John 20The Lord tenderly deals with our doubts and unbelief. We today cannot see Him or feel His wounds, but we have the Word of God to assure us. When our faith falters, do not ask for signs. Open His Word and let Him reassure you. “Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” John 20:24–29 (ESV) In church history, Thomas earned the birthmark and nickname “Doubting Thomas.” But this isn’t a fair appraisal of his character. Previously, in chapter 11, Thomas was prepared to go into hostile territory and die with Jesus. A believer can be spiritually strong one moment and spiritually deflated the next. You have probably seen this in your own life. In the final verses of John 20, John’s resurrection chapter, Jesus responded to Thomas’s unbelief with grace. He gave the struggling disciple the opportunity to do exactly what he had wanted: to touch the wounds of His risen Savior. “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30-31 (ESV) In these final verses of chapter 20, John gives us the evangelistic purpose for his book. He wrote it so that readers might believe that Jesus is the Messiah—the God-Man—who died as a substitutionary atonement for sins and that, by believing, they will receive eternal life—that is, an eternal relationship with God and an ever-expanding experience of his reality in our lives. That’s what salvation is all about. Have you experienced His saving grace? His forgiveness for sins past and present? Have you accepted the hope of eternal life through His shed blood and the resurrection three days following? “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.” John 20:1–10 9 (ESV) Mary jumped to conclusions and soon the race was on between Peter and John. They were busy, but they had nothing to say and were accomplishing little. They saw the evidence for the Resurrection, but it did not change their lives. They needed a meeting with the living Christ. It is important to know that only a meeting with Jesus can lead us to the hope of eternal life demonstrated in the resurrection. Some will never believe without seeing proof for themselves. Proof happens in a changed life experienced when meeting Jesus. “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.” John 20:11–18 (ESV) Unbelief blinds our eyes to the Lord’s presence and kingdom work. When He speaks His word to us, faith and love are rekindled. Mary was changed from a mourner to a missionary when she met the living Lord. Dr. Tony Evans writes, “Mary couldn’t grasp what had happened. The only thing she could conclude was that someone had taken away Jesus’s body, and it broke her heart. Apparently, the resurrection was not an option she considered. Perhaps she supposed he was the gardener since the tomb was in a garden. Don’t overlook that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was first announced by a woman. In first-century Judaism, a woman’s testimony wasn’t considered credible. So if the disciples were going to invent a resurrection story, they wouldn’t choose women to be the first to see and declare it. The fact that the first witnesses were women provides evidence for the historicity of the resurrection. It also affirms the communication gifting of women as long as the gift is exercised under the legitimately authorized spiritual authority and covering of the home and the church.” “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them 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.” John 20:19–23 (ESV) Clearly, Jesus had a physical body. Mary touched him; Thomas would touch him, later He would eat with His disciples. He was no mere phantom or ghost. He had risen bodily from the grave. But His resurrected body no longer had material limitations. Apparently, He could pass through locked doors if He wanted. And later He would ascend on a cloud into heaven. The apostles tell us that our resurrection bodies will be like His. What we do know is that Jesus’s scars will serve as an eternal reminder of the cost of our redemption, and they will forever give us reason to praise Him and Glorify His Name. “Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” .” John 20:21 (ESV) The Father had sent the Son on a kingdom mission to atone for the sins of the world so that all who believe would receive eternal life. Now the Son was sending His disciples on a kingdom mission to proclaim that message and make other disciples throughout the world. Is that your mission? How are you doing? "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 withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” John 20:22–23 (ESV) Today, know that locked doors will not give you peace, nor will they keep out our loving Savior Jesus. He comes with the message of peace based on His sacrifice on the cross. Will you receive His peace granted only by a personal relationship with Jesus who is Messiah.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Shan SmithJesus follower, Husband, Father, ISU-FCA Area Rep, NationsofCoaches Character Coach, TH Rex Chaplain Archives
January 2024
Categories |