary Magdalene.

Mary and several other women go to the Jesus’ tomb on Sunday morning. When the women get to the tomb, the stone has been rolled away. The women look into the tomb and Jesus’ is gone. The women come back very excited and tell the disciples that Jesus’ body is gone.

When the disciples and the other women had returned to town after having examined the tomb and only Mary was left alone at the tomb. something extraordinary happened.

John 20:10-16
Then the disciples went back to their homes, but 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. “Woman,” He said, “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).

Mary was totally hopeless.

She had been totally transformed by Jesus. Her life was about Jesus.

Mary believed that her life was now over because Jesus was dead.

Jesus simply said, “Mary.” When she heard her name spoken by the one she knew and loved and who was her life, she saw that it was Jesus.

Her hope was restored.
Her life was restored.

Jesus didn’t give Mary some euphoric feeling, He gave her a person - Himself.

Jesus is our hope.

We are not to hope in the church, we are to hope in the Head of the church.
We are not to hope in religious ritual, but in a ruler - King Jesus.
We are not to hope in a process or method, but in a man - the God/Man Jesus.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is placing all our hope in Jesus.

In John 20:8-9 it says that when John went into the empty tomb he saw and believed, but he didn’t understand that according to Scripture Jesus had risen from the dead.

In John 20:19-23 Jesus appears for the first time to ten of His disciples.

In verse 19 Jesus appears and says, “Peace be with you!.” Then in verse 21 Jesus says, “Peace be with you!”

We are told that the disciples were together and the doors were locked because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders.

The disciples were fearful.

Jesus gives them what they need - Peace.

In verse 22 Jesus breathes on the disciples and tells them to receive the Holy Spirit.

One of the flavors of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5 is peace. Peace comes not by the absent of conflict or problems in our lives but by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit on His disciples, He gives them His peace.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing Jesus’ peace through the Holy Spirit.

When Jesus appears this first time to the ten disciples, Thomas is nor present and when he is told about Jesus’ appearance he doesn’t believe them.

In John 20:24-27 when Jesus appears again, this time Thomas is present.

Jesus again says to the disciples, “Peace be with you!”

Then Jesus addresses Thomas and says, “Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”

Thomas had said he would not believe until he could put his finger in the holes in Jesus’ hands and his hand into Jesus’ wound in His side.

Thomas was doubtful.

Jesus gave Thomas the thing that he needed to get rid of his doubt and believe.

Jesus understands our doubts and does not condemn us.

Jesus loves us and wants us to have complete faith in Him. He is not going to place obstacles in our lives to create doubt. He will give us what we need to really trust Him with our lives.

Thomas needed to see Jesus for himself, and Jesus revealed Himself to him.

Raise the Roof and Removing the Walls is seeking Jesus even in the midst of our doubts.

Jesus desires for us to have hope and peace and faith. He will do what is needed for us to experience these things.

Our part in experiencing hope and peace and faith is to:
Recognize Jesus
Receive Jesus
Relate to Jesus

With the Resurrected Lord Jesus Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls
                                                   Joe