John 20
COMMENTARY:
: 8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed. (4100 “believed” [pisteuo] means commit unto, commit to trust, to think to be true, place confidence in, implying trust, be convinced or faith.)
DEVOTION: This “other disciple” is the author of this Gospel. He wrote four other books of the New Testament. It is thought he was the youngest of the twelve disciples.
He runs to the sepulcher with Peter. He outruns Peter but doesn’t enter the tomb. Peter who is the impetuous one goes in before him to look around. John follows Peter and looks at the evidence and is convinced that Jesus arose from the dead. He believed what Jesus had told him.
When we look at the evidence of the resurrection do we come away with the confidence that we are following the right Savior? We should but sometimes we act like the other disciple who doubted the testimony of others. He wanted to see HIM for himself.
We need to have the same confidence that John had from the moment he saw the evidence at the tomb. Our belief should be based on the Word of God and the moving of the Holy Spirit in our life.
Once we realize how the LORD is working in our life we can give a testimony of these works to others. It should help them understand the truth of the statements of Scripture which should lead to their becoming a follower of Jesus.
This cycle should continue until the LORD calls those who are members of the church universal are called to heaven to meet the LORD in the air at the rapture of the church.
CHALLENGE: Once we learn a truth from the Word of God, we should apply it to our actions. John did.
: 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 said to them, Peace be to you. (2808 “doors were shut” [kleio] means to close, lock, not open or affording passage or access, securely locked, or windows of heaven, so that no rain can fall.)
DEVOTION: The disciples felt that they were in danger because the religious leaders had killed Jesus. They thought they were next. They locked the door to keep the soldiers out. It was a wrong move because the soldiers could have broken the door down if they wanted them. They were thinking wrong. They were afraid.
Jesus walks into the room without using the door. They are even more afraid but Jesus greets them with “Peace be with you.” They didn’t have any peace. Jesus had promised to care for them and yet they didn’t know what to think.
Now HE was in the room with them showing them the scars from the nails. HE wanted them to know it was really HIM. HE wanted them to have faith in HIM. HE wanted them to remember all the times HE had taught them that HE was going to raise from the dead.
HE wants them to realize that HE brings Peace with HIM to the hearts of all of those who follow HIM. We are to have the fear of the LORD which is a reverent respect for the LORD. The fear of the LORD is not a phobia that produces shaking and worries. Worry is a sin according to the LORD.
The pictures we see regarding those who face suffering in this world is that of a bird under the protection of a cliff during a storm.
CHALLENGE: During each storm the LORD allows in our life we are to face it with the peace of God that passes all understanding. It is easy to say but hard to practice. Prayer helps make the difference.
: 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and says unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost. (2983 “receive” [lambano] means to take with the hand, lay hold of, to take in order to carry away, to make one’s own, procure, or to take a person.)
DEVOTION: Jesus was appearing to the disciples after his resurrection from the grave. Ten saw him the first time but Thomas was not with them. Thomas wanted to see him in person. He didn’t believe the other disciples.
Jesus appeared a second time to the disciples eight days later. Thomas was with them on this occasion. He wanted proof that Jesus had risen from the dead. Jesus gave him that proof. He worshiped the LORD by calling him Lord and God. Jesus stated that those who don’t need physical proof of the resurrection were more blessed than he was. We are part of that group of people.
Too often we want physical proof of the resurrection of Jesus. The Holy Spirit witnesses to us that HE was raised from the dead. The Bible is written for us to believe in HIS resurrection. Other believers help us understand that HE is risen by their testimony. The personal revelations of the Holy Spirit working in our times of meditation in the Word of God witness to us of HIS presence in our life.
This verse gives us a problem. If the Holy Spirit was given right then, then what happened on the day of Pentecost forty days later? This was a preview of the day of Pentecost. The disciples were given an individual filling of the Holy Spirit to understand what was happening at that time. They were also given more instructions of what to do after the day of Pentecost.
