Receive My Peace John 20 22

Sermon Series Theme: “Hear Your Shepherd’s Voice!” Office Of The Keys I-III
Sermon Text: John 20:21-23 So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." (22) And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. (23) If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

I.N.R.I. God knows! King David confessed: Psalms 139:1-4 O LORD, You have searched me and known me. (2) You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. (3) You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. (4) For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.” If David lived in our day, perhaps he’d write, “O Lord, You have searched my iphone, ipad, imac and you know my complete browser history. You know all my NetFlix binges, YouTube, TicToc, Rumble, X, Facebook, likes, and rants. You all my footsteps on the darkweb and all my eyes and ears have consumed. You know exactly when I put down my phone and pick it up again. There is not a text, reply, picture, or video that before I post it -You know it all together. Lord, You know when I am straying, and leading others from Your Ten Commandments. You know when I am walking away from true reality confessed in the Apostles’ Creed. You know that the words on my tongue often tear others apart and complain - rather than praying the Lord’s Prayer for and with them.   O Lord, You know it all together!”    We carry our idol in our pockets. Studies reveal that the average American picks up their phone 186 times a day. That’s once every five minutes during waking hours. We spend over 7 hours daily staring at screens. Fleeing boredom, we clutter our brains with noise, images, and rage. Our brains need Sabbaths from distraction - we need to be bored - to think, contemplate, imagine, and create.
      God knows. He knit the Sabbath - the day of rest into our creation - for you! Jesus after accomplishing the work of your salvation from all your sin. Laid down His body for a Sabbath in our tomb.
      Jesus knows. He knows Judas, the son of the man from Kerioth, will betray Him. A year earlier history records in John 6 John 6:70-71 Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" (71) He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.”  Jesus knew His betrayer, for a year He prays for Judas, speaks His Spirit filled Word to free him and the twelve.  At the final Passover, Jesus sat the Betrayer in the seat of honor at His side. When asked Jesus identified him with a sop of bread. He released Judas to go an do what he wanted following Satan’s lie of shiny glittery gain.
    Why didn’t Jesus strike Judas Iscariot dead a year ago? God is mercy. He knows. He prays. He preaches to turn us from sin back to Himself. He wants to shower us with His forgiveness through the office of the keys.
     Struggling guilt ridden conscience burdened sinner tonight “Hear Your Shepherd’s Voice! He calls to you! Receive My Peace! I. My Wounds Restore You! II. God The Holy Spirit Comforts You In The Pastoral Office! III. Daily And Richly Receive Our Peace In Christ’s Church!
I. Jesus knew. Luke 22:33 But [ Peter ] he said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death." Satan desired to shift the disciples as wheat. Jesus knew that before the sun rose, bold Peter would deny Him three times. Jesus knew - all the Scriptures were finding fulfilment in His passion. Walking to Gethsemane, Matthew 26:31-32 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: 'I WILL STRIKE THE SHEPHERD, AND THE SHEEP OF THE FLOCK WILL BE SCATTERED.' (32) But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." Peter was no turn coat! He was the rock, wasn’t he? Matthew 26:33 Peter answered and said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble." Jesus knew. Peter was certain he would die rather than deny Jesus.
      Jesus knew. The twelve would run away. Peter deny Him. Judas betray Him. Still He marched towards His passion - His face set like stone.
Why? Because our Lord knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts. They are only evil continually from our conception. Adam’s sin infects us all. We need rescue outside of our tainted blood line - we need a Brother not infected with Adam’s sin - He will win us forgiveness, life, and salvation through His holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death - FOR US.
      St. John stood with the women at the foot of the cross. They saw His bloody beaten body writhe in agony. Heard His prayer, “Father, forgive them!” They watched until the sacrifice was completed in full. Breathing out His life His head bowed and He died. They saw Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take Jesus’ corpse from the cross to Joseph’s new tomb nearby. Wash it, anoint it with spices, wrap it in burial clothes , lay it on the burial shelf, then roll the large stone to close it and seal in the decay of His death.
