John 20
INTRODUCTION
The resurrection event does not save us; the person saves us. The person is Jesus. His resurrection event itself does not save, because Easter morning is not a Savior. Our Savior is a person, not an event. And so if you are here this morning to simply enjoy or celebrate an event and not a person of whom the event is about, I am sorry, but there is no life for you. Life is only in Jesus. Jesus overcame death so that we may have life in Him. If it is all about an event, there are many events you can go to – the Super Bowl, the Grand Ole Opry; you can go to watch the ball drop in Times Square or attend the Carolina Country Music Fest. But there is no life in those events because events cannot save you from your sins. Events do not save, a person does, and His name is Jesus. So today I would like to expound this with you in John’s gospel and in the 20th chapter. We will study this chapter under three headings: 1) The Missing Messiah (v.1-10), 2) The Weeping Woman (v.11-18), and 3) The Doubting Disciple (v.19-29). We will save v.30-31 for our conclusion.
1) THE MISSING MESSIAH
Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. 4 And the two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first; 5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in. 6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but folded up in a place by itself. 8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. 9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 10 So the disciples went away again to where they were staying.
– John 20:1-10 (LSB)
It’s Sunday, the first day of the week. It is early in the morning, so much so that it is still dark. Mary Magdalene, who is mentioned in the other Gospels resurrection account, is there early in the morning at the tomb of Jesus. This account is unique to John’s gospel and is told in this way to highlight the theme of “belief.” This entire chapter on the resurrection of Jesus centers on the subject of belief. What good is the resurrection if you do not believe in it? This seems to be John’s thinking in writing this chapter. The details that John shares with us are not only historical and true, but are highly important for the structure of his gospel. It would not surprise everyone to hear that these three sections of John’s 20th chapter are chaistically structured. The purpose of this structure is to highlight the main central event of each section while simultaneously pointing to the idea of belief. Now, in v.8, John, the author of this gospel, tells us that he entered into the tomb with Peter, saw the carefully folded linen wrappings, and believed. There have been two proposed possibilities regarding what exactly John believed.
1. The most popular interpretation is that John believed in the resurrection of Jesus.
This theory, though the most popular, is not possible to hold given what is stated in the very next verse (v.9), which states that “For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.”
2. The other interpretation is that John simply believed Mary’s report that Jesus’ body had been taken.
This interpretation is also insufficient, for it does violence to the word “believe” and its meaning. John certainly did not believe a lie or misinformation. Jesus’ body had not been taken; this was pure speculation and utterly false. It also would contradict the implication of John’s use of the word believe which is going to be the main and final thrust of this chapter.
There is a THIRD option, which is the right one. We are to take John’s belief in the ascension of Christ. Though v.9 confirms that he and Peter had yet to understand the resurrection, they certainly believed in the ascension of Christ as was foretold to them.
You heard that I said to you, ‘I go away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved Me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it happens, so that when it happens, you may believe.
– John 14:28-29 (LSB)
This is repeated in chapter 16.
“A little while, and you will no longer see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me.” 17 Some of His disciples then said to one another, “What is this He is telling us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they were wishing to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will cry and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 Whenever a woman is in labor she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. 22 Therefore you too have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
– John 16:16-22 (LSB)
John believes in the ascension while not understanding the resurrection. John’s faith in many ways is like that of the Old Testament saints (though John is on the very threshold between the Old and the New). He has the right faith, though his faith is dimly lit in a mysterious room. John’s knowledge was limited in this regard. The point of this story is simple: Mary, Peter, and John have a Messiah who is missing. In reality, the Messiah is not missing, but they are missing a key piece of information. If they truly understood the resurrection at this moment, they would not be in panic but in peace. If anyone can testify that salvation is not found in an event, it is these disciples, Mary, Peter, and John. They rightly understood that their salvation, their hope, was in the person of Jesus Christ. They are not enjoying their sunrise Easter service… They either believe that His body has been taken or that He has ascended already to the Father and has left them without saying goodbye or giving them instructions…
Mary, Peter, and John are looking for Jesus in the wrong place. Some of you, like them, may be disciples of Jesus who have come to the tomb to find Him, but friends, He is not there. There are some of you here who may or may not be true disciples of Jesus, but have simply lost Him. You cannot find Him where you are looking, because you look in the wrong place. But friends, Jesus is not lost. If you cannot find Him, it is you who are lost. The way to Jesus is through His words, through the Scriptures. Friends, the tomb of Jesus is empty. What is it that you believe about it? You may be like John, who believes something about it, but it is not the full sense of what has happened. You have yet to fully understand the truthfulness and reality of the resurrection of Jesus. We see that many people profess to believe in the resurrection of Jesus because they are culturally exposed to that concept and so assume it unto themselves. But let us know this, as John points out, the resurrection is according to the Scripture.
