CHAPTER 20

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.

EARLY that morning, the FIRST day of the week (Sunday, following the Saturday Sabbath of Passover), they came to the tomb.
John focuses on Mary Magdalene, perhaps because he utilizes some of her story in other places. (See verses 11-18)
Matthew 28:1-8 names Mary Magdalene and the "other" Mary.
Mark 16:1-8 names Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James. Of course that would also be the mother of John, (mother of Zebedee's children (See Matthew 27:56).
Luke 24:1-9 mentions no names of the women.

They had come to anoint Jesus' body, for the burial had been in haste on Friday evening.
Yet they found He was NOT THERE!

ALL of those previously mentioned accounts say that they RAN to tell the disciples the news: Jesus is RISEN!!
They did not wait; nor, did they tarry!
They RAN!

In keeping with the spreading of the "Good News," they hasted to TELL!
Should we not do the same?

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.

Peter and John both ran to the tomb; John outrunning Peter.
John halted at the opening to the tomb, and Peter went by him, entering the tomb.
John "stooping" saw the linen clothes, which wrapped Jesus' body.
And, he saw the "napkin" - more appropriately, a towel; which had wrapped Jesus' head.
The "napkin" was neatly folded, and separated from the clothes.

In other words, everything was THERE.
Everything except JESUS!!

Wernher Von Braun was transported from Nazi Germany and put in place for developing our space program in the USA.
He stated, "Everything science has taught me---and continues to teach me---strengthens my belief in the continuity of our spiritual existence after death. Nothing disappears without a trace."
NOTHING disappears without a trace!
How much more then should we believe that Jesus is RETURNING!!

AND, Jesus' body never did "see corruption!" He IS RISEN!!
RISEN and RETURNING!

Yes, the FACT that Messiah would rise again is imbedded in Scripture! (vs 9 above)
Ps 16:10 says, "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption."

Not only that, but the child of God will NOT be left in the grave!
There WILL BE a resurrection and ALL souls will face Jesus for judgment.

He IS risen! Are you prepared to meet Him on His RETURN?

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.

Mary Magdalene remained sometime after the disciples had all left.
In great grief, she "stood....weeping."

Then, to her amazement, she saw two angels, "...one at the head, and the other at the feet,...."
Let us remember that there were two angels placed on the mercy seat in the same manner.
The "mercy seat" has CHANGED!
The Jehovah of the Old Testament has paid the price for the redemption of man through the Jesus of the New Testament!
We now have access to God through the atonement offered by Christ!
Therefore, we can come "..boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:16)

One of the angels asked Mary why she was there weeping.
Her reply indicated her confusion.
She did not understand about the resurrection promised.
Her desire was to find the body of her Lord and to complete the burial ritual which so hastily had begun Friday evening.
Mary felt that someone had taken the Lord's body and hidden it.
As she spoke, she turned to leave.

Then she almost "bumped into" Jesus Himself!
She didn't recognize Him, and assumed He was the curator of the garden (cemetery).
It seemed apparent to her that the curator had "taken" the body of Jesus (vs 15).
And, she wanted to know where His body was, so she could take Him safely to an appropriate burial place.

But then, Jesus spoke and called her name with familiarity!
IMMEDIATELY she recognized Jesus!
She called Him "Rabonni....MASTER," and ran to take Him by the feet and worship Him!

But Jesus said, "Touch me not..."!
The Greek word for "touch" is: haptomai.
It means to "cling to," or "attach oneself to."
Literally, what Jesus was saying was "Stop clinging to me."

It is good that we recognize that God in flesh was willing to DIE and pay the ransom for our sins.
It is good to realize that Jesus is the ONLY pure and holy atonement for our iniquities.
It is good to comprehend that He has indeed risen, and His death means our LIFE!
However, we cannot "cling to" the body of His death!
We must ARISE!!
We must arise and GO TELL!! (vs 17)

18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
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.

This one, Mary, who had been groveling in grief, now had tremendous hope!
She ran immediately to tell the disciples that she had SEEN the Master!!

