John 20-21

Just something that I think is important to note- not sure of all its significance- but prior we are looking at and talking about human Jesus, that is Jesus confined to the limitations of a physical body

Now what we are seeing is resurrected Jesus-

What do we learn from the appearances of the resurrected Jesus?

John 20

Jesus’ appearance to Mary

We learn that Jesus has become our atoning sacrifice and our intercession before God- no longer do we need the temporary covering of the blood of bulls and lambs

John 20:17 NIV

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.’ ”

Why is it important that He now ascend to heaven? Why couldn’t he just do what he had been doing before he was killed?

Hebrews 9:24 NIV

For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.

Jesus’ appearance to the disciples

We learn somethings about our resurrected bodies- some physical dimensions to them

We are reminded that life is in the breathe- here now is the Spirit promised, the one who comes alongside- to empower the disciples to carry out the mission- “I am sending you.”

John 20:21–23 NIV

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Remember that part of the pray, that speaks of the mission- the sending out into the world

John 17:15–19 NIV

My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.

Jesus appears to Thomas

Why would there be a story of doubt included?It demonstrates the mercy of God- he understand what it is to be human- that there will be doubt

John 20:26–31 NIV

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!” 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.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 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.

That seems to be the conclusion. The resurrected Jesus has appeared in these and others so that you may believe?

John 21

Chapter 21 comes seemingly after John has concluded his book. Why?

Maybe your like a Mary or the disciples who encounter risen Jesus and believe

Maybe you like Thomas and you have some doubts, you need some hard evidence- there is a type of encounter for that

But maybe you’re a Peter

Maybe it was to bring some closure to Peters story- the last time we saw Peter he was denying Jesus- now maybe for Peters sake and for ours its made clear the Peter loves Jesus and is still in the fold- is going to be used

This is not the first time we have seen a miraculous catch of fish like this- these stories book end the disciples journey with Jesus

Luke 5:1–11 NIV

One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Some things that we note-

The nets did not break this time

Peter does not shrink back from Jesus- this time he runs full on toward him

We continue to learn something of who God is- he is a God that makes breakfast for his disciples

John 21:9–12 NIV

When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

Jesus gives Peter a chance to reaffirm his love for Jesus- Peter needed that walk on the beach with Jesus to restore his confidence- he also reminds Peter to worry about his on following, not anyone else’s

How are you going to follow?

John 21:20–23 NIV

Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”

Peter needed that walk on the beach and maybe you do too- you done some things, you’ve seemingly strayed away- Jesus is calling- do you love me? Reaffirming the mission- feed my sheep

What Have We Learned?

Jesus invites us to follow him- the same way he invited the disciples into continued relationship with him

The following is not a physical walking alongside Jesus- but Holy Spirit comes alongside us

There is a mission- to continue the revelation of the glory of God, the ministry of the gospel- the forgiveness of sins

That is to say we can proclaim that in Chris your sins are forgiven- apart from him they are not

He is a merciful, servant hearted God- the one who handles our doubts and makes us breakfast to commune with us- who walks alongside us on the beach and affirms who we are in him

How are you going to follow?