Welcome to Week 5 of the life of Peter. This time we’re looking at the events on the day after the resurrection as described in John chapter 20. We know that the disciples and other followers of Jesus didn’t fully understand his mission. They never expected him to die the way he did, nor did they understand what he meant by saying he would come back from the dead.
This chapter contains a number of scenarios in which people crossed from unbelief to belief, and Jesus was involved with each in a different way. In Hebrews 12:1-2 we read, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
The Bible is clear, we have faith because Jesus gives us faith. However, he doesn’t just GIVE faith, he PERFECTS it (that is, makes it complete or mature). He does this differently with each of us, providing everything we need to believe in him. We will follow that thread through each of the scenarios in this story.
Thank you to my wife Tracy who wrote the prayer guides for this week.
Index to Days 2 through 5
Day 1
At a Glance
Observe
After the report from Mary that the tomb is empty, Peter and John run to see it for themselves. John outruns Peter, but then he freezes at the entrance, while Peter continues inside.
John 20:1-10
The Resurrection
20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Romans 1:20
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
John 15:22
22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
Once again Peter’s boldness is on display. We don’t know what caused John to stop. Perhaps he didn’t want to risk touching a dead body (that was considered unclean according to their customs at the time). What we do know is that Peter caught up to John at the tomb and went straight inside. John then follows and both men see the linen cloths there, but Jesus was gone. We’re told John saw the linen cloths and believed. Seeing the empty tomb was what it took for John to believe Jesus had come back from the dead.
- What did you need to see before you could believe Jesus was who he said he was, and your Savior?
- What happened to meet that need?
Father God, At difficult times in my life I have failed to see your hand, or I have seen you but have not believed. Only later have I acknowledged that you were there, working, sustaining me, all along. But for a time, I felt alone. In your mercy and love you have moved over and over again in my life, until I could see you and believe. Lord, open my eyes to you today. Help me also to believe, even when I cannot see, and then strengthen me to do your work. Amen.
Day 2
He Called Her Name
Observe
The scene today involves Mary Magdalene, who remained outside the tomb after Peter and John left. First Mary sees two angels and then she sees Jesus himself, and both times she is asked the same question, “Why are you weeping?”
John 20:11-18
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she 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 in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Ephesians 1:3-10
Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
Romans 8:29-30
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
When Mary saw Jesus, she didn’t recognize him at first. We’re not told why. Perhaps she was just so upset or crying so hard that she couldn’t see clearly, or maybe there was something different about his appearance. Perhaps, as in Luke 24:16, Jesus actively kept her from recognizing him. Again, we don’t know. What we do know is that the moment Jesus called her name, she knew who he was. That’s what it took for Mary’s faith to become complete. She needed to hear God call her by name.
Notes for Bible Nerds: In the King James Version of the Bible, verse 17 is translated “Touch me not!” This has provoked speculation in some circles as to why Jesus wasn’t permitting her to touch him. In modern translations, like the ESV, it’s translated as “don’t cling to me.” The Greek here is the Present Imperative, which when combined with a negative, does not mean someone is being warned not to do something they MIGHT do, it means someone is being told to stop doing something they ARE doing. Mary had most likely grabbed Jesus in an embrace and was showing no sign of letting him go. Jesus saying “don’t cling to me” was to reassure Mary that she didn’t need to hang on, he wasn’t going anywhere just yet. Jesus would shortly invite Thomas to touch him, so there was clearly no reason his post resurrection body could not be touched.
- Ephesians tells us God chose us before the world was even made and Romans tells us God predestined those he foreknew to eventually become conformed to the image of his Son. What do you think it means “to be conformed to the image of his Son?”
- What comfort does that predestining offer to we who are the disciples of Jesus?
Dear Lord, Some days I want nothing more than the sound of a kind voice of someone I love, speaking my name. Just that would make such a difference. You have called me by name. You have written my name in your book and declared your love over me like a banner, at such a very high cost. Help me to hear your voice and rest in this certain thing, that I am yours. I will know your voice and follow, and be at peace. Thank you Lord.
Day 3
The Breath of God
Observe
If you need to know anything about the mindset of the disciples following the crucifixion, all you need to read is how they were in a locked room because they were afraid of the Jews. John might have believed after seeing the empty tomb, but it seems evident that the rest of the disciples were still believing their leader had been taken from them.
