JOHN 20

The accounts of the four gospels differ slightly in the chronology of the empty tomb and resurrection of The Lord Jesus, but they are all in concert about what they saw and write. The other gospels tell us that Mary and her companions had inquired; "Who shall roll us away the stone?" and lo, they found it gone.  God often removes our difficulties out of the way long before we come to them.

John addresses the scene from Mary’s perspective, the other women were there as well, but they have left and so we read….

1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

• Although it is hard to be dogmatic about the exact time that Mary came to the tomb, there are those that suggest that it was during the 4^th watch of the night or between the hours of 3-6AM.
• Matthew 28.2 tells us that an angel of The Lord descended from heaven and rolled away the stone.
• At this point in time, nobody knows what has happened to the body of The Lord Jesus.

·      This happens to be the seventh sign that John records and the greatest sign of all, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The supreme sign of Jesus as the Messiah, that He is indeed the Messiah is His resurrection from the dead and that is the heart of the Gospel message.

·      Paul wrote to the Corinthians, 1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved (Gr. phileo; friend of; fond of), and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

• Mary’s initial reaction to the empty tomb is that they have taken The Lord away.  

• Luke tells us that Mary was joined by Mary the mother of James and Joanna, who told all these things unto the eleven and all the rest, but their words seemed to them as idle talk.
• John referred to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved. John knew that Jesus loved him, and I am sure that he was very much aware of the fact that Jesus’ love for him was not because he was a perfect man.

3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulcher 4 Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

• The Greek for the English word saw here reveals an intense look, not a casual or cursory glance. If a person believes that they can find The Lord Jesus by approaching His Word or the claims He made in a casual way, they will not truly know Him as He is to be known.
• Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
• Interestingly, this is the same Greek word that we find in James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, 7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

• If the tomb of Jesus was robbed, it makes no sense that all of His clothing was found folded and in an orderly fashion.
• Note that the napkin that was about the head of Jesus was separate from the rest of the clothes, proposing a very difficult problem for the Shroud of Turin as being the one that Jesus was buried in.

8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

• Note that John saw and believed, he would later write, John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Peter would write in his first epistle, 1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

• However, it is significant that it is written that John saw and believed for it was proof that he and the others were eyewitnesses of Jesus resurrection.
• Ac 1:3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

• Possibly Ps 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
• Note the divine must attached to the resurrection of The Lord Jesus. This is the central message of our faith.

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

• Luke tells us that Peter departed to his home, wondering at that which was come to pass. Peter owned a home and was married.

11 ¶ But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

• Mark 16:9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.
• We know from the scriptures that He had cast seven devils out of her. We cannot imagine the torment of a person who is possessed by an unclean spirit. The absolute torture and torment. She knew it firsthand. Her life was one of abject misery, hopelessness. When she met Jesus, her life changed. He by a word drove out the darkness and brought in the light. He delivered her from the powers of darkness that had enslaved her. He set her free. And she in response and in gratitude committed her life to Him, fully, completely.

12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

• The angels were placed like cherubim upon the ark (Ex 25:19,20), as though the grave of Christ was a new mercy seat, which indeed it was.
• The mercy seat we recall was sprinkled with atoning blood on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16.14) in token that the righteous sentence and judgment of the law had been carried out, thus converting the judgment seat in to a mercy seat and throne of grace.
• Ro 3:24 Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

• Mary calls Jesus her Lord! She had seen Him on the cross, she had seen them place Him in the tomb and now she is perplexed about where His body has gone.
• The angels are not rebuking her by asking why she is weeping, they are aware that Jesus has risen and are simply communicating to her the joy of His resurrection. The other gospels would declare, He is not here, He is risen!
• CHS writes, “Heaven was rejoicing over the risen Lord, the glad fact was an assurance of joy to earth, why then did this holy woman weep?  It was ignorance which kept her in sorrow.  If we should learn more of the truth concerning Jesus, we should soon find consolation.”

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

• Jesus asks her the same question that the angels did. Jesus is not asking the questions because He doesn’t know the answers; He is The Answer that is asking the question in order to draw her to Him.
• Mary may have been blinded to the identity of Jesus in the same way that the 2 disciples were on the road to Emmaus.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

• Rabboni is Aramaic for Master or Teacher. John interprets the meaning for his primarily Greek speaking readers.
• As soon as Jesus spoke her name, she knew it was The Lord Jesus. John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
• Beloved, follow Jesus, not man, not a system of theology, not a religious denomination…..follow The Lord Jesus Christ.

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father:

• Touch Me not implies do not cling to Me or hold on to Me and the reason being that He had not yet bodily ascended to The 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.