The Scripture that John may be referring to is either Psalm 16:10: “For You will not forsake my soul to Sheol; You will not give Your Holy One over to see corruption.” or Hosea 6:2: “He will make us alive after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, That we may live before Him.” For us in this room, there are many more scriptures that these two are for us to consider. These are simply in the Old Testament, while we have many, many more in the New, including the very text we are studying. This missing Messiah is soon to be found, and it is not in another tomb, or wrapped in different linen wrappings, but in a garden.
2) THE WEEPING WOMAN
But Mary was standing outside the tomb crying; and so, as she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Whom are you seeking?” Thinking 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 Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
– John 20:11-18 (LSB)
Here again, we see Mary Magdalene. Mary returns to the empty tomb to grieve over the missing body of her Lord. This time, she encounters two angels and a gardener. John informs us that this is not a gardener but is indeed the resurrected Lord Jesus. It is simply that Mary, overwhelmed with grief, either did not recognize Jesus or, as with the disciples on the road to Emmaus, Jesus revealed Himself when ready. Let us briefly observe that Jesus spent His last night weeping in a garden, and so spends His first morning with a weeping Mary in a garden. This is the woman who was possessed by seven demons, and Jesus cast them out of her (Luke 8:2). She is a faithful disciple of her Lord, and like most women, is taking her time in grieving over Him. But, again, it is not just because she is a typical emotional woman, but because Jesus had done so much for her. Jesus changed her life! He delivered her from the oppression of seven demons. He didn’t have to do that for her, and yet, He did. Jesus pitied Mary and showed compassion to her. When Mary was completely lost in despair, Jesus met her where she was and pulled her up out of it by His power and His grace. Jesus taught her the gospel, showed her many more miracles, and brought her into a new family of other believers and disciples of the Way. Jesus changed Mary’s life, and now, He is dead, and her savior is lost.
Both the angels and Jesus ask her the question, “Why are you crying?” An excellent question, given the truth that Jesus has risen from the dead. WHY ARE YOU CRYING? Asked her twice! What is the answer to this question, dear Christian? Her answer is, “I am crying because I have lost Jesus! I cannot find Him! He is gone! My Savior is missing!” But friends, this is not true. He is standing right in front of her. Without a doubt, there are seasons in the Christian life where we will feel as if we have lost our relationship with our Savior, but the truth is that it is impossible. Mary did not find Jesus initially; He found her. If she was not the one who found Him, how can she be the one to lose Him? In this text lies an important lesson for you, dear saints, that your feelings are irrelevant and are usually misleading. You may feel that you lost Him, but rest assured, you haven’t because He will never lose you.
Our interpretation that John had the ascension of Jesus in mind is confirmed here in the words of Jesus. Jesus brings up His ascension to the Father and how it has not happened yet, but is soon going to take place (v.17). Mary Magdalene’s statement to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” is to say the same thing as Jesus instructed her. For if she has seen the Lord Jesus, then He has yet ascended to the Father. The ascension has not happened yet. Also, Jesus is not some ghostly spirit, but is in a physical form. A bodily resurrection has taken place. Mary is weeping in despair when she should be rejoicing in gladness. Mary’s reaction to the resurrection is confusing because Mary is confused. She has been led to believe something that is not true.
