John
© copyright 2008 Darroll Evans, all rights reserved

 

Chapter 20

 

John 20:1-10
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.
2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun 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.
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.
8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

This first needs some understanding!

During Passover week there were multiple Sabbaths!

This verse references the first of the Sabbaths leading to Pentecost!

On the first of the Sabbaths (Gr. sabbaton-σάββατον) leading to Penetcost, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, before dawn !

When she arrived, she saw that the stone covering the entrance had rolled away.

She ran until she came to Simon Peter and John!

It was to them that she announced, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have laid him.”

Peter and John then ran to the tomb!

They could very well have been about close to a mile away from the tomb.

John arrived first, but did not go in!

Then Peter arrived and started to enter the tomb!

Prior to entering, Peter looked in through the window in the tomb wall. 

There, he saw the linen clothes. 

The napkin that had been about his head was not lying with the linen body-wrap, instead it was placed by itself.

Then, John came in and referring to himself in the third person, wrote of that moment, “he saw, and believed.”

Even though they saw evidence of the resurrection, they had not realized that the Scriptures prophesied that Christ would rise from the dead.

At that they went home!

That seems to be a strange conclusion!

The Apostles simply went home!

John 20:11-18
11
 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
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.
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.
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.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my 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.
18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.

However, Mary stood outside the tomb crying!

As she wept, she also stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher.

She saw two angels dressed in white sitting there.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

She responded, “Because they have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they laid Him.”

After saying that Mary turned and saw Jesus, but she did not know it was Him!

Jesus asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?

Whom do you seek?

Supposing him to be the gardener, she asked, “Sir, if you have taken Him away, tell me where?”

Jesus simply said, “Mary.

Immediately she knew!

She said, “Rabboni”, which is a variation of Rabbi.

Jesus told her, “Don’t touch Me!

I have not yet ascended to My Father!

Go to My brethren (Gr. adelphos-ἀδελφός)!

Again, we find a socially problematic statement.

Christ told Mary to go to His “brothers.”

And yet, she immediately knew that he did not mean to go tell James who would later be accepted as a leader in the Jewish Jerusalem Church!

She knew that Christ considered His Apostles to be His “brothers!”

Christ told Mary, “Go and say to My brothers, I am ascending to My Father and yours, to my God and yours.

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken to her.

John 20:19-31
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.
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.
21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
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.
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.
28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my 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:
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.

Then the same day at evening time of the first of the Sabbaths, when the doors to the room where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, Jesus and stood in the midst.

Just think about it!

Christ Jesus had died on the cross in full view of the Jewish leadership, and yet the hatred that had for Christ and His followers was so intense that His followers feared for their lives!

Jesus came to them and said, “Peace is yours!

I know that is not the normal traditional statement, but that is what He told them!

The New Testament did not begin until after Christ died!

Heb 9:16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

The death of the Testator of the New Testament happened on the cross!

When Christ told them to be at peace, He showed them His hands and side.

They were glad to see Him!

That may seem to be an exaggerated understatement!

Then again, Jesus said, “Peace is yours!

As My Father sent Me, I send you!

Then something happened that is often overlooked or abused!

Christ breathed on them, and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit!

Those whose sins you remit (Gr. aphiēmi-ἀφίημι/forgive), their sins are remitted!

Those whose sins you retain (Gr. krateō-κρατέω) are retained!

Jesus told the Apostles that they had the power announce the remittance of sins!

Roman Catholics take this literally in that they believe and practice that their Priests may actually forgive sins. Christ alone paid for our sins! And, only he may actually forgive, but others may (when led by the Holy Spirit) announce that the saved are saved!

However, saying five “Hail Marys” will not pay for any sin!

However, we must remember that Christ Himself is in heaven “interceding” for us!

Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession (Gr. entynchanō-ἐντυγχάνω) for us.

God the Father determines salvation!

He forgives as we acknowledge His Son, and His call and appointment to salvation!

1 Cor 12:3b no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.


Let’s look at a few verses from the Model Prayer.

Matt 6:10-12
10
 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive (Gr.
aphiēmi-ἀφίημι) us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

All sin was paid for on the cross of Jesus Christ!

Men do not “sin” against us!

Men sin against God!

Psalms 51:4a Against thee, thee only, have I sinned

 

At this point in the Gospel of John, Thomas, who was one of the twelve, was not there when Jesus came.

When the other disciples told him that that had seen Christ Jesus, Thomas said, “Unless I see the nail prints, and touch them, and touch the wound in His side, I will not believe!”

Eight days later, His disciples were again gathered together, and this time Thomas with them!

Jesus walked into the closed rooms and again said, “Peace is yours!

He told Thomas to, “Reach here with your finger and behold my hands!

Thrust your hand into my side!

Don’t be faithless!

Believe!

Thomas responded, “My Lord and my God!”

Jesus told him, “Thomas, you now believe because you have seen Me!

Blessed are those that believe and yet have not seen!

Jesus did many other “signs” that are not related in the book!

These were written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life through his name!

 

Chapter 21
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