There was going to be power given to the leaders of the church to tell people how their sins could be forgiven. God does the forgiving on the basis of the death of Christ on the cross. HIS blood gives each of us the ability to be a child of HIS. As a child of HIS our sins are forgiven. Praise HIS name.
We have many in our churches who need eye witness proof of the existence of God. One of the great things is that we can see answers to prayer that helps us understand that God is real. Jesus also gave the disciples a gift before he left them. HE breathed on them and told them to take on a person. The person was the Holy Ghost. HE is the third person of the Godhead. HE was going to come into them.
Since the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit has filled believers who are living for the LORD. Once someone follows the LORD the Holy Spirit indwells them until the return of Christ or they go to heaven.
The Holy Spirit gives power to witness. The disciples were going to need this power while they waited for the blessings of the day of Pentecost. Under the old covenant the Holy Spirit came on people and left them. Under the new covenant, since the day of Pentecost, HE indwells them until their death. Praise the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Realize the power you have once the Holy Spirit is active in your life. Use that power to live and witness for the LORD.)
:27 Then said HE to Thomas, Reach hither your finger, and behold MY hands; and reach hither your hand, and thrust it into MY side: and be not faithless, but believing. (571 “faithless” [apistos] means characterized by a lack of belief and trust in someone or something, especially of those who deny or reject the truths of the Gospel, to be unbelieving, to be lacking trust, withholding belief, incredulous, or a heathen.)
DEVOTION: Unbelief is a sin. If it is found in one of the disciples who walked with Jesus for three and a half years it is sad. Yet we find it in Thomas. He has made other negative statement in the Gospels. He seemed to like to look at the negative side of every issue. There is one of these in most churches and families.
Jesus wants a change a negative person into one who can trust in the LORD no matter what the circumstances. That takes time in the Christian life. Even for those who walked with Jesus.
Our responsibility is to encourage those who have a tendency toward the negative with the Word of God and prayer. Too often we can try to avoid these types of individuals in our families and in our churches.
I have had individuals in each of my churches who always seemed to come to meetings with a negative attitude toward any suggestion made by anyone but themselves. They seemed to like being called the “devil’s advocate” which no Christian should ever want to be called.
We are not to give the devil even a foothold in our families or our churches. Unbelief in the power of the LORD to conquer any circumstance not only affects the individual but those around him.
CHALLENGE: Ask the LORD for help in encouraging those who tend to be negative to have a more positive attitude toward the ability of the LORD to help them in their decisions and circumstances.
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Scriptureverse 9
Bookverses 30, 31
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Fatherverses 17, 21
Ascended to Fatherverse 17
Godverses 17, 28, 31
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
Jesusverses 2, 12, 14-17, 21, 24, 26, 29-31
Lordverses 2, 13, 18, 20, 25, 28
Gardenerverse 15
Sirverse 15
Rabboni – Masterverse 16
Ascend to Fatherverse 17
Resurrected first day of weekverse 19
Breathed on disciplesverse 22
Godverse 28
Signsverse 30
Christverse 31
Jesus is the Christverse 31
Son of Godverse 31
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Receive ye the Holy Ghostverse 22
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Two angelsverses 12, 13
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Fear of the Jewsverse 19
Sinsverse 23
Not believeverse 25
Faithlessverse 27
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Lovedverse 2
Sawverse 8
Believedverses 8, 27, 29, 31
Our Fatherverse 17
Our Godverse 17
First day of weekverse 19
Peaceverses 19, 21, 26
Gladverse 20
Sentverse 21
Gift of Holy Spiritverse 22
Remit sinsverse 23
Retain sinsverse 23
Blessedverse 29
Not seen yet believeverse 29
Lifeverse 31
Israel(Old Testament people of God)
Mary Magdaleneverses 1, 11-18
Jewsverse 19
Church (New Testament people of God)
Simon Peterverses 2-10
Other disciple (John)verses 2-10
Brethrenverse 17
Disciplesverses 18-30
Thomas (Didymus)verses 24, 26-29
Other disciplesverse 25
Last Things (Future Events)
Lifeverse 31
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