John 20
By: Alexander Rico
Imagine if you will along with me, that we are talking to one another and suddenly in the corner of your eye you see a man or woman standing there beside you. You turn around quickly and catch sight of someone you once knew that had been dead now for well over three days. In fact, you had been there when they perished. However, to your disbelief there they are! How would you feel? What would you be thinking? What would you do? When I think about this, I think I would feel confused; I would be trying to pinch myself to wake up or stop hallucinating, and then, I would want to feel them and make sure that it is all real. As we have seen here, that is the exact same feelings that overcame Mary at the tomb, the disciples in the upper room, and Thomas the next day. In many ways, we can understand what they are going through. I can just see the disciples looking at one another going, “Man, what did I eat?!? Whatever it is, I need to quit.”
It would be an event that to us today, would be very unimaginable. I am most assured when we go to a funeral, we don’t expect the body to all of a sudden grab our arms when walking past the casket, or push its way out of the ground when being buried. But here we read an account that states just this had occurred. Unimaginable? Yes! Factual? Yes!
When you think of this account, this occurrence why do you think it is so hard for us to believe that it truly occurred? What causes you to doubt that Jesus is alive? I was watching TV one day, and they were talking about Christ’s resurrection from the tomb. The medical doctors and scientists all poked and probed the account looking for faults and untruths according to our medical logs. Their final conclusion was that Christ could not, nor would He have been able to rise again on the third day after sustaining such beatings and unbearable pain; finally dying on the cross where He was nailed.
The resurrection is the climax of Jesus’ story. If it is true, and from what we have read here all evidence points this to be true, then, it is the most important event in history. It tells us that all that Jesus was and is and said and did and lived was true. If it is not true, as those scientists and doctors believe, then what Jesus said and did and claimed and lived is all thrown into doubt.
By stating these two opposing sides, we have laid out a case that demands a decision. Here in this chapter of John’s gospel we have all the physical and personal evidence. All that is left now is to actually dig into it and decide where we are at: belief or non-belief. Everything hangs in the balance. Therefore, let us begin to look at this as if it was our first time.
We see at the beginning of the chapter that Mary goes to the tomb, and notices that the stone, which blocked it’s entrance was rolled away; so, she runs and tells Simon Peter, and John (the one Jesus loved) to come with her to the tomb. They do and saw, as she had, that Jesus’ body is no longer there. Saddened they turn around while Mary lingers. Mary was a woman whom Jesus had cast seven demons out of, and from that point she was known to have been very close with Him. Being one on the Hill of Calvary to the end, and finally being the first to the tomb that third day to anoint his body with oils; she loved Him immensely! (Though not as that book, “The Divinci Code” states) She loved Him because He saved her from her past life; and, was a devoted follower of Him. She was the kind of woman that understood the need for forgiveness and even appreciated it. However, when Jesus was taken and killed on the cross before her, her whole world unraveled and being there and seeing his body gone, thus went her hope. Crying, we see her not even realizing that behind her is the Savior, Jesus! She, just like us, in this moment was blinded by the truth. Many times, Jesus told His disciples that He was going to be killed and raised again on the third day. She thinks that He is simply a gardener, and requests the body back; however, we also see that the moment she hears her name, she says, “Rabboni!” or teacher! She knew instantly that from that point on all is going to be all right. However, when she attempts to cling to Him, He tells her, not out of anger, but of love that soon she will no longer be able to hold onto him as she had before; but, that He will comfort her from now on within not out. Jesus was telling her, as he is us today that He will comfort us through the pains and sorrows that come our way. He will never leave us, or forsake us.
