JOHN CHAPTER 20.

JOHN CHAPTER 20.

Jesus crucified on Friday.  Sunday was the third day after - day after tomorrow.  Jewish reckoning - First day began 6pm., on Saturday. 

           

Very early (3-6am) Mary came. 20:1-10.  She may not have been alone.  When Mary saw the stone removed she formed sorrowful conclusions and suspected the enemies had taken Jesus' body.  She runs to Peter to tell him the bad news.  Thus Peter and another disciple who did outrun Peter, most probably being the younger of the two, came first, stooped and looked, but did not enter the tomb.  A feeling of reverence restrained him from entering, but Peter who arrives enters without hesitation and saw linen clothes lying, the napkin - headpiece, (turbin) rolled up in a place by itself.  There was no sign of disorder, haste or confusion. John the other disciple enters.

           

The question, if the enemies had taken the body, why leave the garments, or why leave them in order, or remove from the body without disturbing arrangements?  John discerns that the body has mysteriously left the garments as they were, wrapped around him.  John therefore believes Jesus is raised again.  His account gives importance to the empty tomb as a ground of faith in the Resurrection of Jesus.  He believed in what he saw. When John came to believe, the Lord had appeared to none, but the disciples knew not the Scriptures that Jesus must rise again.  If they had understood the Scriptures, they would have believed in the Resurrection without the evidence of the eyes.  When John believed that morning, neither he nor the others had grasped the teaching that Jesus must rise again.

           

The situation was different when John wrote, for then, the Church had long understood the necessity that Jesus must rise again. 

           

John and Peter went to their own home. 20:11-18.  But Mary had followed them back to the tomb, and had remained there beside the tomb.  And the disappearance of the body was of great grief to her, she knew nothing of fellowship with One unseen by the natural eye.  She could not think of love and devotion to her Lord apart from his physical presence.  She was much devoted since her healing.  She had hoped that before the decay of His body to bestow the last tokens of devotion.  Little thought how soon we would learn of possibilities of devotion and fellowship eternal, not limited to the experiences of the realm of the physical life.

           

John's account dramatically portrays the weeping of Mary Magdalene.  Her sorrow was great.  Weeping, she looks into the tomb, finding it difficult to think His body has gone.  Then she saw two angels, and one of the angels asks her, "Why weepest thou?" as if surprised that she should be weeping.  She thinking him the gardener asks, "If thou hast born him hence."  Her devotion and love as great, was bound up with the dead body of her Lord.

           

Jesus saith, when she did not recognize him, "Mary".  In speaking her name, He makes her aware of who He is.  She recognizes in speaking her name the voice of her Lord.  (The sheep recognize the shepherd's voice).  Mary's eyes (likely) filled with tears, gazing still at the tomb, rather than at the voice of the man who spoke.  Replies, "Rabboni, "Teacher".  Attempted to embrace or clasp His feet.  Jesus responded, "Cling not to me."  Forbids to cling - for He has not ascended to the Father.  His ascension to the Father make possible a new and more spiritual union between Himself and his disciples.

           

Mary's devotion was limited to the physical form.  Now Jesus reveals to her a fellowship that is greater because it is not limited by his bodily presence. The Lord commissions her to carry to the disciples the announcement of a new relationship because He went to the Father.  Jesus describes in similar terms as that of His own relationship to God His Father.  And yet He is careful to maintain and emphasize the uniqueness of His Sonship, for He says not our God etc., by "my God," " your God."

           

The Lord's first appearance to His disciples.  20:19-23. He appears to the eleven.  The doors were closed, He mysteriously appears.  "Shalom" (Hebrew) - "Peace".  When Jesus speaks peace He gives it.  He showed them His side and hands.  The body possessed powers to pass through doors - same body in which He suffered.  John seems to stress identity of resurrection body with that in which He died.  Docetics.

           

The Lord again proclaims peace - commissions the disciples to be His witnesses. 20:21.  For this task He gives the Holy Spirit, and authority to forgive and retain sins.

Two problems :

           

1/   The giving of the Spirit.  Such Scriptures as 7:39; 14:17,26 indicate not fulfilment.  Yet this event (20:23) must be one of considerable importance.  Westcott - preparation, Temple notes no article - not of Person, but spirit of power and energy which the Holy Spirit gives.

           

2/   Forgiving - Retaining sins. Brethren - administrative forgiveness, especially Assembly fellowship.  Means more, associated with the task, mission to the world.  The Church in the task of bearing witness is not left without authority.  Then to those who receive their witness they bear an authoritative assurance of forgiveness - to those who reject the Church pronounces "your sins remain."  This is the work of the Spirit through the Church's witness, convicting men of sin, righteousness and judgment.

           

Thomas.  20:24-25.  (Twin).  Loyal - given to gloomy side.  Think the worst is to happen.  For him faith and hope must be based on tangible proof.

           

The Lord's second appearance.  20:26-29.  After eight days.  Sunday is the significant day in the Resurrection appearances.  Jesus invites Thomas to investigate, enjoining him not to be unbelieving, but show himself believing.  He, confronted by the Lord was overwhelmed.  In a spirit of worship confesses:  "My Lord and my God."  This is the central confession of the whole Gospel. The confession of faith that forms the climax of the Gospel, it being the final Christological pronouncement of the Gospel.  The confession comes as a striking and dramatic climax to the witness of John's Gospel to the Person of Jesus Christ.   Blessed, not seen - confirms lesson to Mary of the spiritual nature of Christian faith.

           

20:30-31.  May have had a number of reasons.  The Church was engaged in debate with the Synagogue and this Gospel may reveal many features of the struggle with the Synagogue.

           

There was the Docetic teaching, so emphasizes the humanity of Christ to be inseparable from His historic ministry and work.  The Gospel is concerned with the edification of the Church.  It is very much a book for the Church.  But John's supreme aim in writing was a missionary one.  It was that the permanent written record may bring men to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

           

Basic Ideas: 

1/   The empty tomb is in itself a proof of the Resurrection.

2/   Jesus ascending to His Father established a new order in which our experience of  the Lord and our devotion to Him is not limited nor conditioned by His physical presence.      

3/   Emphasis is given to the identity of the Resurrection body of the Lord with His human body which endured the wounds of Calvary. 

4/    Jesus possessing all authority, commissions and bestows authority upon His disciples to go into the world. 

5/   The resurrection of Jesus is the final proof that He is our Lord and God.