On a mission?  Yes! All God’s people are on a mission.

Key thought: “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Three knotty problems:-

(a) Who was there?

(b) When was the Holy Spirit given?

(c) What message were they to proclaim?

Answers in Luke 24:36-49.

1. Feel alone? – He gives us his presence, v19.

Do you feel like you are ‘the only one’ (in your house, family, class, workplace)?

‘Jesus came and stood among them.’

What about us?  In his resurrected body, he was present only in one place at a time.  But now:- Mt 28:20 “I am with you.”

2. Feel afraid? – He gives us his peace, v19, 21.

They felt afraid, and probably ashamed and confused.

But he blesses them with his peace!  ‘Peace’ sums up God’s good purposes in redemption.

We may feel overwhelmed by doubts and fears within, and pressures and stressors without.  But Christ gives that inner well-being that no-one else can give, and no-one can take away.

3. Feel ill-equipped? – He gives us his evidence, v20.

Evidence of his identity, resurrection, death.

If you are a believer, you have confidence in the evidence.  If you are a seeker, please examine the evidence, and you will not find it wanting.

4. Feel lost for words? – He gives us his message, v21, 23.

“Teaching them all I have commanded you” (Mt 28:20).

“If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

A pronouncement of the terms on which we find acceptance with God.

We can never ‘out-grow’ the gospel.  It is from the experience of sins forgiven that everything else grows and flows.

5. Feel powerless? – He gives us his Spirit, v22.

‘He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”’

Wait.

Only the Holy Spirit can equip us and empower us for mission.  Only he can give us boldness, and our hearers receptiveness.

Conclusion

The disciples were being sent back into the world from which they were currently hiding!

Where are you being sent to?  What inadequacy – real or imagined – is not made good by the gifts from our Lord and Saviour?

He gives us his presence, his peace, his evidence, his message, and his Spirit.