John 20:19-23
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Matthew 28:19-20
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Romans 10:13-15
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
Luke 24:47
47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 16:24
24
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
Despite being inside a locked room, suddenly Jesus is present among them (you shouldn’t assume from this that we will all have powers of teleportation in heaven, but it seems that at least Jesus does). He shows them his wounds from the cross and then he breathes on them, saying “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This isn’t the same filling of the Spirit we see in Acts chapter 2, where they were dramatically empowered for ministry. This would seem to be the regenerating work of the Spirit, that Paul says in Ephesians chapter 2 makes us alive together with Christ, even while we were otherwise dead in our trespasses. What it took to transform a room full of scared disciples into the apostles (or “sent ones,” which is what the word apostle means and what Jesus said he was doing–sending them) was receiving the Holy Spirit. That’s what made their faith complete!
Notes for Bible Nerds: Verse 23 is sometimes pointed to by branches of the Christian faith who say the apostles were given authority to forgive (or retain) a person’s sins. The forgiveness of sins is reserved for God alone. The Greek used for “are forgiven them” is in the Perfect Passive Indicative, a form which refers to something being true NOW because it was true in the PAST, and furthermore that the action was performed for or on the subject, not by the subject. The New American Standard Bible translates this correctly when it says “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them.” Part of the gospel ministry is to pronounce the forgiveness of sins to all who believe, and conversely to warn those who don’t believe that their sins are not forgiven and they are in danger of judgment.
- Although we don’t have the office of an apostle, which required that Jesus called you in person, we are still sent to continue his mission. How does that change the way we live?
- What do you think it means when someone apparently disregards this sending?
Heavenly Father, what a sweet picture you have included in your word here for me to recall when I am afraid. I can’t imagine fear like the disciples experienced after your death, but your mere breath was enough to calm and empower them. I have your whole word, and your Spirit within me and your church around me. You have given me all that I need to find peace and strength. I cling to that, Lord. Amen.
Day 4
Doubting Thomas
Observe
Thomas was not with the disciples when Jesus appeared to them. After they told him what happened, Thomas declared that unless Jesus let him touch the wounds from the cross, he would never believe.
John 20:24-29
Jesus and Thomas
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Romans 4:16-25
16 That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
The term “Doubting Thomas” is part of the American lexicon, and it’s frequently used to mean someone who doesn’t WANT to believe something. There is nothing to suggest that Thomas didn’t want to believe, it’s more likely that Thomas was quite desperate to believe. But he needed something more than the testimony of others. This was true even though those “others” were his ten companions who had spent the last three years listening to the teachings of Jesus and observing all the signs he performed. You would think that Thomas could take their word for it, that Jesus had returned from the dead, but he needed more. He needed to feel the flesh and bone of the resurrected Christ, and Jesus let him do that. Jesus also makes a point of saying there is a blessing for those who believe without seeing his physical form, but Jesus still provided what Thomas needed to make his faith complete.
- What sort of doubts concerning God do you wrestle with?
- What do you find helpful in facing your doubts?
Dear Lord, how often I have doubted you! I feel for Thomas during those eight days before Jesus appeared among the disciples again. I have wondered at times if you would show up for me. You always do; sometimes, it is in just the way I prayed, and at other times you appear in unexpected ways. I lay before you now my secret doubts and fears. You know what they are. Let me feel your presence and stop doubting. Amen.
Day 5
So What’s Your Point
Observe
John concludes by giving us the reason for this book. Why did he write all these things down?
John 20:30-31
The Purpose of This Book
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
1 John 1:2-3
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Acts 1:3
3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
Psalm 22:22
22
I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
Psalm 66:16
16
Come and hear, all you who fear God,
and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
God wants you to believe. To believe he exists, to believe he loves you enough that he sent his Son to die on a cross for you, and to believe he raised his Son from the dead as a guarantee that death will not be the end of you, either. It’s common for skeptical unbelievers to dismiss accounts of the resurrection by saying the followers of Jesus made up the story for their own benefit. Nothing could be further from the truth! These accounts were written in the years immediately following the events described (we have manuscripts dating back to 110-150 AD). It is simply impossible that first century followers of Jesus would be able to predict that someday there would be a worldwide church with enormous influence over society, and they’d better write some made-up fables to support such a thing. It’s also simply impossible to accept they wrote these accounts for their own immediate benefit, as every single one of the apostles met a grisly end (except for John, who died in exile after surviving what extra-biblical sources say was a plunge into boiling oil). Not a single one of these men recanted their stories, not even upon pain of death.
We who are already believers should celebrate that Jesus gives us everything we need to believe in him, and joyfully share the gospel message with the world.
- If you were to write an account of your life so others might read it and believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, what things would you put in?
- Why do you think Jesus remained with his disciples for 40 days following the resurrection?
Heavenly Father, thank you for your word, preserved for us through ages and perils, crossing culture and status, bringing the truth of your gospel to your people, even to my heart. Remind me of the blessings of your word, and bring me back to it, day after day, to learn it again. Help me to speak of your word and share your love in the world around me. Amen.