However, they too were groveling in grief and confusion.
And they COULD not believe her! (See Mark 16:11)

But "the same day," in the evening, where the disciples were gathered in grief, Jesus APPEARED!! (vs 19)
He showed them His "hands and His side" that had been pierced by the nails and sword.
Then, JOY overtook their grief!! (vs 20)

But Jesus came delivering not only the message of hope to THEM, but commanding they deliver it to OTHERS! (vs 21)
God came in Christ delivering the message of salvation.
And, all who are "born again" receive the life of Christ IN them.
Therefore, we become "ambassadors for Christ"!! (See 2Corinthians 5:17-21)

Christians have the "peace" of God AND the message of salvation through Christ IN them!
And, they are to SHARE it with the world!

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.

((Please see my notes on Matthew 18:18-20
Just clik the "back" arrow on your browser when you have finished reading, and it will bring you back here.))

Jesus' action of breathing upon them, began the movement of the New Testament!
He, at that time, gave them the ETERNAL INDWELLING presence of God's Holy Spirit!
Before this, God's Holy Spirit "came upon" people at specific times. (See Numbers 24:2; Judges 11:29; 1Chronicles 12:18; 2Chronicles 24:20 for a few examples.)

These disciples were the first to be "sealed" in God's Holy Spirit (See Ephesians 1:13)
((There is also a book on my web page named "SEALED IN HIS SPIRIT." You may download and read that book here: SEALED IN HIS SPIRIT))

Even WITH God's Holy Spirit in them, and obviously in more control than in any of us today, they STILL could not forgive sins against our Creator.
So, what was this in verse 23?
In this "NEW Testament," Christians receive the privilige and authority to extend reconciliation to those who have never received Christ.

Jesus was giving them the basics for two doctrines: reconciliation and condemnation.
Remember, according to verse 21 above, saved people become "ambassadors for Christ!" (See 2Corinthians 5:17-21)
It is our privilege to bring people the doctrine of reconciliation.
If ANYone will surrender to Christ, he/she can be forgiven of sins and saved eternally from condemnation.
If ANYone refuses the surrender to Christ, then that person is left in condemnation.
In John 3:18, Jesus said, "He that believeth on him (the Son of God) is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Failure to receive reconciliation leaves one in condemnation!

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.

According to verse 24, that first Sunday evening, Thomas was not assembled with the other disciples.
However, on the next Sunday evening, Thomas was there.

When Jesus appeared, He specifically spoke to Thomas and invited him to touch his hands, feet and side.
However, Thomas, one might say in today's language, "GOT IT!"
He UNDERSTOOD!

This Jesus Who had been His "Lord" for more than 3 years was also GOD!
Thomas suddenly understood the meaning of Isaiah 43:11, which says,
"I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour."

Yes. Let me say it AGAIN!
The Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament!
Jehovah and Jesus are the ONLY Two by Whom God has revealed His Person in flesh!
And, they are ONE and the SAME!

ONLY GOD can forgive sin!
Therefore Jesus IS God in the flesh!
He is the Second Person of the Trinity - the LIVING SON of God!
By HIM "all things were made" (John 1:3)!
It is HE by Whom God "made the worlds" (Heb. 1:2)!
It is HE by Whom "all things consist" (are sustained) (Col. 1:17)!
"For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." (Col. 2:9)

And, it is most certainly Jesus Whose blood was shed "for many for the remission of sins!"(Matt. 26:28)

He must be LORD before He can be God Who is Savior!
He had to live in the flesh and die to pay the only just price for our sins.

And, he must be LORD of our lives before He will become God Who is Savior of our souls!!

Is Jesus LORD of your life?

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.

Thomas, without doubt, had a distinct advantage on believing Jesus.
He had been with Jesus and been trained by Him.
The comprehension was slower to come for Thomas than for the others.
Yet, Thomas believed!

Jesus says those who have not SEEN Him physically, yet believe are "blessed!"
Thomas was blessed because he saw first-hand that Jesus died in the flesh, but is STILL the LIVING SON of GOD!

And John concludes here by saying, "..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!"

Have YOU "believed?"
Have YOU "surrendered" to Jesus as LORD so He can become God Who is Savior to YOU?