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John chapter 20 records the resurrection of Jesus. It is this
resurrection which is the prevailing theme of all the disciples' preaching. That Jesus Christ is Lord and
God raised Him from the dead is the message of salvation. (See Romans 10:9.) The disciples
were good, honest men who died unthinkable deaths in proclaiming this truth. Why would they
blaspheme if it were not true that Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead? They had seen
the risen Christ! They were willing to give their lives for that truth. When Mary told the disciples the stone had been removed from the entrance, the disciples ran to the tomb. John (the disciple that Jesus loved) was the first to arrive and look inside. Peter entered and saw the linen lying flat as if the body evaporated. (See John 20:6-7.) The head wrap retained its fold. (See Psalm 16:10). Enemies or thieves would not have unwrapped the corpse and taken a naked body. The privilege of being among the first to talk to the resurrected Jesus carried with it responsibility. It is our responsibility also to share the Good News. Our Lord never meant for us to keep our religion to ourselves. He wants to reveal Himself to others through us. Jesus now calls his disciples by a new title. He said to Mary "Go instead to my brothers and tell them I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." When Jesus appeared to His disciples, He said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." The definition of peace is said to be the conscious possession of adequate resource. The Lord's commission is a commission of peace, not strain. It is because of Christ's resurrection we know our work for the Lord cannot be lost. Everyone who deliberately moves into the world to give out the message of Jesus cannot fail to meet with pressure, scoffing, and unbelief. You are sent out with prayers (See John 17) and the Holy Spirit. Understanding is always accomplished through the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit enters a person, there is a new creation. The believing part of faith to receive or yield to Christ and have Him dwell within us is not passive. It implies choice to receive. (See Matthew 13:23, John 1:12, John 12:48, and Acts 2:38.) Thomas' pride of unbelief and disdain for what the disciples had told him set him up for a humiliating fall. His faith was so self-centered in John 20:25-27 that he needed a demonstration. Jesus bid Thomas to make his life choice between stubborn abstinence and faith. In John 20:28 Thomas moves from faithlessness to the highest confession of faith, "My Lord and my God." Jesus addresses each of us through Thomas in 20:29. "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Thomas probably never did put his hands into Jesus' hands and sides. When Jesus reached out in love to Thomas he responded in a humble confession of faith. Jesus reaches out to each of us through His Word. Do we respond with pride and stubbornness or a humble confession of faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior? In the conclusion of this chapter, John 20:30-31, John states the reason he wrote this Gospel. "Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." |