Friend, why cry, why be dismayed, why go throughout this miserable life bearing the weight of sin and misery in this fallen estate? Why continue seeking satisfaction in things that can never satisfy? Why go on without hope of the forgiveness of sins and freedom from the wrath that is to come to you? Why do this when Jesus Christ stands ready to save you? Jesus is standing right before you this very moment just as much as He was standing before Mary. You do not need to go to a priest, or a holy mountain, or travel to Jerusalem to meet Him. He is here, ready to save. Why are you crying? Jesus is risen from the dead and offers eternal life to you. This is the answer to the question, “Whom are you seeking?” Living a life seeking yourself, your own glory, is a fool’s errand. To live in a manner seeking the approval of others, mere praise of fallen man, is a waste of existence. We were created to know God and to worship Him; it is He that we must seek! The missing Messiah has been found; He is alive and present. For those who doubt, here is encouragement for you.
3) THE DOUBTING DISCIPLE
So while it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and while the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send 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, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” 24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Bring your finger here, and see My hands; and bring your hand here and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are those who did not see, and yet believed.”
– John 20:19-29 (LSB)
We ask the question, “Why did it please Jesus to appear to 10 of the disciples, breathe the Holy Spirit upon them that they may now know and understand the resurrection, but not Thomas?” Jesus could have appeared to all 11 of them at once, but chose to first appear to all except Thomas. Why? For this very purpose, to show He is a patient brother, a kind savior, a sympathetic King. In our Lord’s perfect plan, there are some Christians who doubt. This was not just for Thomas, but for you and me. See how Jesus does not wait for Thomas to make his request known, but immediately commands Thomas to feel His hands and side. Where Mary was told by Jesus to stop clinging to Him, Thomas is commanded by Jesus to cling to Him. Why? Why such a difference? Because there are many types of saints in the Kingdom of God. Some need their sorrows to come to an end (Mary), and some need assurance (Thomas).
See how our Lord is gracious to each saint. Mary believed, but was stubborn in sadness. Thomas was stubborn in unbelief and needed to believe. Observe how Jesus is the one who had the power over Thomas’ faith and not Thomas himself. Jesus commands him, “Bring your finger here, and see My hands; and bring your hand here and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing” (v.27) Brothers and sisters listen here… Listen to the words of the Lord Jesus, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are those who did not see, and yet believed” (v.29). Blessed are those who cannot physically see and yet still believe. Blessed are those who believe in Jesus and confess, “My Lord, and my God.” Again, friends, it’s not about an event, it’s about a person; Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the eternally begotten Son of God, and perfect Son of Man, who lived and died to save you from your sins.
CONCLUSION
Therefore many other signs Jesus also did in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.
– John 20:30-31 (LSB)
And so John answers for us the question, “Why must we believe?” “What is the reason for believing?” It is so that you may have life, eternal life. This life is only for those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Only for those who believe that Jesus is divine and human, Messiah and God. Are you confused about what to believe? Have you believed the wrong thing? Or are you stubborn in your unbelief? The resurrection of Christ addresses all three of these. And the answer is that you would look to Jesus and believe that He is the Christ and that He is the Son of God. If you believe in Jesus, your confusion will be transformed into clarity. If you believe in Jesus, your weeping will become rejoicing. If you believe in Jesus according to faith and not by sight, you will have life. Jesus rose from the dead so that you would have life, and the Apostle John wrote about the resurrection so that you would believe in Jesus and have life. I am preaching the resurrection to you today so that you may have life. All I am asking you to do, with John and with Jesus, is to come to Him and believe. Believe in the one who overcame death and offers you eternal life. Let us all look to Jesus and trust and obey.