John - Week 57

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John 20:19-20 

19 That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! 

Until now the location of the disciples has not been mentioned. Now it is learned they were in hiding. They assumed the Jewish leaders would be looking for them. To their shock, suddenly Jesus was standing in their midst! They were surely frightened at first but Jesus said, “Peace be with you.” To erase any doubts as to who He was He showed them His wounds from Calvary. This resulted in them being filled with joy in recognizing the Lord. 

REFLECT 

Notice that in His glorified body, Jesus could pass through locked doors. This gives you a glimpse of what it will be like when believers are in their glorified bodies. They will not experience the limitations they had in their physical bodies on earth. 

RESPOND 

When Jesus was on earth He spent more time warning others about hell than in talking about heaven.  Help your disciple to have confidence that heaven will be a perfect place because Jesus 

will be there. Both of you need to reread the passage examined previously in John 14:1-3. 

Jesus Breathed 

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John 20:21-23 

21 Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” 

Perhaps the disciples remained speechless so Jesus said again, “Peace be with you.” This was followed by His message to take the message of the resurrection to others. Verse 23 has caused some confusion, but the original language of the New Testament clarifies it. It could be literally translated, “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have already been forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they have already not been forgiven.” When meeting anyone who has trusted in Jesus for salvation, it could be told them, “Your sins have already been forgiven.” If they have not trusted in Jesus for salvation, it could be told them, “Your sins have not already been forgiven.” 

REFLECT 

Think about how you can compassionately share with others that if they haven’t trusted Jesus as Savior their sins are not forgiven. Not because you say so, but because the Bible says so. How wonderful to be able to tell believers their sins have already been forgiven in heaven.  

RESPOND 

A parallel passage to John 20:23 is Matthew 16:19. It can be translated similarly to John 20:23. No person has the power to forgive another individual’s sins, only God can do that. But believers can announce what has already occurred in heaven.  

Thomas' Doubt 

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John 20:24-25 

24 One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” 

But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” 

While the other disciples were convinced they had seen Jesus, Thomas was not convinced. He had to see the evidence himself. He specified what evidence he needed to see: nail wounds in Jesus’ hands and the wound in His side. Thomas did not doubt there was a body, but he wanted to test the evidence himself by putting his fingers into the nail wounds and his hand into the wound in Jesus’ side. 

REFLECT 

What evidence do you have to see to believe in Jesus? What evidence can you show unbelievers inasmuch as you cannot show them the person of Jesus? 

RESPOND 

The Bible presents the evidence of the resurrected Jesus in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 when more than 500 people were eyewitnesses of the Jesus after His resurrection. Most of them were still living when Paul wrote about A.D. 55. One could have gone to them and asked. What if one does not believe the written Scriptures?  In Luke 16:30 the rich man in hades wanted someone to rise from the dead and warn his brothers not to come where he was. He was told in Luke 16:31 that if people won’t believe Moses and the Prophets they won’t believe even if someone should rise from the dead.  

Don't Be Faithless 

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John 20:26-27 

26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!” 

Over a full week later the disciples were still hiding behind locked doors. Again Jesus suddenly appeared and again He greeted them with “Peace be with you.” They seemed to be having anything but peace at this time. Then Jesus challenged Thomas to test the evidence he had asked for. In this it is seen that Jesus did not criticize Thomas for wanting more evidence of who He was. He patiently cooperated with the request Thomas made. 

REFLECT 

Are you sometimes quick to criticize a person who wants more information? Do you patiently try to satisfy the questions being asked? 

RESPOND 

Read 1 Peter 3:13-17 with your disciple and talk about what each verse is saying. Determine to heed these instructions when dealing with others. 

My Lord and My God 

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John 20:28-29 

28 “My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed. 

29 Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” 

Nothing is mentioned whether Thomas actually touched Jesus. Likely there was no need to do so. From doubting Thomas came one of the great pronouncements in the Bible, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus was no longer just Jesus the Nazarene, He was Thomas’s Lord and God. These words indicate there is no one greater. To truly call Jesus “Lord” is also calling Him “God.” Then Jesus pronounced a blessing on all those who would not see Him but would believe in Him. That blessing applies to those living today. 

REFLECT 

Have you thought about the blessing Jesus has pronounced over you? If you have trusted in Him as your Savior, you have not physically seen Him, but you have believed in Him. 

RESPOND 

Dwell on something you have that the disciples did not have. They had Jesus in front of them, but you have a completed revelation of God in the Bible. This not only gives eyewitness reports about Jesus but also provides other information not available to the disciples at that time.