• By His brethren He means His disciples, for in the following verse it is said that Mary told His disciples.
• Jesus calls God His Father because He is naturally His Father in the Godhead, and He says "your Father" because He is our Father by grace through the adoption of the sons of God. We call The Father, Abba.

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

·      God had chosen Mary Magdalene to be the first one to share the good news. If anybody told Mary or those who knew her before she met The Lord Jesus Christ that she would be used by Him to tell others the glorious gospel, both she and they would have laughed her to scorn.

·      If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold all things become new.

At this point in time, Matthew adds this narrative to the events:

• Mt 28:11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

• Please take not of how The Lord Jesus addresses these men that are hiding for fear of The Jews. He doesn’t call them cowards!
• Jesus in His resurrected body appears in their midst without opening the shut door. Thomas is not with them at this time.
• Peace be unto you. The Greek word eirene according to Strongs carries the meaning of quietness, rest, + set at one again.
• Jesus, The Prince of Peace having made peace by the blood of His cross, is about to send these disciples out to proclaim the gospel of peace.

20 And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

It is interesting that the Greek word translated glad here is used in the following ways.

• Lu 10:20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. Joy in knowing that we are saved.
• Ac 5:41 And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. Joy in being persecuted for sharing The Lord Jesus.
• Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. Joy in The Lord Jesus is an always.

21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

• How did The Father send Jesus out into public ministry?
• Lu 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.
• Note the event that follows Jesus words that as The Father sent Me, so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:

• When God breathed into Adam, he became a living soul. Here God The Son breathes on the 11 and they are filled with The Spirit of The Living God and are born again.
• Eze 37:5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:

23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

·      We must first of all remember that all sin is against God and thus only God can forgive sins.

o   Mark 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

·      Peter never interpreted these words of Jesus as meaning that he or the others were given the power on earth to forgive sin, for he would say to Simon the sorcerer in Acts 8.

o   Ac 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

·      The Geneva Bible Study note on this verse is right on: The publishing of the forgiveness of sins by faith in Christ, and the setting forth and proclaiming the wrath of God in retaining the sins of the unbelievers, is the sum of the preaching of the gospel.

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

·      The word Didymus means “twin,” whether he had a twin brother or sister we really don’t know.

25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, 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.

• Walking by sight is in one sense most difficult and yet in another sense most blessed. Unbelief can make you miserable. It can leave you in the pit. Here the other disciples are all rejoicing, they’re excited, they’re thrilled, they’re happy, but Thomas is not convinced of it all until he can see with his own eyes.

26 ¶ And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he 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.

• Where was Jesus when Thomas had said eight days earlier that he wouldn’t believe that Jesus was alive unless he could see His pierced hands and side? He was right there in the midst of them, just like Jesus is right in our midst tonight beloved.
• The number 8 in Scripture is the number of new beginnings. Thomas’ belief in Jesus bodily resurrection will be a new beginning for him.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

• I am not about to talk about the Deity of The Lord Jesus Christ tonight, but suffice it to say, Thomas here calls Jesus My lord and my God. In Hebrews 1, The Father calls Jesus God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

• In the next chapter he’ll say, If all of the things that Jesus did were recorded, all of the things were written about Him which could be written, he said, all of the libraries in the world could not hold the books.

31 But 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.

• What was the purpose for the Gospel of John being written? That people would have life by believing in the Name of The Lord Jesus Christ.
• It is always wise to encourage a person to read the gospel of John who doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ. Get them to read the gospel of John. Because God said, “My word will not return to Me void. It will accomplish the purposes for which I have sent it.”
• There are a lot of people whose unbelief is based upon negative things that they’ve heard about Jesus but they’ve never read as much as the gospel of John. We could say tonight in closing that faith not only comes by hearing, but by reading the Scriptures as well.

C.S. Lewis quotes is "I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else."

We as Christians affirm the truth declared in Scripture that not only was Jesus dead and buried but "he was raised on the third day." We marvel at the fact that he was put to death for our sins and raised for our justification (Romans 4:25). Christ's death on the cross is a forcible reminder that our Christian faith is based in historical fact. We need to remember this when our unbelieving friends suggest that reason deals with fact while faith exists only in the realm of personal ideals or internal virtues. The New Testament does not allow for such a distinction, and nothing breaks down the wall of partition between faith and reason more than the reality of the resurrection. Allistar Begg

Jesus has not left open to us the option of sidestepping Him as just another great moral teacher. The bodily resurrection from the dead is a reminder to all of us that Jesus is the Christ and the only Savior who makes us acceptable to God.