Scripture reading – John 20; John 21
We are again privileged to reflect on the stunning revelation of Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead (John 20). We find John’s Gospel in perfect harmony with the Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke (a remarkable testimony to the divine inspiration of the Scriptures; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21).
John 19:33-42
John witnessed Jesus’ life, ministry, and agonizing death on the Cross (John 19:33-35). Unlike the other disciples, John stood near the Cross until Jesus “bowed His head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30, 35). His eyewitness account made him a credible witness to his generation and all that followed.
John wrote of himself, “And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe. 36For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken. 37And again another scripture saith, They shall look on him whom they pierced” (John 19:35-37; Exodus 12:46; Psalm 34:20; Zechariah 12:10).
With love and compassion, he led Mary, the mother of Jesus, from the Cross (John 19:26-27). Other women watched as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38-39) prepared Christ’s body. Joseph then placed His body in a tomb he had prepared for himself, thus fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy, “He made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in His death” (John 19:39; Isaiah 53:9).
John 20
Mary Magdalene Discovers the Tomb is Empty (John 20:1-10)
The other Gospel writers focused on two or more women who found Christ’s tomb empty; John, however, focused on Mary Magdalene (John 20:1). She came to the tomb early Sunday, “the first day of the week…when it was yet dark” (John 20:1). Much to her grief, she found the stone that sealed the tomb was “taken away from the sepulchre” (John 20:1). Without waiting on the other women, she left the tomb hastily. She ran to “Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved” (John’s typical reference to himself, John 20:2).
Mary departed before the angels revealed themselves to her, for she thought the worst had happened. She supposed Jesus’ body was stolen, and said to Peter and John, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him” (John 20:2b).
Hearing the news, Peter and John ran to the sepulchre, and the latter, apparently younger, came to the tomb and stood without peering inside (John 20:4-5). Peter entered the tomb and found it empty, the linens that had wrapped Jesus’ body in place and the napkin that had been about his head “in a place by itself” (John 20:7). Peter was perplexed, for if Jesus’ enemies had stolen His body, surely they would have taken it away wrapped as it had been buried.
We are again reminded that, though Jesus often foretold His death and resurrection, His disciples did not understand “the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead” (John 20:9). Thus, Peter and John departed and “went away again unto their own home” (John 20:10).
Two Angels Appeared to Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-13)
Mary lingered “at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre” (John 20:11). She “seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain” (John 20:12). The angels asked Mary, “Woman, why weepest thou?” (John 20:13). Because they appeared as men, she did not yet understand they were angels (John 20:13). In her anguish, Mary confessed, “They have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him” (John 20:13).
Christ’s Appearance to Mary Magdalene (John 20:14-18)
Then, turning from the tomb, Mary came face-to-face with Jesus. With her eyes clouded by tears, she did not recognize Him and supposed he was a garden keeper (John 20:15). Jesus then asked her, “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” (John 20:15). Mary implored Him, saying, “Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away” (John 20:15).
Jesus then called her by name and said, “Mary.” Her heart suddenly resonated with joy and affection. She answered Jesus and said, “Rabboni; which is to say, Master” (Rabboni being a title of honor and deep respect, John 20:16).
Of all men and women, Jesus chose to first appear to Mary (Mark 16:9). Imagine Mary’s profound joy when she understood Jesus was more than an apparition! Indeed, she might have clung to Him out of joy, but He said to her, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God” (John 20:17). Obeying Jesus, Mary departed immediately and “came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her” (John 20:18).
Christ’s Appearance to His Disciples, Less Thomas (John 20:19-25)
That “same day at evening being the first day of the week” (John 20:19), Jesus appeared to His disciples and said to them, “Peace be unto you” (John 20:19). Then, to prove His bodily resurrection, Jesus showed them the physical scars of His crucifixion in “His hands and His side” (John 20:20). Seeing the undeniable evidence of the wounds in his body, the disciples rejoiced! (John 20:20)
“Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21). He then “breathed on them” and said, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained” (John 20:22-23).
Christ’s Appearance to Doubting Thomas (John 20:24-31)
Thomas, one of the Twelve, was not with the other disciples when Jesus revealed himself to them (John 20:24). Despite their insistence, “We have seen the Lord,” Thomas expressed his unbelief and said, “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25).
Eight days later, Jesus appeared to His disciples a second time (John 20:26) and said to Thomas, “Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing” (John 20:27). Thomas, laying aside his unbelief, confessed his faith in Christ saying, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).
Closing thoughts for John 20 –
The days following Christ’s resurrection and the signs and miracles He performed (John 20:30) enflamed the hearts of His followers. John wrote, “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:31).
What do you believe? Do you accept the revelations of God’s written Word? Do you believe Jesus Christ was crucified for your sins and, on the third day, was raised from the dead? John wrote later his unwavering confidence in Christ:
1 John 5:11–13 – 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Copyright © 2024 – Travis D. Smith
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