The Living Word XII

He is Risen

The Living Word XI (John 20)

I would like to continue with our series “The Living Word” from the book of john the 4th gospel.

John wrote this gospel to bring correction to the many false teachings going around and to encourage the believers.

We are on chapter 20

He is Risen

It was because of the resurrection of Jesus that the early church began to meet on Sunday, the first day of the week.

When we look into the book of Acts 20:7

Act 20:7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight.

Already in the book of Acts shows that the early church made a priority to meet on the first day of the week, Sunday.

because of John 20:1

The resurrection of Jesus

We probably heard about the resurrection, since we were children, and we have got use to it, it was not a common thing, is something we believe in and we have become familiar to it, so familiar, that we fail to recognize what a shock that was, how many people do we know that were dead and have risen from the dead.

Paul’s central message as he traveled around the known world was “Jesus crucified and resurrected”, they were shocked, when Paul preached at the city of Athens and he gets to the Areopagus, Mars hill, all the erudite, elite scholars came to listen to him, they were shocked, what are you talking about?, they mocked him, called him a babbler.

Act 17:32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject."

Christianity is unique.

All the religions in the world are base on the philosophical teachings of the founders of those religions

From all of them nearly 4200,

4 are based on personalities.

Judaism, Moses, Christianity Christ, Buddhism Buddha, Islam Mohamed

Only one makes the claim of resurrection.

The resurrection is the most important event in the history of the world.

This is very difficult, as the beginning of months was decided by the appearance of a new crescent Moon, and it is impossible to know exactly what would have been visible in the night sky in Palestine 2,000 years ago. There is also the possibility Passover could have been moved for political reasons, such as it potentially clashing with the Sabbath.

“Thus, 14th Nisan appears to have fallen on two possible dates within our broader time period: Friday April 7th 30 CE or April 3rd 33,” Professor Bond writes, though adds the Gospel accounts still should be received with some level of skepticism, meaning we cannot know this for sure.

Let’s pray.

1 Jesus is alive

Joh 20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

Mary Magdalene

We know from the other gospels that she wasn’t the only one there, but John chooses to write about her experience.

Mar 16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body.

Maybe she was the first one there early in the morning

We don’t know much about Mary Magdalene, or what kind of life she had before.

But Jesus delivered her from 7 demons.

Luk 8:2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;

Magdala was a important fishing city, where Mary came from, was a city with a reputation for prostitution, some think Mary was one. There is nothing written about that, Jesus meets her, saves her, delivers her, she was eternally grateful.

Joh 20:2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

She made a wrong assumption; Jesus body was not stolen. Nobody had taken him away.

The disciples did not believe the women,

Luk 24:11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

Joh 20:3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.

Joh 20:4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

For whatever reason John wants us to make sure that we know he was faster than Peter.

Joh 20:5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in.

This is one of the times when we find 3 different words translated the same way in English, The Greek language is a little more precise than English.

On verse 5 looked Saw, notice,

Joh 20:6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there,

verse 6, studying it, be dazzled no conclusion, saw as an spectator.

Joh 20:7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus' head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.

Joh 20:8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

saw with comprehension and he believed. He got it.

When a person died, they embody them with linen strips soaked in spices this goo and place a vail over their faces. The corpse cocoon was laying there, john saw that and believed, the cloth on his face was folded beside it.

Joh 20:9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Joh 20:10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

2 Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

Joh 20:11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb

Joh 20:12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

Joh 20:13 They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him."

Joh 20:14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

Joh 20:15 He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

Not really thinking about what she was saying, how could she carry a body and what was she going to do with a corpse take it home.

Joh 20:16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher").

Mary, he revealed himself to her orally speaking her name

He was right there in front of her

There is an intimacy with Jesus obtained in suffering, in our darkest hours.

Joh 20:17 Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

She probably lunges at him with a big hug, like I’m never going to let you go, so he told her don’t hang on, you have a job to do and I will be around for 40 days.

Joh 20:18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.

3 Jesus comes for His disciples

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Joh 20:19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"

Shalom, He shows up inside of the house doors locked and everything. Our bodies will be different,

Joh 20:20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Joh 20:21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you."

Joh 20:22 And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.

Joh 20:23 If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

He is Risen

Yes Jesus is alive

He appears to Mary

He came for His disciples

As the Father has sent me, I’m sending you.

He sent you and me

Jesus and Thomas

Joh 20:24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.

Joh 20:25 So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

Joh 20:26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"

Joh 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Joh 20:28 Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"

Joh 20:29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

The Purpose of This Book

Joh 20:30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.

Joh 20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Make Jesus the Lord of your life.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

To receive Jesus, we need to accept Him as God’s son, repent from our sins and a life of selfishness, we need to ask Him to be our Lord and savior, not that you deserve it, but is a gift from God.

If this is your desire today, please repeat this prayer after me?

Heavenly Father I’m sinner,

I’m sorry for my sins,

I’m willing to turn away from my sins.

I receive Christ as my savior,

I confess him as Lord

from this moment on I want to follow and serve him,

in the fellowship of his church,

In Jesus name. Amen!