Encounters with the Risen Jesus: Hope, Peace, Purpose
Summary
Today, we explored the profound reality and implications of encountering the risen Jesus. Reflecting on both historical events and the resurrection, we considered how faith is not just about believing in something we haven’t seen, but about trusting the evidence, the testimony of others, and our own encounters with Christ. The resurrection of Jesus stands as one of the most well-documented events in history, with eyewitness accounts and the willingness of so many to give their lives for this truth. This is not a blind leap, but a response to the living Christ who continues to meet people where they are.
We walked through John 20, seeing how Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene, the disciples, and Thomas. Each encounter was deeply personal and transformative. Mary, brokenhearted and lost, was called by name and found hope in the midst of her grief. The disciples, locked away in fear, received peace that overcame their circumstances. Thomas, wrestling with doubt, was met with grace and invited to believe. In each case, Jesus didn’t just offer comfort—he offered new life and purpose.
These stories remind us that Jesus meets us in our brokenness, our fear, and our doubts. He calls us by name, brings peace into our chaos, and gives us a mission. The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us, empowering us to be his witnesses. Our faith is not just for ourselves; it’s meant to be shared. We are called to show our scars, to share our stories, and to invite others into the life-changing reality of Jesus.
The resurrection is not just a past event—it’s a present invitation. Every encounter with Jesus changes us. The question is not whether we have encountered him, but how that encounter is rewriting our story. We are invited to live differently, to step out in boldness, and to let our lives testify to the hope, peace, purpose, and life that only Jesus can give.
Key Takeaways
- Hope for the Brokenhearted: Jesus meets us in our deepest grief and confusion, just as he met Mary Magdalene outside the tomb. When we feel lost or abandoned, he calls us by name, reminding us that we are known and loved. Our pain is not the end of the story; in Christ, despair is transformed into hope and new beginnings. [01:10:46]
- Peace for the Fearful: The disciples were locked away in fear, but Jesus entered their closed room and spoke peace over them. His presence doesn’t always change our circumstances, but it changes us within them. The peace of Christ is not the absence of trouble, but the presence of the risen Lord who overcomes our fears and brings us into his rest. [01:16:19]
- Purpose for the Called: Jesus commissions his followers, breathing his Spirit into them and sending them out as ambassadors of reconciliation. Our faith is not passive; we are called to participate in God’s mission, bringing light and hope to the world around us. The same Spirit that empowered the first disciples empowers us today to live with purpose and boldness. [01:18:48]
- Faith for the Doubting: Thomas’s journey shows that doubt is not a disqualifier, but an invitation to deeper faith. Jesus meets us in our questions, offering grace rather than shame, and invites us to trust him even when we cannot see. Our faith is rooted not in perfect certainty, but in a relationship with the living Christ who welcomes our honest struggles. [01:22:01]
- Life for the Believing: The resurrection is not just a historical fact, but a present reality that brings new life to all who believe. Through the testimony of Scripture, the witness of others, and the work of the Spirit, we are invited into a living relationship with Jesus. This new life is meant to be shared—our stories, scars, and transformation become a testimony to the world of what Jesus can do. [01:23:32]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[57:26] - Introduction and Historical Events
[01:00:46] - The Evidence for the Resurrection
[01:03:13] - Mary Magdalene at the Tomb
[01:07:35] - Hope for the Brokenhearted
[01:10:46] - Recognizing Jesus’ Voice
[01:16:19] - Peace for the Fearful
[01:17:18] - Purpose for the Called
[01:18:48] - The Gift of the Holy Spirit
[01:19:50] - Thomas and the Struggle with Doubt
[01:22:01] - Faith Beyond Sight
[01:23:32] - Life in His Name
[01:25:16] - Our Stories and Testimonies
[01:30:54] - Ty’s Testimony Video
[01:31:39] - What’s Changing in You?
[01:33:29] - Closing Prayer and Sending
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Encountering the Risen Jesus
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### Bible Reading
- John 20:10-31
(Mary Magdalene encounters Jesus at the tomb, Jesus appears to the disciples, and then to Thomas.)
