Being Poured Out to Receive More

Lesson #333

We kind of rushed through John 20:29 in the previous lesson and so we will go back for a few more comments. The verse was: “Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”” In the matter of faith and unbelief, how might people be divided? There are those who have been with Jesus, heard him speak and seen his miracles, but will not believe, like those who came to arrest Jesus in the garden. As Jesus declares who he is they fall down before his words, but even at this demonstration of his power, his uniqueness, they still take him away to be crucified. Of the disciples, Judas was in this group. As an example from the Old Testament, consider Pharaoh. He witnessed the power of God through various miracles, but would not let Israel go until the country was ruined and the first born of every Egyptian was dead. Even after he then let them go he went after them and his army was destroyed.

There are those, like Thomas, that will not believe unless they see. Along with Thomas the other ten disciples were in this group for a while. They lived with Jesus, listened to him and watched him, but they could not believe until they saw him after his resurrection. In a way this is true for many people today. For years the Jesus file has provided a way for people to view the life of Jesus; to hear him speak, to see him perform miracles, to see him suffer and die for them, and then to rise from the dead. There are many in various parts of the world who are having dreams and visions in which they see Jesus and then soon hear a testimony from someone about him and then believe.

There are those who, like most of us, have not seen and yet have believed. It is this kind of faith that pleases God. It is this kind of faith that allows God to do the impossible in and through us. It is with this kind of faith that one can read or hear the word of God, believe it and apply it to their lives and enjoy its benefits.

Whether we see in some visible way or we simply believe the word of God, each believer is blessed by God. How we come to belief is not important. The important thing is that once we do believe and are born spiritually, how then do we live out that new life in Christ? Is it clear to those around us that by our speech and our behavior we are children of God?

 “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30 – 31 ESV). Along with what John has written, we have the writings of Matthew, Mark and Luke. These writings make up the Gospels and provide sufficient evidence as to who Jesus was, why the Son of God came to earth, and what Jesus Christ accomplished while here. From this evidence, those who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, receive the blessing of eternal life in his name.

Prayer

Father, we have come to the end of another exciting chapter in the life of Jesus. We could end here and have all that is needed for salvation, but there is some unfinished business with Peter that need some attention and that we will learn about in the next chapter. Father, I know there are lost sheep scattered all over the world, held by the power of darkness, who need to be found by sharing the gospel that we have studied for the past two years. I pray for those who suffer and even die as a result of living out their faith in search for these lost sheep. I pray that we will obey the command to go and make disciples. We must be poured out and keep being poured out so that God can keep filling us up with his blessings. That is the Christian life; to be continually poured out that God can continually fill us with newness of life. What a marvelous life that is! 

Doubting Thomas Believes

Lesson #332

We left Thomas saying to the other disciples, “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.” But then, “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.”” (John 20:26 ESV).

Eight days later is the way Jews spoke of a week; like counting from Sunday to Sunday, starting with Sunday as one. Jesus appeared to Mary and then to the ten disciples on Sunday and then one week later, on Sunday, Jesus appeared to the eleven as Thomas was with them this time. Why was Thomas among them? Maybe the ten who believed felt it was important to meet on Sunday and maybe they believed Jesus might appear again, so maybe they persuaded Thomas to join then that day.

As before, the disciples were in a room behind locked doors for fear of the Jews as well as privacy for their time of conversation and possible devotion. Jesus promised that “. . . where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them” (Matthew 18:20 ESV). The disciples were together and Jesus appeared in their midst physically because he had not yet ascended to his Father. When we come together, Jesus is in our midst in the Spirit.

Gathered together in that room were ten believers and one of unbelief with set conditions to be met before he would believe. Jesus was willing to appear with Thomas there and meet his conditions. We might be surprised how many people have barriers set up that God has to overcome to reach his loss sheep. As before, Jesus simple appeared and said, “Peace be with you.”

