John 20:19-23
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vv 19-23) Appearing to disciples
vv 19-23) Appearing to disciples
It is now Sunday evening. This was the first appearance of Jesus to His disciples as a group after His resurrection.
What would He say and talk about? What would be the topic of conversation and the subjects covered?
What He would chose to say would be of critical importance. It is this that John is going to focus on.
[19] Why were the disciples fearful?
They were hiding from the Jews. They were behind locked doors, scared and fearful of the authorities who had vented so much anger and wrath upon their Lord.
Perhaps they are in the upper room where they had met three nights ago.
The disciples were in imminent danger, they could have easily been arrested and imprisoned or executed as revolutionaries just as Jesus had been.
Remember: the doors were locked. Suddenly, unexpectedly, Jesus stood before them- right in their midst.
Jesus stood amongst them without opening the doors. This is a miracle. Remember that Jesus’ resurrection body was a real body of flesh and bones. Yet having the power to pass through barriers and otherwise act independently of natural laws.
What is the significance of what Jesus tells the disciples?
“Peace be with you” now has new meaning because Christ has made peace by the blood of His cross. Those who are justified by faith have peace with God.
Jesus’ sudden appearance shook and frightened the disciples. They though they were seeing a spirit: Luke 24:36-37
36 As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit.
Within vv. 19-20 how did Jesus put them at ease?
“Peace be with you,” He spoke a greeting familiar to the disciples. This is important because He had always spoken to them in this manner, given them some indication that it was really Him and not just a vision or a spirit.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
Not only that but He also showed them His wounds. This must have been an incredibly touching moment… Jesus probably moved around to each of them, allowing each one to see the wounds. They would know for sure that this was His body, the body of their Savior, the very same Jesus whom they had known before His crucifixion.
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
What effect do you think this had on the disciples?
An unbelievable joy and gladness: Luke 24:41
41 And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?”
Their spirits and attitudes were charged with joy and were transformed from the lowest point of dejection to the highest point of triumphant conviction. They now knew what Jesus meant, that He was truly:
The Way
The Truth
And the Life
In Him was life- His words were literally true. He had meant exactly what He had said. They had just spiritualized His words to an extent. When He told them that He was going to die, He meant it. When He had said that He was going to raise, He meant it.
Now here He is standing before them, revealing the most glorious truth in all the universe. In Christ men and women could now conquer sin and death having eternal life with God.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
38 but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
A couple points before we move on:
(v.20) “Saw” (oida) it means more than mere sight. It implies seeing with understanding. It is the very same word used of John when he saw and believed in verse 8 of chapter 20.
The disciples were probably starting to understand all the prophecies concerning His death and resurrection.
[21] This is the great commission for the disciples. And there are some qualification for being commissioned.
What are they?
1st: They needed to be reconciled to God though and by Christ, unless they had made peace with God, they would never be able to represent god before the world.
2nd: There needed to be a link between the mission of Christ and the disciples. The disciple is sent on the very same mission as Christ.
The mission of Christ:
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
The disciple is sent forth to proclaim and bear witness to the salvation of God. The disciple is the prophet and witness of the living Lord.
Christ is the Way; the disciple points the Way
Christ is the Truth; the disciple proclaims the Truth.
Christ is the Life; the disciple shares the Life.
There are two different words used for sent and send in the greek. God sending Christ is apostello. It implies that Christ is set apart and is being sent forth with delegated authority.
Christ speaking to His disciples tells, “I am sending you.” Pempo, implying being dispatched under authority.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
Application: This particular passage is probably speaking to the uniqueness of the Apostles. But we too can apply this to our lives as well.
Christ came into the world poor
He came as a Servant
He emptied Himself. He delighted to do the Father’s will
He identified Himself with man
He went about doing good
He did everything by the power of the Holy Spirit
His goal was the cross.
Now He said to the disciples, “I also send you.
[22-23] This might be the most difficult verses in the entire Gospel. We read that Jesus breathed on the disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” The difficulty is that the Holy Spirit was not given until later, on the day of Pentecost. Yet what is going on here.
Some suggest that the Lord was simply making a promise of what they would receive on the day of Pentecost. This is hardly an adequate explanation.
Some point out that what the Savior actually said was, “Receive Holy Spirit,” rather than “Receive the Holy Spirit.” They conclude from this that the disciples did not receive the Holy Spirit in all His fullness at this time, but only some ministry of the Spirit, such as a greater knowledge of the truth, or power and guidance for their mission. Claiming that the disciples received a guarantee or a foretaste of the Holy Spirit.
Others believe that there was a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples at this time.
My opinion is the second view rather than the third. The third view seems unlikely in view of such statements as: Luke 24:49
49 And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”
4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Where the coming of the Holy Spirit wasstill spoken of as future. It is clear from John 7:39
39 Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
that the Spirit could not come in His fullness until Jesus was glorified, that is, until He had gone back to heaven.
vv 24-29) Thomas’ confession
vv 24-29) Thomas’ confession
vv 30-31) The purpose for writing
vv 30-31) The purpose for writing
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.