< John 20 >

Early on the first day of the week certain women, including Mary Magdelene, came with spices to the sepulchre v.1John 20:1XWaiting for response and found Jesus no longer there. On hearing this news Peter and John ran to the tomb vs.2-9John 20:2-9XWaiting for response and like the women, were completely bewildered because they did not then know the scriptures which foretold his death and resurrection v.9.John 20:9XWaiting for response

Jesus had awoken from the sleep of death, and he met first with Mary Magdelene vs.14-16.John 20:14-16XWaiting for response This took her completely by surprise, but once she realised that it was Jesus, alive again, she wanted to hold him and not let him go (“touch” in v.17John 20:17XWaiting for response means “cling to” in the original Greek). Jesus, however, told her he had not yet “ascended to his Father”, meaning he had not been transformed into the divine nature, which is the promise of God to all his saints. This clearly happened very shortly afterwards, for others were permitted to touch him later that same day.

Jesus’ body was changed instantly from our mortal, corruptible nature to immortality and incorruptibility (1 Corinthians 15:52-54)1 Corinthians 15:52-54XWaiting for response and, like the angels, he could then move imperceptibly from one place to another, for those that are born of the Spirit are able to move like the wind (John 3:6-8).John 3:6-8XWaiting for response That same evening he met with his disciples, suddenly and unexpectedly, and gave them irrefutable evidence that it was he himself alive again - not a phantom or an illusion - but the same real Jesus whom they loved vs.20-23.John 20:20-23XWaiting for response Thomas was not present on that occasion and found difficulty believing that Jesus had actually risen from the dead vs.24-25,John 20:24-25XWaiting for response but he was completely convinced when Jesus came to them again vs.26-28.John 20:26-28XWaiting for response We have not had this privilege but we do have the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection in the witness of the scriptures, written both before and after the event, to convince us and Jesus declared: “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” v.29.John 20:29XWaiting for response

The Holy Spirit moved John to write of only some of the miracles which Jesus did, but enough was written that we might believe that he is the Christ, the Son of God vs.30-31.John 20:30-31XWaiting for response Unfortunately, many people have accepted a corrupted gospel and know nothing of Jesus as the Christ i.e. the king of Israel, and they view him, not as God’s Son, but as a God, coequal with the Father. It is vital, however, to believe the truth concerning Jesus as the Christ and the Son of God so “that believing we might have life through his name” v.31.John 20:31XWaiting for response