It is now time for Jesus to deal with doubting Thomas. “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.” (John 20:27 ESV). This appearance of Jesus was primarily for the sake of Thomas. Jesus knew the conditions of belief Thomas had set up and he now addresses them. He instructs Thomas to do exactly what Thomas had required and as a result the impact would be immediate and powerful. “Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 ESV). Without examining his hands and side, Thomas stood there, ashamed of his unbelief, he now responds in belief, referring to Jesus as his Lord and his God. Thomas did not doubt now that Jesus had risen from the dead, just as he said he would.

“Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29 ESV). Thomas believed because he physically saw Jesus. Paul encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus and many in the middle east are encountering Jesus in dreams and visions, but most will come to belief upon hearing the gospel. Jesus says, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Prayer

Father, if there are readers of this Bible study, like Thomas, who have conditions that need to be met before they would believe, I pray that they would ask the Lord to show them what they need to see or hear to believe. Father, for those who believe, I pray that these studies are found to be helpful in learning more about Jesus and growing spiritually. Thank you for teaching me as I study and write and that I can share these studies with people found in many different places and many different conditions around the world. Father, I pray for any needs they have at this time. 

The Arrogant Unbelief of Thomas

Lesson #331

When Jesus appeared among the disciples and he showed them his hands and his side and breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit”, one of the disciples was missing. “Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came” (John 20:24 ESV). Why was Thomas not with the disciples? Possibly he figured that since Jesus was dead there was nothing else left to happen. Jesus said he would rise from the dead, but apparently Thomas wasn’t willing to believe, even after all he experienced living with Jesus for three years.

By separating himself from the rest of the disciples, he missed the opportunity to experience Jesus alive and receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit. When we are together as believers, Jesus Christ is in the midst of us just as he appeared in the midst of the disciples in that locked room. What was the effect on Thomas by not being there? How were the other ten disciples now different?

Later, the other disciples found Thomas and 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.”” (John 20:25 ESV). Ten brothers witnessed to Thomas that they had seen Jesus, but he refused to believe them. He was determined that he would not believe any evidence presented to him. He would believe only if his conditions were met and no other way. Consider how much Thomas had lost by not being with the other disciples and now not believing and consider how evil and darkness is creeping into his life. We must remember what was said in Hebrews about this: “Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24 – 25 ESV). As we see in the case of Thomas, it is important that we spend time in fellowship with other believers. We can learn from each other and be held accountable.

Thomas is in a very dangerous place. With his unbelief and his attitude, no amount of witness will ever penetrate his heart if God does not intervene. In the beginning, God chose twelve disciples; eleven lost sheep and one goat, that being Judas. Ten of the twelve have seen Jesus and have received the Holy Spirit, but Thomas is still a lost sheep. Thomas is yet to be found, but we can be certain he will be, just as anyone chosen by the Father will come to salvation. We will see this in the next lesson.

Prayer

Father, this unbelief held by Thomas was also seen in Paul before his encounter with Jesus on the way to Damascus.  Many in the middle east are encountering Jesus in dreams and visions and hardened evil men, who torture believers for their faith, are encountering Jesus through the supernatural witness of those they are torturing. Father, without your touch, not a one of us would ever respond on our own. Father, thank you for that touch. 

Sent Out with Power

Lesson #330

We ended the previous lesson with a command from Jesus: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” This was a command to his disciples, but as they go and make disciples, then those disciples are to make disciples and thus we are to go and make disciples. Jesus knows them, and us, will need help in being a witness and so he provides that help.

“And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22 ESV). In Genesis 2:7 (ESV) “the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Here Jesus breathed on them, possibly to suggest a new creation as in 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” That new is very special because of what it is and who dwells in it. In 1 Corinthians 6:19 (ESV) we find out what that is: “. . .  do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God?” God used to dwell in a temple of stone built by men, but now God dwells within this new creation in Christ. We are a new creature, empowered by the Holy Spirit, setting us apart from unbelievers, able to understand spiritual things, which are foolishness to those without the Spirit. With this understanding and power, we are equipped to go and share the gospel and make disciples of those who believe. The question is, “Are you willing to be obedient and Go?”

