April 15, 2007 Bible Class--John 20:19-31

Holy Gospel Reading – John 20:19-31
INTRODUCTION: As we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord last Sunday, our Holy Gospel reading was taken from the first part of John, chapter 20. (v.1-18) Mary Magdalene saw that the tomb had been opened and went and got Peter and John. Peter left the tomb bewildered; John, however, saw and believed. After the disciples left, Jesus appears before Mary. Today, the second Sunday of Easter, the story from John’s account continues. The setting is the evening of the very first Easter.

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,
It had been quite an eventful day to say the least. Mary Magdalene saw that the tomb had been opened and later saw Jesus. John knew Jesus had risen. Peter and the rest of the disciples were in a very confused and fearful state of mind. After what the Jewish leaders had done to Jesus, and with Jesus’ body now “missing,” the disciples thought that the Jewish leaders would come after them next. To say that they did not feel secure is quite the understatement. To make them feel safer, the doors were locked.

Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
Somebody did get by the locked doors, though it was not a Jewish leader that was out to get the disciples; it was the King of Jews, the resurrected Jesus Christ. As Jesus said this, He showed the disciples His hands and His side, and the disciples were overjoyed. What do you suppose was going through the minds of the disciples as Jesus first appeared? Read Luke 24:37-39 for help. Do you suppose it is fair to single out Thomas as the one who doubted?

Jesus appears to them and greets them with the words, “Peace be with you.” “Peace be with you” was a common greeting amongst the Hebrews, but when Jesus says these words there is a much deeper meaning. He is giving them peace that the world cannot give (see John 14:27); He is giving them the peace that passes all understanding (see Philippians 4:7).
Discuss together what the idea of “peace” means to you. In other words, when you hear the word “peace” what ideas come to your mind?

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Our Lord would give the disciples a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, which would occur 50 days from that point. However, on this first Easter evening, Jesus gives the disciples the Holy Spirit to sustain them in their mission.

And the key to the disciples’ mission was the forgiveness of sins, and with the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus gave the disciples the authority and power to forgive sins. This is the heart of Christianity and the church. Jesus won forgiveness of sins through His death and resurrection. Still, there are those who refuse to repent of their sins and thus shun forgiveness. Others will repent and look for the assurance that they are forgiven. Jesus extended His authority to His disciples and to the church to forgive penitent sinners and to withhold forgiveness from impenitent sinners.

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
Earlier, I asked the question, “Do you suppose it’s fair to single out Thomas as the one who doubted?” And while it is true that the disciples had some doubts, there is a significant difference between the other disciples and Thomas. Thomas heard from actual eyewitnesses; he got news people who had seen the risen Christ with their own eyes. They didn’t see the empty tomb; they saw HIM. Thomas wanted visible, physical proof for Himself.

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
A week later, the disciples and Jesus are again together with the doors shut, only this time Thomas is with Him. Once He again He gives His special greeting of peace. He then enables Thomas to place his finger into His hands and his hand into His side.

And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Thomas had no need to examine this situation any further. He made a bold confession of Christ, “My Lord and My God!”

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Jesus did indulge Thomas’ need to see Him. But that privilege would never be available to anyone else—the only exception was Saul, and that was by a special vision. Others (us), without an opportunity to literally look at Jesus, would still be called to faith and receive God’s blessings in Him. Jesus works such faith in His Word and by His Holy Spirit. And as Christians we are blessed—we “who have not seen and yet have believed.”

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 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.
With Jesus’ resurrection, John reached the climax of his gospel. There were things Jesus did with His disciples that John didn’t even write about. The things that are written in John’s gospel, however, have a purpose in the lives of the readers—including us. John was not trying to “wow” us Jesus’ miracles. Rather, John called the miracles “signs.” They were signs that pointed to something, to someone beyond the readers—Jesus, the Messiah, our Savior, who would perform the greatest miracle through His death and resurrection. Because of that miracle we have forgiveness, life, and salvation.

John wrote all that he wrote so that we may believe and that by believe we have life in the name of Jesus. What we read in the Gospel strengthens our faith and secures our lives forever in Jesus.