      Hope was lost. Instead of rest they grieved that Sabbath. Sabbath ended Saturday at sundown. Markets opened. The faithful women bought the final burial spices , prepared them for early Sunday morning. They would pay Jesus their final respects.
     We live on the Easter side of Jesus’ Sabbath rest. We know they didn’t find the body of Jesus. A young man clothed in a long white robe preached - “Don’t fear! The Crucified Is Risen!” “Tell His disciples!”
      The twelve couldn’t believe it. They locked the doors certain death is their lot. The ruling priests would treat them as they treated their Rabbi - Jesus.
        Jesus knew! He knew His disciples fearful hiding. History records, John 20:19-20 Then, 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, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." (20) When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”
      Peace never is found in our own personal strength. Peter’s failed. He sinned - denied Jesus. Judas tried to make things right by himself - he died by suicide.
       Peace is only found in the living wounds of our Crucified and Risen Jesus! Look only to Him - His stripes heal you! (LSB pg. 326. W.I.T. O.O.T.K?) The office of the keys is purchased by Jesus’ cross and shines forth from His empty tomb. He gives it to you - He knows you - He knows your sin - He knows your greatest need - peace of conscience - forgiveness - full and free.
II.  Christ Church on earth alone wields the power of Jesus’ blood. Forgiveness and real peace. Nations war and destroy life. Jesus’ Church alone brings peace of conscience freeing with the forgiving word of Jesus.
      Only the Church on earth has the power to forgive the sins of repentant sinners. Like Peter - facing his sin of denial - crushed - fleeing outside - to weep bitterly - he’d find no peace apart from the Church - two or three gathered in Jesus’ Name, Word, and teaching..  
       The Church on earth must withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant -sinners who proudly parade their sin as normal - sinners who are certain they can quiet their conscience by doing more, drinking more, scrolling more. Iscariot tried to make things right by his own actions, instead of running to the altar to offer the sin offering through the priest. The high priest failed him, turning him back to himself instead of the blood of the Lamb. Crushed in conscience - Satan and Judas’ own flesh saw suicide as his only solution. A hellish lie for Satan to drag him into the eternal fire.
 (LSB pg. 326. W.I.T. W?) So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."  
     Jesus knows! He knows your weakness. He knows your sin. He knows your crushed broken heart. Never will He abandons you. He clothes Himself in the flesh and blood of His Church. He lays His hand upon your head. He speaks to you in your pastor - “Peace! I forgive you all your sin!”
III. Jesus knows! Know His voice! He daily and richly breathes out His Holy Spirit within His Church forgiving you! (LSB pg. 326. W.D.Y.B. A.T.W?) Your pastor whom God the Holy Spirit has called is your undershepherd in Jesus. He isn’t a free agent. It isn’t his word - it is Jesus word of forgiveness - peace. It is all Jesus’ command and authority given FOR YOU - through his office of the Word.
      The Spirit of Truth testifies of the pastoral office , 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. And again, 2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. (21) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
       The pastoral office by which the congregation exercises the office of the keys is the living office of our Good Shepherd - Jesus.
     If you ignore or assassinate the peace bringing ambassador of a nation you invite war. Ignore your pastor’s call to repent - turn from your sin - return to your Savior - is to place yourself outside of Jesus’ body - the Church - committing spiritual suicide - like Judas.
      Are you are sinner! Come! The Good Shepherd seeks and saves lost sinners!     Jesus knows your burdens He knows your sin. He runs to find you! Cast all your sin on His out stretched arms in private and public confession. Hear His voice speaking, “I forgive you all your sin!” You are free! Be at peace!
    Hear His Word - the Holy Spirit comforts you - forgiving freeing words just as valid and certain as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with you Himself! God knows. He formed your inward parts. David concludes his song - Psalms 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; (24) And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.  Search me - know me - test me - know my anxieties - wash my heart new in Your forgiving blood. Lead me in the way of peace and life everlasting - forgive me for the sake of Your wounds - let me hear your voice - “Peace!” Amen.