The instruction Jesus gave to the disciples had another part to it. He said: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld” (John 20:23 ESV). What did Jesus mean by this statement? One thing is clear from Mark 2:7 that only God can forgive sins. If we say we can then we are guilty of blaspheming. So then, what is the meaning? “The expressions ‘they are forgiven’ and ‘it is withheld’ both represent perfect-tense words in Greek and could be translated, ‘they have been forgiven’ and ‘it has been withheld’, since the perfect gives the sense of completed past action with continuing results in the present.” (Footnote on John 20:23 in the ESV Study Bible, copyright 2008 by Crossway Bibles). The idea is that as the gospel is proclaimed, those who believe and are born again are forgiven their sin, but those who do not believe remain in their sin, unforgiven, under the wrath of God. Since we are chosen by God the Father before the foundation of the world, and then through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our being forgiven or not has already been determined. Our part in this is to share the gospel to find these lost sheep who are granted forgiveness. I pray this gives some understanding.

Prayer

Father, I find it interesting that in the creation of man, Jesus breathed life into that physical body and here with the disciples he is breathing spiritual life into them, and thus us, as a new creation in Christ. It is that second breath that is so critical, for without it we are left spiritually dead. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and that life is breathed into us as the Father causes one to be born spiritually. That breath is the gift of eternal life. Father, thank you. 

It Is You! You are Alive!

Lesson #329

We finished the previous lesson with the appearance of Jesus to his disciples who were hiding behind closed and locked doors. “Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” John doesn’t explain what he means by “Jesus came” and stood among them and as a result there is a difference of opinion about how Jesus got into the room. It is very simple. He just appeared and he said to them: “Peace be with you.” “When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord” (John 20:20 ESV).

In a kind, tender and affectionate manner, Jesus instructs them to be at peace and come and look at his hands and side to see the marks of crucifixion. Except for the nail marks and the spear wound, Jesus stands before them with a restored physical body, but not yet clothed with glory. He wants his disciples to be sure they understand this is the same body that hung and died on the cross and is now alive. Having those marks is important as they are evidence that this resurrected Jesus is the one who was crucified on the cross for their sin. This evidence will be very important when the Jews will one day see and realize that the One they hung on the cross for blasphemy and crucified was indeed their Messiah. The disciples saw the marks and were glad to know that the person they had lived with for three years and explained to them that he would die for their sin and would rise again. He now gives them proof that he has overcome death and that anyone who is born spiritually will also rise from the grave.

“Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”” (John 20:21 ESV).  Jesus knows there are difficult times ahead for the disciples and so he again said to them, “Peace be with you.” But just as Jesus, God’s Son, was sent on assignment with a message and a job to do, so he sends his disciples on assignment and thus us also. Paul makes this very clear: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8 – 10 ESV). Jesus will strengthen this command later, but for now he tells them there is work to do, which can’t be done filled with fear sitting behind closed and locked doors. What closed and locked door are we sitting behind or are we out on our assignment?

Jesus was sent by the Father to explain in word and by miracles that he was the way and the truth and the life, and that he was going to the cross as God’s perfect sacrifice to purchase our salvation. As believers, we are to go and explain to others this message.

Prayer

Father, what an amazing moment that must have been for the disciples to have Jesus appear in the room with them. I wonder what they had to say. What assurance that must have given them; what hope. Jesus appeared to them once before, like a ghost, walking on water during a great storm, but now their assurance of eternal life stands before them as their resurrected savior. Father, what joy and excitement to have spent two years of study and walked with Jesus and now meet him in the room with the disciples. Father, I must go and write more Bible studies to send out into the world, where I can’t go now, to share the message of salvation and help train up disciples. 

I Have Seen the Lord! Have You?

Lesson #328

We need to finish up John 20:17: “Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”” Jesus gave Mary the instruction to tell the disciples, now referred to as his brothers, where he was going.