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### Observation Questions
1. When Mary Magdalene first saw Jesus outside the tomb, why didn’t she recognize Him right away? What finally made her realize it was Jesus? ([01:10:46])
2. What did Jesus say to the disciples when He appeared to them in the locked room, and how did He show them who He was? ([01:16:19])
3. How did Thomas respond when the other disciples told him they had seen Jesus? What did Jesus do to address Thomas’s doubts? ([01:19:50])
4. According to the passage, what is the stated purpose for why these stories were written down in the Gospel of John? ([01:23:32])
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to appear first to Mary Magdalene, someone whose testimony would not have been considered credible in that culture? What does this say about how Jesus values people? ([01:10:46])
2. The disciples were hiding in fear, but Jesus brought them peace. What kind of peace is Jesus offering, and how is it different from just having no problems? ([01:16:19])
3. Thomas is often called “Doubting Thomas.” How does Jesus respond to his doubts, and what does this teach us about how God views our questions and struggles? ([01:20:54])
4. The sermon said that the resurrection is not just a past event, but a present invitation. What does it mean for the resurrection to be a “present invitation” in our lives today? ([01:23:32])
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### Application Questions
1. Mary was brokenhearted and confused, but Jesus called her by name and gave her hope. When have you felt lost or in pain, and how has Jesus met you in that place? If you haven’t experienced this, what would it look like to invite Him into your pain? ([01:10:46])
2. The disciples were afraid and hiding, but Jesus brought them peace. Is there an area of your life right now where you feel locked away by fear? What would it look like to let Jesus speak peace into that situation? ([01:16:19])
3. Jesus gave His followers a mission and breathed the Holy Spirit on them. In what ways do you sense God calling you to step out in purpose or boldness this week? Is there a specific place or relationship where you feel sent? ([01:18:48])
4. Thomas needed to see and touch Jesus’ wounds before he could believe. Are there doubts or questions you’re wrestling with in your faith? How can you bring those honestly to Jesus, and what would it look like to trust Him even when you don’t have all the answers? ([01:20:54])
5. The sermon encouraged us to “show our scars” and share our stories. Is there a part of your story or a struggle you’ve been through that could encourage someone else? Who might need to hear about how Jesus has changed you? ([01:23:32])
6. The resurrection is described as a present reality that brings new life. In what ways is your story being rewritten by Jesus right now? What is one area where you want to see more of His life and hope? ([01:31:39])
7. The pastor challenged everyone to find someone this week to share their “death-to-life” story with. Who is one person you could reach out to, and what’s a practical first step you could take? ([01:33:29])
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Closing Thought:
Every encounter with Jesus changes us. The question is not just if we’ve met Him, but how that encounter is rewriting our story today. Let’s encourage each other to live out the hope, peace, purpose, and life that only Jesus can give.
Devotional
Day 1: Hope for the Brokenhearted
In moments of deep grief and confusion, Jesus meets us personally and calls us by name. Mary Magdalene stood weeping outside the empty tomb, overwhelmed by loss and uncertainty. Yet, in her brokenness, Jesus appeared to her, speaking her name with affection and opening her eyes to His living presence. This encounter transformed her sorrow into hope, reminding us that Jesus knows each of us intimately and meets us in our darkest moments.
No matter how lost or heartbroken you feel, Jesus is near, ready to turn your mourning into joy. He sees your tears, understands your pain, and calls you beloved. When you encounter Him, hope is restored, and new life begins. [01:10:46]
John 20:10-18
Reflection: Where in your life do you feel brokenhearted or hopeless right now, and how can you invite Jesus to meet you in that place today?
Day 2: Peace for the Fearful
When fear and uncertainty close us in, Jesus enters our locked rooms and offers His peace. The disciples, terrified and hiding after Jesus’ crucifixion, found themselves face-to-face with the risen Lord. Despite their locked doors and anxious hearts, Jesus stood among them and spoke, “Peace be with you.” His presence brought calm to their chaos and assurance to their fears.
Jesus’ peace is not dependent on our circumstances. Even when the world feels unsafe or overwhelming, His resurrection power breaks through our isolation and anxiety. No room is too closed for Jesus to enter, and no fear is too great for His peace to overcome. [01:16:19]
John 20:19-23
Reflection: What fear or anxiety is keeping you “locked in” today, and how can you open that space to receive Jesus’ peace?
Day 3: Purpose for the Called
An encounter with Jesus not only brings comfort but also calls us to a greater purpose. After giving His peace, Jesus commissioned His disciples: “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” He breathed on them, symbolizing the gift of the Holy Spirit, and sent them out to be His witnesses and ambassadors of reconciliation.
Every believer is called to live on mission, bringing light and hope to the world. Your daily life—your work, relationships, and community—becomes a place where Jesus wants to show up through you. You are not just a spectator in your faith; you are sent with purpose to share the message of forgiveness and new life. [01:18:48]
2 Corinthians 5:17-20
Reflection: Where is God calling you to be His hands and feet this week, and what is one step you can take to live out your purpose?
