John 20:19-29 – “The Risen Christ Appears to the Disciples”
(Matt Koerber)
Editor’s Note: While the original plan was to finish the blog at Easter there is a little bit left in the Gospel of John and I didn’t want to try to cram things into one sermon or blog post. Furthermore, I have received good feedback regarding the way people have been interacting with the Gospel of John. During this final week we will wrap up the Gospel of John and conclude with a final sermon on Sunday. In addition, there are a few days in which the devotionals will be written by members of the congregation and others who have been reading through John. They will share about things they have learned during this meditation on the Fourth Gospel. If you would like to submit something to be shared, please email me, [email protected], and I will try to use at least part of what you share in the posts this week. (MK)
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John 20:19-29 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.”
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.”
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After the Sunday morning resurrection appearance to Mary in the Garden, and the revelation of the empty tomb, John narrates the appearance of Jesus to the disciples, and a follow up appearance to Thomas. There are three features which stand out.
- The Resurrection is a physical reality, the beginning of the new creation. For the second time, John reminds us that it was the “first day of the week.” (See also 19:1). He began the Gospel with a reference to the creation account in Genesis and returns to the theme of (re)creation. Jesus is the first fruit of a complete renewal which will one day involve humanity (1 Cor. 15:20-23) and the re-creation of the entire earth (Rev. 21-22.) This feature is highlighted by several features of the post-resurrection appearances. On one hand, the body of Jesus is raised and he exists as a real human with a physical body. He is able to eat with the disciples (see Luke 24 and John 21), and he can be touched (v.20:27.) However, Jesus was not called back but he has been resurrected forward. Unlike Lazarus who was resurrected back into his former body, which was still subject to decay and death…Jesus was raised with a new body, the first fruit of a renewed cosmos. It is a “glorified body” (1 Cor 15:42.) As a result, his relationship with the disciples is not the same as it was before. He makes “appearances”, but he is not constantly with them any more. He asks Mary not to cling to him (20:23) and highlights that he is about to ascend to the Father.
- The power of the Holy Spirit is available to the church, bringing renewal in this present age. As promised in the Farewell Discourse (John 14-17), Jesus is departing for the Father, but he will send the Spirit. His action of breathing on the disciples is a prophetic action which anticipates the arrival of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. It shows the close personal connection between Jesus and the Holy Spirit. The age of the church is not marked by the physical presence of Jesus, even after his resurrection. Instead it is marked by the spiritual power and presence of the Holy Spirit who meets with believers whenever they gather and brings power for transformation. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, sins are forgiven and the witness of the church is empowered (v.23.)
- Jesus makes the resurrection personal. As before, Jesus shows care for the disciples. Twice, he imparts his peace (v.19 & v. 21.) He makes a point to show his hands and side to the disciples. Though healed, he bears the marks of his sacrifice. It is the same body, the same Lord, and surely this establishes their peace. He has won the victory over death and sin. Thomas was not present and struggled with belief. Jesus returns and grants him the very thing he asked for – “touch my hands and side” (v.27.) What a remarkable condescension to “doubting Thomas.” We sometimes highlight Thomas as a figure of doubt, but the central character in the story is the gracious Lord Jesus that meets him personally to support his faith.
Jesus closes with a blessing that extends to all believers that would follow in the generations after the resurrection. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (v.29b) Like the High Priestly Prayer, Jesus is thinking about you and me. We do not get to see Jesus in the flesh until his return. But, in the power of the Spirit, he is present and we can believe. Often we find that Jesus meets us in ways that are highly personal. We hear his voice (not literally) and follow him. We trust his love for us. As we read the Gospel of John many of us encountered Jesus in ways that were fresh and highly personal. I know that this reading program has made an impression on my life. Please consider sharing ways in which the Gospel of John brought fresh awareness of the love, power, and presence of the Lord. Email me, [email protected], and with you permission I will include some of these stories in blog posts this week.