At the darkest time in the life of Jesus, he calls out from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). This was the only time Jesus did not refer to God as his Father, but now on the other side of the resurrection, Jesus again refers to God as his Father, but he doesn’t say our Father and our God because he needs to distinguish what God is to him and to us. The Father is his God only in the connection of Jesus with us and our God only in out connection with him. The Father and the Son are one in essence, but Jesus steps in between us and God in his relationship with us.

In obedience, “Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her” (John 20:18 ESV). I am sure Mary would like to have stayed there and have conversation with Jesus (I know I would have), but with a willing and excited heart, she needed to share the good news. When we come to know Jesus for who he is, do we get excited like Mary and want to go and tell others or is Jesus just another friend to us?

Mary goes, knowing that Jesus has risen from the dead, not because the angels said so, but because she actually had conversation with him. She has firsthand experience and a firm belief that has given her confidence, assurance, pleasure and great joy. Mary was deeply emotionally connected to Jesus and stayed with him through the crucifixion and for her faithfulness, she was rewarded by being the first to see him alive and gets the opportunity to report to the disciples that what Jesus said about rising from the dead is true and they are considered as brothers of Jesus.

Mary is filled with excitement, but what about the disciples? “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.” (John 20:19 ESV). This event occurred on the same day that Mary met Jesus alive at the tomb (John 20:1). The resurrection of Jesus from the dead establishes Sunday, the day following the Sabbath, as the most important day of the week and thus the first day of the week from that point on. This is seen in Acts 20:7 (NLT): “On the first day of the week, we gathered with the local believers to share in the Lord’s Supper. Paul was preaching to them, and since he was leaving the next day, he kept talking until midnight.” Sunday is the day we are to come together for worship, in celebration of our Lord’s resurrection and to learn from the word.

John seems to make it clear that the doors were closed and also locked to prevent entry of others. Because of what the Jews did to Jesus, they probably feared that they may be next on their list. Jesus comes and appears in the room with them. If Moses and Elijah were able to appear on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, Peter, James and John, and if Philip, after baptizing the eunuch, was carried away by the Spirit, then why would anyone question how Jesus got into the room with the disciples hiding behind locked doors. I can imagine when Jesus appeared and said, “Peace be with you.” the disciples were probably speechless not knowing what to say.

Prayer

Father, we found Mary at the empty tomb, wanting to honor Jesus with a proper burial, but the disciples were hiding behind locked doors in fear for their lives. What a contrast in faithfulness between the two. Mary was out having conversation with angels and with Jesus and the disciples were living in fear because of their relationship with Jesus. How true that is today. Some are willing to give their lives to remain faithful to Jesus and others sit behind closed doors in soft chairs, afraid to share the message Mary was told to share with the disciples. Father, have mercy on us! 

From Grief to Ecstatic Joy

Lesson #320

At the end of the previous lesson, we left Mary facing Jesus through eyes blurred with tears of grief, not realizing yet that it was Jesus. Then “Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing 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.”” (John 20:15 ESV). In John 2:4, Jesus referred to his mother as “woman” and here he is referring to Mary as “woman”. As we said earlier, this was not out of disrespect, but was like us saying “madam”. Woman was used then as madam is used by us today to address or refer to a woman in a polite or respectful way.

Notice that Jesus asks Mary the same question the angels asked, but added “Whom are you seeking?” Not only was Mary weeping over the death of Jesus, but she was concern that someone took the body from the tomb and is not properly caring for it. Mary assumed the person she was talking to was the gardener and for some reason he took the body and put it someplace else and she wanted to know where so she and close by friends could take it and prepare it for a proper burial.

At this point “Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).” (John 20:16 ESV).  Jesus breaks through to her by speaking her name in a way she was very familiar with and she explodes with expression and responds with “teacher!” What a change of emotion; from grief, born out of the death of Jesus and his missing body to ecstatic joy of him standing before her in a body full of life. This will surely cause her some deep reflection as to how this happened and some great conversation starters with others.

“Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”” (John 20:17 ESV). This is another one of those difficult verses and is open to discussion as to why Jesus asked Mary to not cling to him when later Jesus will tell Thomas to touch him so as to believe that it was him. Maybe it was because Jesus wanted her to go quickly to the disciples “and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

It is significant that Mary was instructed to go to his brothers, the disciples, because just a short while ago Peter denied him after boasting that he never would, even in the face of death, and all had fled during the crucifixion. Jesus now refers to them for the first time, not as his disciples, but as his brothers, as fellow heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17) and now qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints in light (Colossians 1:12).

We still need to comment on the phrase “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” We will start the next lesson with those comments.

Prayer

Father, in this lesson we witnessed Mary coming from a position of no hope to that of ecstatic joy when she sees Jesus alive. For her it was a life changing experience, just as it is when anyone comes to salvation out of a desperate situation. Her love has deepened as living hope floods her soul, just as happens to so many coming to salvation in Jesus Christ from another religion. Father, I pray for a growing number to find salvation in Jesus, who are currently without hope, enslaved in the bondage of religion. Thank you for salvation, so rich and free to us as a gift, but which cost you the sacrifice of your only Son.

Mary Is Overcome with Grief

Lesson #326

We ended the previous lesson with the disciples going back to their homes, “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb” (John 20:11 ESV). Mary apparently followed Peter and John back to the tomb, but when they left and went back to their homes, Mary stayed at the tomb and wept, but why? According to Matthew, Mary and two other women saw an angle remove the stone and said that Jesus had risen. John reports Mary saying that someone had taken the body from the tomb. Remember, neither Matthew or John were eye witnesses and what they are reporting is second hand information. So, what really happened at the tomb?

“Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb,” “And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet” (John 20:12 ESV). It appears that Matthew reported the appearance of the angles too early. Mary was at the tomb twice and if both had reported Mary seeing the angles on the second visit then the reports would have been less confusing. We will go with the version John gives and place the visit with the angels at the second visit to the tomb.

As she wept, Mary stooped to look into the tomb for the second time, but is met with a surprise; she sees two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had lain. “They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”” (John 20:13 ESV). John didn’t record the angels telling Mary that Jesus had risen as Matthew did. He covers this in a different way in the next verse.

Before looking at that verse, consider the two angels and where they were sitting. Jesus died in payment for our salvation so that God could have mercy on us and extend grace to us. In Exodus 25 the mercy seat is mentioned in relation to two angels: “And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends” (Exodus 25:18 – 19 ESV). I find it interesting that John reports two angels sitting at the two ends of where Jesus lay, like the two cherubim of gold at the ends of the mercy seat.

Back to Mary: “Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus” (John 20:14 ESV). John didn’t tell us that the angels told the women that Jesus had risen. Instead, he presents Jesus alive to talk to Mary, but she was so absorbed in grief that she didn’t realize at first that it was Jesus, because she probably had no expectation of seeing him there. As of yet, she probably had no concept of what the resurrection was like and so was unprepared to recognize the person standing there as Jesus.

Prayer

Father, we have come to a special place in our study of John where a great mystery is about to be understood. Up to this point no one has yet understood the meaning of rising from the dead. When Mary turns, absorbed in grief with eyes blurred by tears, she sees a man standing near her, but does not realize it is Jesus. Father, in the next lesson is the excitement of her realizing that she is talking with Jesus and he is alive. 

Jesus Is Alive!

Lesson #325

We ended the last lesson with a report from Mary that Jesus had been taken from the tomb. “So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first” (John 20:3 - 4 ESV). Upon hearing the report from Mary, Peter and John decided to go to the tomb to see for themselves. They were in a hurry to get there and so they ran. It is interesting that John reveals that he is like us in saying that he outran Peter.

They arrived at the tomb to check things out, “And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in” (John 20:5 ESV). Since we know that John got there first, we know that it was he who looked in. John may have gotten there first because some think he was younger than Peter. Was it possible that Peter held back a little because of apprehension over the possibility of meeting Jesus there, remembering that he had denied him earlier.