Next, Mary goes to the disciples, who are fearfully hiding in this upper room from the Jews. She tells them about Jesus’ resurrection and they don’t believe her. How many of you would believe someone who came to you and said, “Your best friend, who died three days ago, is actually alive and I got to see them, touch them, and speak to them.” You’d probably think they were either lying or crazy! However, it’d be a different story if you saw them yourself, right? Then, you’d be crazy! This is what the disciples were thinking of Mary. They thought her to be seeing things because she had been, like them, wanting to see and hear His voice. They ignored her; then, suddenly with the door closed Jesus appears before them. Silence fills the room, as the disciples stand in awe. John records the events and the spoken word of Jesus. Jesus then says, “Peace to you,” and gives to them the great commission along with the “helper” or Holy Spirit. Therefore, Jesus sets them free from their bondage in fear and tells them to “GET OUT THERE MAKE DISICPLES!” What are they afraid of now having seen the Lord? Nothing…so, the same question is being asked of us today, what are we afraid of since we have the Lord on our side (our power pack)?
And finally, we see here the infamous doubtful Thomas who comes into the scene after Jesus appeared to those present eight days before. He was very doubtful, as am most assured we would be as well. However, I want us to understand that God does not hate or not love the doubtful, or skeptics. When Thomas asked for proof God was there to give it to Him. Being a skeptic does not make you an unbeliever, since you are seeking the facts. Yet, you are an unbeliever when you have all the facts and choose to deny them.
Jesus appears to Thomas we read and Thomas receives the proof he was asking for. From that point on, he was a true believer. Jesus told him, “Because you have seen, you believe; but, blessed are those who have not seen yet believe.”
Today, believe. We have looked over all the aspects of this case and have brought before each of us the many eye-witness accounts. Christ wants to change your life like he had for Mary, the disciples and Thomas. Now, it is your turn to make this decision. How can you do this? Well, first you must realize you need help, that you are a sinner; second, be willing to change; third, ask Christ to come into your life; and finally, do it now, do not wait on it! Christ can free you from sin and give to you a new life like He was for the many present here today. That is why this event is so important. Though it, we not only see the resurrection of Christ; but, the resurrection power, of each person He came in contact with, and He can do that for you as well today!
If you feel today, while hearing this, that you are in need of a Savior, and that you want this free gift of eternal life then the first step is to cry out to him, and ask him to come and be the LOVE, and the LORD of your life.
The Bible tells us in Romans 10:9,10, “That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’, and believe in your heart, God raised him from the dead, you will be saved!! For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved!!”
So, what are you waiting for? If you’d like to accept Christ; then by all means, please join me in this simple prayer of acceptance, asking Jesus into your heart, mind, and soul.
“Lord Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner, I take this time to confess all my sins to you, and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart, my mind, and my soul. Lord, take complete control, and be the LORD of my life. In your son’s precious holy name, AMEN.”
If you prayed that prayer along with me, I’d like to announce that today, the moment you prayed that prayer accepting Christ into your life the Bible says,“…there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner represents.” (Luke 15:10)
Just like that, you are forgiven, and adopted into God’s family, no questions asked, no strings attached; although, there are several things that you should do to continue to grow in a relationship with God.
- Read the Bible This is God’s love letter to you. It also provides us with a foundation for relationships with others, and tells us about attitudes, motivation and truth. It is important to know, and enlist the principles in the Bible into your life; they keep you on the right way and allow us to make sound judgments concerning people and doctrine.
- Pray In any relationship communication is important, priority factor. God desires to communicate with each of us. Prayer is not just a forum for requests. God wants to hear our feelings, hurts, ambitions and joys. Through this he is able to change and refine those parts of us that need it.
- Have Fellowship Get plugged into a church or local group that studies the bible. As we begin to share with others what we have learned from the Bible and prayer, we encourage others to grow and ourselves. Fellowship as God planned it is not a clicke or special club designed for gossip. We must be careful to keep our conversations with others honest. It’s best described as a fire. One coal alone dies down quickly, but a mound of coals burn white hot, just as one Christian alone will struggle to stay ‘on fire’, while a group together keeps each other hot.
- Witness “Go into the world and preach the good news to all creation.” (Mark 16:15). Jesus gave this as a command, not an option. God has chosen all Christians to be agents of His gospel. We are either missionaries or mission fields. That does not mean that everyone should travel to different countries, but it does mean that no matter where go we should be prepared in life and in word to be ambassadors for Christ. “Pray for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given to me so I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” (Ephesians 6:9)
May God continue to bless you now, as you grow in your new life with HIM!
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