John 20:1 Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went early, while it was still dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. 2 Therefore she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him!”
3 Therefore Peter and the other disciple went out, and they went toward the tomb. 4 They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first. 5 Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn’t enter in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying, 7 and the cloth that had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. 8 So then the other disciple who came first to the tomb also entered in, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
As we saw earlier in the story of Lazarus, John 11, it was customary for family and friends to gather at the tomb of the deceased to mourn their passing. Mary went to the tomb first, while it was still dark…and saw the stone taken away. Fearing that Jesus body had been stolen she ran to inform Peter and John. They both raced to the tomb only to discover that Mary was right. The body was gone. The only things left were the burial linens.
John notes that at that point they still had not grasped the full meaning of the Scriptures. Resurrection was beyond their wildest dreams and expectations, yet, seeing the empty tomb, the linen grave cloths and the head cloth neatly rolled up, was it possible that Jesus was alive? For as yet they didn’t know the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. So both Peter and John left, returning to their homes.
John 20:11 But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb, 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they have laid him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn’t know that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?”
She, supposing him to be the gardener, 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, “Rabboni!” which is to say, “Teacher!”
17 Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold me, for I haven’t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
After Peter and John left, Mary remained outside at the tomb, weeping because she believed that someone had carried Jesus’ body away. Stooping to take another look into the tomb she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And as if that sight wasn’t startling enough, when she turned around, she saw Jesus standing behind her. In shock she didn’t immediately recognize him. But as he called her by name, she knew that it had to be her Rabboni which is to say, Teacher!
While Mary wanted to hold onto him for dear life and never let him go, Jesus asked her for a favor, “Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
John 19:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her. 19 When therefore it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
The crucifixion of Jesus had instilled terror in the disciples, so much so, that even after the report of Christ’s resurrection, the disciples were hiding out behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. For all they knew, the same authorities who had crucified Christ had moved his body and were coming after them next because of their association with Jesus. Knowing that his disciples were hiding out in fear, Jesus came and stood in the middle, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”
In the midst of these terrible events, Christ’s arrest, trial, brutal beatings, crucifixion, death, and ongoing fear of the same Jewish authorities who murdered him, if there ever was a need for Peace, now was the time. Imagine yourself in the uncertain position that the disciples were in at that time, fearing for their lives, and then your murdered friend and mentor, Jesus, enters the room alive, announcing Peace.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
If there ever was a time for the peace of God to transcend all understanding, I think this had to be it.
John 20:20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
26 After eight days again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”
To confirm that this was really Jesus, arisen from the dead, he showed his disciples the wounds from his crucifixion. Death has been reversed in resurrection. Death has been defeated. Christ’s triumph over death, Promised since the dawn of time, makes life possible for all who believe. Without Christ’s resurrection his death is meaningless. This is why Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” 1 Corinthians 15:14 But the resurrection changes everything. Life need not end in death. For those who believe, life continues after death into eternity with our Lord.
Thomas, who was not present when Christ appeared, had his doubts. He, too, insisted on seeing Christ’s wounds before he could wrap his head around the reality of the resurrection. Eight days later, after seeing Jesus, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”
In response Christ responded with a statement that should encourage all Christians down through the ages. Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”
If you believe in Christ, having never seen him in the flesh and having never had the opportunity to touch his wounds, you are also blessed.
After revealing himself to the disciples, he assigned to them a task, saying, “As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.” With Christ about to ascend into heaven, he commissioned his disciples as the emissaries of his kingdom on earth. Their task was to tell everyone that death had been defeated and that life through Christ was being offered to all who believe.
Then, in preparation for their task, referring to Ezekiel’s prophecy, in a foretaste of the coming of the Spirit on Pentecost, Jesus breathed the new life of his Spirit on them.
Prophesy to these bones and say to them, Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. Ezekiel 37:4
The disciples were then given the apostolic authority to establish, lead, and, as necessary, discipline Christ’s church. “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.” This authority will be further explained and enumerated in the Epistles but for now understand that the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead indwells each Christian! Romans 8:11
John 20:30 Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
Throughout his time on earth Christ clearly taught: “I Am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 Here, as he concludes his book, John reiterates that theme.
Do you want life?
Do you want to be brought back to the loving Father that you, through sin, abandoned?
John wrote about the signs, teachings, and the names of Jesus so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
“There is no text in the whole Book which was intended to create doubt. Doubt is a seed self-sown, or sown by the devil, and it usually springs up with more than sufficient abundance without our care.” Charles Spurgeon, The Spurgeon Library
Throughout his Gospel, John has described signs. Below is a review of eight major signs that John details to show that Jesus was the Great I Am, the Son of God, the Messiah.
Jesus turned water into wine, John 2:1-11,
demonstrating control over the elements.
Jesus healed the nobleman’s son, John 4:46-54,
demonstrating power over disease.
Jesus healed the man at the pool, John 5:1-15,
demonstrating the authority over sin.
Jesus fed the 5,000, John 6:1-14,
demonstrating his unlimited compassion.
Jesus walked on water, John 6:15-21,
demonstrating his power over the forces of nature.
Jesus healed the man born blind, John 9:1-12,
demonstrating his power over genetic maladies.
Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, John 11:1-44,
demonstrating his power over death.
And then, of course, standing alone, on its own, is Christ’s resurrection from the dead, John 20,
validating his offer of eternal life to all who are willing to believe in and proclaim Christ.