John stopped at the entrance and looked in, but “Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself” (John 20:6 – 7 ESV). Visualize what Peter saw and what it means. The linen cloths that Jesus was wrapped in for burial were lying there where Jesus was laid. This would strongly suggest that Jesus rose through the linen cloths just as he will later appear in a room with the disciples behind closed doors. Indeed, Jesus did rise from the dead as told by the angel in Matthew 28:6.

“Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed” (John 20:8 ESV). John then follows Peter into the tomb and he saw the evidence before him and he believed what Jesus said about rising from the dead and also believed what the woman reported. Up to this point the disciples did not understand what Jesus meant about rising from the dead: “for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead” (John 20:9 ESV). Things that were written in the Old Testament and things that Jesus said simply did not have meaning to them, but now John is beginning to understand.

Having heard the report of the women and seeing, for themselves, the empty tomb, “. . . the disciples went back to their homes” (John 20:10 ESV). It is uncertain what is meant by “their homes” here so we will not speculate along with others.

Prayer

Father, the struggle the disciples are going through in trying to understand, to believe what Jesus has been saying about rising from the dead is not unlike the struggle many go through in accepting salvation in Jesus Christ. The marvelous thing is that Jesus did die on the cross for our sin and he did rise to obtain victory over death and insured our salvation; a salvation that is a free gift to us, but a gift that required the sacrifice of the true Lamb of God. Father, thank you. 

Jesus Is Gone

Lesson #324

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, along with Mary the mother of James, and Salome, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. “So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”” (John 20:2 ESV). In the previous lesson we made reference to Matthew 28:1 – 6 to learn that an angel came and rolled back the stone, sat on it and told the women that Jesus was not there, but had risen. They were instructed to look inside and see that he was gone. In Luke 24:3 – 4 they went inside and did not find the body. They found this perplexing and then two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. Luke continues: “And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, . . .” (Luke 24:5 – 8 ESV).

John leaves much detail out and simply states that Mary Magdalene ran and went to Simon Peter and John and explained to them that “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” When you compare the witness of Mark, given above, with what John says, you have an example of how two witnesses seem to remember things differently after the passing of several years. However, we must remember that neither Peter or John were at the tomb and what they are writing is from what they heard from Mary and probably the other two women who were there. Each shares what they remember and stress what they feel is important in the story they are telling.

John indicates that Mary told only Peter and John, but Matthew states that she told the disciples. It appears that since only Peter and John went to the tomb to check on what Mary was saying, that may have been be why he only mentions the two being told. The rest of the disciples either did not care or didn’t believe and were willing to, maybe, sleep a little longer and wait for a report from Peter and John. Another interesting point is about who is meant by “they” in reference to removing Jesus from the tomb. Was Mary referring the two men in dazzling apparel or maybe someone else?

This lesson is a bit short, but this is a good break point because the next several verses are about Peter and John going to the tomb to investigate the claims of Mary.

Prayer

Father, the fact that Jesus is not in the tomb is a big problem for many because it validates the claim Jesus made about rising from the dead. If Jesus actually died on the cross and then rose from the dead, then his claim that he is the only way to obtain eternal life is also validated. Father, I believe another validation of this is the fact that the Bible has been translated into more than 2000 languages, that it can be studied for a lifetime and still not be completely understood and that there has been since the time of Jesus, persecution against those who claim to be his followers. Without the death and resurrection of Jesus there is no hope beyond the grave. Father, thank you that we have a living hope today.

The Tomb was Open

Lesson #323

With this lesson we begin chapter 20 of the Gospel of John. We ended chapter 19 with Jesus being placed in a tomb, but there is hope because of an event that took place at the tomb. Let us find out what that event was. “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb” (John 20:1 ESV). The first day of the week is what we call Sunday; Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, which means we can’t count Sunday as a day that Jesus was in the tomb. Tradition has been established that Jesus died Friday afternoon. If that is true then Friday and Saturday are the only two days that Jesus was in the tomb, but Jesus himself said that he would be buried for three days. That means he would have died on Thursday, because he had risen before daylight on Sunday.