Day 4: Faith for the Doubting
Doubt does not disqualify us from encountering Jesus; instead, it can lead to deeper faith. Thomas, struggling to believe the resurrection without physical proof, was met by Jesus with grace and understanding. Jesus invited Thomas to touch His wounds and challenged him to “stop doubting and believe.”
Jesus welcomes our questions and uncertainties, inviting us to trust Him even when we cannot see. Faith is not the absence of doubt but the willingness to trust God’s character and promises. Like Thomas, we can move from skepticism to a profound confession of faith when we encounter the risen Christ. [01:22:42]
John 20:24-29
Reflection: What doubts or questions are you carrying about your faith, and how can you bring them honestly to Jesus today?
Day 5: New Life for the Changed
An encounter with Jesus is never meant to leave us unchanged; it brings new life and transformation. The stories of Mary, the disciples, and Thomas all point to the reality that meeting the risen Christ leads to a changed life. The gospel is written so that we may believe Jesus is the Messiah and, by believing, have life in His name.
This new life is not just a one-time event but an ongoing journey of living differently because of Jesus. Your testimony—how Jesus has changed you—can be a powerful witness to others. When you truly encounter Jesus, you can’t stay the same. [01:33:29]
John 20:30-31
Reflection: What is one specific way your life is different because of Jesus, and who can you share your story with this week?
Quotes
An encounter with Jesus brings hope for the brokenhearted. We are told from our text that Peter and John, they left the scene and they headed home. But Mary, she couldn't leave. She stood there weeping, confused, lost. She was brokenhearted. Where was Jesus? Where was her Lord? Her love for Jesus caused her to stay, and she gets rewarded. She experiences something that the other two miss out on, the angels and the first appearance of Jesus. Amid her grief, she looked into the tomb and she saw two angels in white, seated where the body of Jesus once laid. One at the head and the other was at the foot. It's like a picture is being painted for us of the new mercy seat, or the lid on the top of the Ark of the Covenant. [01:07:10] (67 seconds)
With his second pronouncement of peace, Jesus commissioned the disciples as his witnesses. He said, as the Father has sent me, I am sending you. Jesus was sent on a kingdom mission to atone for the sins of the world so that all who would believe would receive eternal life. Jesus was sending his disciples on a kingdom mission to proclaim that message and to make disciples throughout the world. Jesus wasn't raised from the dead just to be admired. He rose to activate his followers. [01:17:18] (38 seconds)
And just as Jesus was sent with purpose, so were his disciples. And guess what? So are we. Every believer has a mission to live as Christ's hands and feet in this world. Our jobs, your schools, your neighborhoods, all of your relationships, they all become places where Jesus wants to show up through us. We are not called to just be observers in our faith. As 2 Corinthians 5 tells us, we're called to be ambassadors. We're commissioned to bring light and hope. [01:17:51] (41 seconds)
And when Jesus breathed on his disciples, he symbolized the coming gift of the Spirit received at Pentecost. So Jesus was visibly and physically preparing them for what was spiritually to come. Just like God breathed physical life to Adam in Genesis chapter 2, Jesus breathed spiritual life into his followers. And that same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, it now dwells in us. [01:18:25] (32 seconds)
Jesus told his disciples how the Holy Spirit would enable them to authoritatively to authoritatively declare that God had indeed forgiven the sins of anyone who believes in Jesus. This isn't about personal power, but about participating in the message of reconciliation and forgiveness. We don't save people, but we are called to proclaim the message that can. And that's the gospel. [01:18:58] (29 seconds)
He refused to believe unless he could physically put his finger into the mark of the nails and put his hand in Jesus' side. This is why in church history, he earned the nickname Doubting Thomas, which isn't really a fair appraisal of him, because earlier in John chapter 11, he was prepared to go into hostile territory and to die with Jesus. So this shows us that it's clear that a believer can be spiritually strong one moment and spiritually deflated the next. [01:20:02] (36 seconds)
And then a week later, the disciples again were locked away and hidden in the house, and Jesus appeared to him with his same greeting, peace, be with you. He then zeroed in and focused on Thomas. Jesus responded to Thomas' unbelief with grace and not shame. He said, stop doubting and believing. I believe someone needs to hear these words from Jesus today. Stop doubting and believe. [01:20:53] (36 seconds)
Our world, it says, Seeing is believing. I won't believe it unless I see it. But God's inviting us to reverse that. Believing is seeing. Faith is trusting God's character even when you can't see his hands. We might not have all the answers, but we can still walk forward with Jesus. In Hebrews 11 .1, it tells us, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. [01:22:00] (37 seconds)
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