JOHN 20
The realization of the reality of the bodily resurrection of
Jesus comes through consideration of the PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, and in a PERSONAL
ENCOUNTER with Him.
Of all the miracle/signs recorded by John, the empty tomb
shouts the loudest of all – validating both Jesus’ words and works. John lays an incredible trail of
authenticating evidence pointing to the absolute reality of the bodily
resurrection of Jesus Christ. Starting
with unbelief by those who first came to the tomb, John moves progressively to
the wonderful affirmation from doubting Thomas of “My Lord, and my God.”
The bottom line in Christianity is simple…no other system is
built on the foundation of the bodily resurrection of the Founder and principal
Figure Who gave His life in order to redeem those who believe in Him from the
bondage and curse of sin!
Don’t fail to see the dramatic transformation which takes
place in the disciples as they personally encounter the risen Lord.
The reality of the resurrection is seen through:
1.
Physical evidence v. 1-10 … *the empty tomb v.
1. Note that the stone had been removed from
– lifted out of the groove across the entrance of the tomb. *the
orderly arrangement of the burial clothes v. 5
The physical evidence stands uncontroverted
and verified by reliable eyewitnesses.
2.
Personal encounters v. 11:29 *with the angels v. 12 *with Mary Magdalene v. 14-18 Recognition of the risen Lord came when Jesus
called out Mary’s name – the Shepherd calling His sheep by name! *With the ten disciples (w/0 Thomas) v. 19 –
25 Not only did Jesus identify Himself
by His presence but by restating several key personal statements He had
previously made to the disciples 14:27, 17:18
*With the eleven disciples (with Thomas) v. 26-29 Jesus proves that He
is not a phantom and that His resurrected body is corporeal.
The first impression when Mary discovered the
tomb empty is one of incredulity. A foot
race by John and Peter is won surprisingly by John. Of course, Peter went in readily – as Peter
would do. John did see through the
opening that the linen strips were lying there. V. 4-5
Three different Greek words are used to
describe John’s and Peter’s actions v. 5
John SAW = looked at v. 6 Peter BEHELD
(saw) = observed/contemplated v. 8 John
SAW = perceived/understood (and believed)
Peter and John both focused their gaze on the
linen wrappings v. 5-6. It was the orderliness
of the wrappings and face cloth which drew their attention and
astonishment. Someone stealing the body
would likely leave the grace clothes in disarray or not bother to unwrap the
body at all. The distinct impression is
immediately created of something supernatural – perhaps even that the body came
up through the wrappings. V. 7
When John enters and the significance of what
he sees dawns on him and he BELIEVED. V
9 states clearly that the disciples’ thoughts were not focused on the resurrection.
They left the tomb and went home – obviously
perplexed and pondering what had occurred v. 10.
JESUS APPREARS TO MARY v. 11-18 Mary was first to see the tomb. And she later
returned to mourn…the first one to encounter the resurrected Lord. v. 11
When Mary beheld the two angels sitting on
the stone slab…they initiated a conversation by asking why she is weeping. Her response was…the missing body of the
Lord. v. 12-13
The first appearance of Jesus is OUTSIDE THE
TOMB as Mary sees Him when she turns around.
She does not recognize Him…thinks He is the gardener. She saw Him and heard His voice but still did
not perceive it was Jesus. V. 14-15 The men on the road to Emmaus did not
recognize Jesus until they break bread together. Mary recognized Jesus when He called her
name…”My sheep hear My voice 10:27.
Mary called the Lord Teacher…and grabs Him
and clings to Him. The Lord tells Mary
that she should not grab or hold tightly.
He invites to validate His physical presence, just not holding on! Their relationship was changing…she cannot
cling to the Jesus she knew for His return to the Father is imminent and there
is much to do in the meantime.
“I have seen the LORD” was Mary’s declaration
when she returned to the disciples. V.
18
v. 19 They were in a closed room because of
the fear of the Jews and He appeared in their midst. His resurrection body had properties which
indicated its physical reality and yet which allowed it to be free of space and
time limitations.
His greeting is significant, “Peace be with
you. Pease in the midst of trouble,
anxiety, doubt and fear can only be found in the reality of the presence of the
Person of Christ.
The Lord spoke with them in familiar
words. Rejoicing followed and Jesus
reiterated the mission on which He was to send them – to manifest His Name
before men, to make the Father known, and glorify Him. V. 21 As a preview of the spiritual enablement for
witnessing which would come to them at Pentecost, Jesus filled them with the
Holy Spirit v. 22 They were to be in the
process of affirming or declaring the forgiveness of sins or the retaining of
sins as people either believed or rejected Christ through their word v. 23 Because of the tense of the verbs “have been
forgiven in v. 23 is accurately rendered “have ALREADY been forgiven.” The witnessing disciple is God’s agent of
affirmation of belief or unbelief but the disciple does not cause it to
happen.
There is much to read regarding the receiving
of the Holy Spirit in this verse…before Pentecost. It seems that the great change in each
disciple could only have come through the indwelling. At Pentecost was where the POWER of the Holy
Spirit in lives came to light!!!
Regarding the forgiving and absolution of sins in others’ lives = I
found it was best said by Calvin: “When
Christ enjoins the apostles to forgive sins, He does not convey to them what is
peculiar to Himself. It belongs to HIM
to forgive sins – He only enjoins them, in His name, to PROCLAIM the
forgiveness of sins.”
Thomas missed the first appearance and
declares that he is unwilling to believe unless he has tangible, physical proof
– he must touch the body of Jesus…it is a matter of choosing!
JESUS appears again 8 days later v. 26-29 and
Thomas was there. The Lord does not berate
or castigate Thomas for his desire for physical evidence and offer the very
chance. The Lord challenged Thomas to
not be unbelieving but believing…the same challenge Jesus makes to all men.
It is not clear whether Thomas actually
touched Jesus or not … in v. 20 we know that the Lord showed the disciples and
when they SAW they were filled with joy.
Perhaps Thomas was the same…but his declaration is absolutely clear in
v. 28.
Jesus makes a dramatic point in v. 29 about
the real nature of true faith. Faith is
basically the opposite of physical sight.
It is trusting in the Person of Jesus Who cannot be seen I Peter
1:8.
“Faith is the … conviction of things not seen
Heb. 11:1. I t should not be that
amazing for Thomas to believe – for he has just physically seen and felt? I John 1:1 the risen Lord. How much more remarkable it is for those who
trust in Christ without seeing Him physically.
The latter will become the norm.
JOHN’S PURPOSE STATEMENT…V. 30-31 The objective was faith for those who sought
answers to life’s baffling problems, but who could never observe with their own
eyes the miracles Jesus did nor like Thomas be invited to confirm the facts by
the touch of their own hands. John did
not set out to write a full biography of Jesus, but to bear witness to His
mission and ministry on earth. The
Gospel of John is addressed largely to Christians, so that in their witnessing
they may know what to say and that in saying there will be no room for doubt. Men are to believe not just for the sake of
believing…they are to believe that they may live and share. To so is life abundant.
CONCLUSION:
Physical evidence alone is not enough to convince of the reality of the
resurrection. A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER with the risen Lord brings realization of
Who He is.
Jesus’ invitation to all is “Be not
unbelieving, but believing v. 27
And he who receives the resurrected Jesus by
faith will declare: “My Lord and my God”
v. 28
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