John speaks of only Mary Magdalene coming to the tomb, but Mark gives more details: “When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him” (Mark 16:1 ESV). These three woman brought spices with the intension of embalming Jesus again and in a more complete manner than Joseph and Nicodemus had done because of their shortness of time. But when they arrive at the tomb they found that someone had apparently rolled the stone back. It is important that we stop here and consider what took place.

According to Matthew 27:62 – 66, The chief priests and Pharisees requested that the tomb be sealed and a guard posted to ensure that no one would come and remove the body, claiming that he had risen. Pilate granted permission, so they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. It would have taken several men with tools to break the seal and roll the stone away from the entrance. To do that at night with a guard standing watch would have been impossible.

Matthew continues by saying: “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men” (Matthew 28:1 – 4 ESV). That is how the tomb was opened.

Matthew continues by saying: “But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay” (Matthew 28:5 – 6 ESV). This explains how Jesus left the tomb.

 In the next lesson we will learn what the women did.

Prayer

Father, I think I have said enough about the possibility of the crucifixion of Jesus being on Thursday instead of Friday as tradition holds. Like the Pharisees, who held to tradition and rejected truth from Jesus, we at times are enslaved to our tradition and are not willing to look into it further. I don’t think it is really important on what day Jesus died, but it is absolutely important that he rose from the dead and on that the Scriptures are very clear. Father, thank you that the women experienced the tomb being opened by an angel, and the angel declaring that Jesus had risen. 

Laid to Rest for a Time

Lesson #322

Our previous lesson ended with the assurance, by John, of the death of Jesus. “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body” (John 19:38 ESV). After it was determined that Jesus was dead, Arimathea who was a wealthy member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Pilate and asked permission to take away the body of Jesus. Permission was granted “And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away” (Matthew 27:59 – 60 NLT). This fulfills the prophecy found at Isaiah 53:9 (ESV): “He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave.”

Joseph takes the body and now “Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight” (John 19:39 ESV). We met Nicodemus in Lesson #33 when he came to speak privately with Jesus and during the conversation Jesus told him he had to be born again, causing confusion for Nicodemus. Now Nicodemus comes to Jesus again, this time to show his respect, bringing with him that which is necessary for embalming. Seventy-five pounds is a rather large quantity for embalming just one person, but it is believed that large quantities were used for important people.

It appears that they met at the cross because “. . . they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews” (John 19:40 ESV). They covered the body with the mixture of myrrh and aloes and as they did they wrapped his body with a clean linen cloth. Joseph and Nicodemus were good friends of Jesus and if there was life left in him they would have detected it during this process. Even if there was life, it would have been impossible for that life to have continued for the time Jesus laid in the tomb wrapped the way he was.

“Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid” (John 19:41 ESV). It is interesting to note that the fall of Adam occurred in a garden and Jesus, the second Adam, was laid to rest in a tomb in a garden. The wage of sin is death and that was committed in a garden by Adam and Jesus who paid that wage on the cross was brought to a garden and placed in a tomb.

Joseph and Nicodemus were running out of time, “So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there” (John 19:41 ESV). They probably intended to place Jesus into a more magnificent tomb, but because of time constraints and since Joseph had a tomb there they chose to use it.

Because of space constraints, we will end our lesson here and begin our next lesson at the beginning of chapter 20.

Prayer

Father, so many people of the world simply see Jesus as a historical person of influence like many other historical people. They fail to see him as the perfect sacrifice that was offered for their sin and refuse to believe that he rose from the dead to provide eternal life for those who embrace him in belief. Father, if the story ended here with Jesus in the tomb, then there is no hope and we all remain under the wrath of a holy God, but it doesn’t! Father, thank you for the resurrection, which we will study about in our next lesson.