43: Preaching/Teaching John 20
We must embrace God’s WHY because:
“The resurrection of Jesus Christ is absolutely the best attested fact in ancient history.”
Horace Bushnell
The Why!
“If the Gospel of John were an ordinary biography, there would be no chapter 20. I am an incurable reader of biographies, and I notice that almost all of them conclude with the death and burial of the subject. I have yet to read one that describes the subject’s resurrection from the dead! The fact that John continued his account and shared the excitement of the Resurrection miracle is proof that Jesus Christ is not like any other man. He is, indeed, the Son of God.”
20:6–7 When Peter arrived at the tomb, moments later, he entered in, probably because he wanted to know exactly how things stood regardless of the consequences. He also looked at (Gr. theorei, beheld intently) not only the linen burial clothes (Gr. ta othonia), but also the face-cloth that had covered Jesus’ head (Gr. soudarion, cf. 11:44).
1. Our Grief will be transformed into Mission (11-18). -Mary
a. Mary before Jesus-
b. The Grief was Real and confusing(11-15)
We must embrace God’s WHY because:
2. Our fear will be transformed into gladness (19-23). -Disciples
gladness reflects the image of God
Gladness reflects the mission of God
We must embrace God’s WHY because:
3. Our doubt will be transformed into Faith (24-29). -Thomas
John’s previous pictures of this disciple present him as a loyal and courageous, though somewhat gloomy and pessimistic, follower of Jesus. His more common identification as a doubter comes only from the present event.
Don’t forsake the Fellowship when you are struggling.
No one else in the New Testament made demands like these before believing. The Greek text clarifies that the other disciples kept saying (Gr. elegon, imperfect tense) that Jesus was alive. They evidently sought Thomas out and shared the good news with him (cf. Gal. 6:1).
We can be honest about our struggles
“The resurrection of Jesus Christ is absolutely the best attested fact in ancient history.”
Horace Bushnell