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John Chapter
Twenty
John 20
In chapter 20 we have
in a summary of several of the
leading facts among those which took place after the resurrection of Jesus
a
picture of all the consequences of that great event
in immediate connection
with the grace that produced them
and with the affections that ought to be
seen in the faithful when again brought into relationship with the Lord; and at
the same time
a picture of all God's ways up to the revelation of Christ to
the remnant before the millennium. In chapter 21 the millennium is pictured to
us.
Mary Magdalene
out of whom He had cast seven demons
appears first in
the scene-a touching expression of the ways of God. She represents
I doubt
not
the Jewish remnant of that day
personally attached to the Lord
but not
knowing the power of resurrection. She is alone in her love: the very strength
of her affection isolates her. She was not the only one saved
but she comes
alone to seek-wrongly to seek
if you will
but to seek-Jesus
before the
testimony of His glory shines forth in a world of darkness
because she loved
Himself. She comes before the other women
while it was yet dark. It is a
loving heart (we have already seen it in the believing women) occupied with
Jesus
when the public testimony of man is still entirely wanting. And it is to
this that Jesus first manifests Himself when He is risen. Nevertheless her
heart knew where it would find a response. She goes away to Peter and to the
other disciple whom Jesus loved
when she does not find the body of Christ.
Peter and the other disciple go
and find the proofs of a resurrection
accomplished (as to Jesus Himself) with all the composure that became the power
of God
great as the alarm might be that it created in the mind of man. There
had been no haste; everything was in order: and Jesus was not there.
The two disciples
however
are not moved by the same
attachment as that which filled her heart
who had been the object of so mighty
a deliverance [1] on the Lord's part. They see
and
on these
visible proofs
they believe. It was not a spiritual understanding of the
thoughts of God by means of His word; they saw and believed. There is nothing
in this which gathers the disciples together. Jesus was away; He had risen.
They had satisfied themselves on this point
and they go away to their home.
But Mary
led by affection rather than by intelligence
is not satisfied with
coldly recognising that Jesus was again risen. [2] She thought Him still dead
because she did
not possess Him. His death
the fact of her not finding Him again
added to the
intensity of her affection
because He Himself was its object. All the tokens
of this affection are produced here in the most touching manner. She supposes
that the gardener must know who was in question without her telling him
for
she only thought of one (as if I inquired of a beloved object in a family
"How is he?"). Bending over the sepulchre
she turns her head when He
approaches; but then the Good Shepherd
risen from the dead
calls His sheep by
her name; and the known and loved voice-mighty according to the grace which
thus called her-instantly reveals Him to her who heard it. She turns to Him
and replies
"Rabboni-my Master."
But while thus revealing Himself to the beloved remnant
whom He had delivered
all is changed in their position and in His relationship
with them. He was not going now to dwell bodily in the midst of His people on
earth. He did not come back to re-establish the kingdom in Israel. "Touch
me not
" says He to Mary. But by redemption He had wrought a far more
important thing. He had placed them in the same position as Himself with His
Father and His God; and He calls them-which He never had
and never could have
done before-His brethren. Until His death the corn of wheat remained alone.
Pure and perfect
the Son of God
He could not stand in the same relationship
to God as the sinner; but
in the glorious position which He was going to
resume as man
He could
through redemption
associate with Himself His
redeemed ones
cleansed
regenerated
and adopted in Him.
He sends them word of the new position they were to have
in common with Himself. He says to Mary
"Touch me not; but go to my
brethren
and tell them that I ascend to my Father and your Father
to my God
and your God." The will of the Father-accomplished by means of the
glorious work of the Son
who
as man
has taken His place
apart from sin
with His God and Father-and the work of the Son
the source of eternal life to
them
have brought the disciples into the same position as Himself before the
Father.
The testimony borne to this truth gathers the disciples together. They
meet with closed doors
unprotected now by the care and power of Jesus
the
Messiah
Jehovah on earth. But if they had no longer the shelter of the
Messiah's presence
they have Jesus in their midst
bringing them that which
they could not have before His death-"Peace."
But He did not bring them this blessing merely as their
own portion. Having given them proofs of His resurrection
and that in His body
He was the same Jesus
He sets them in this perfect peace as the starting point
of their mission. The Father
eternal and infinite fountain of love
had sent
the Son
who abode in it
who was the witness of that love
and of the peace
which He
the Father
shed around Himself
where sin had no existence. Rejected
in His mission
Jesus had-on behalf of a world where sin existed-made peace for
all who should receive the testimony of the grace which had made it; and He now
sends His disciples from the bosom of that peace into which He had brought
them
by the remission of sins through His death
to bear testimony to it in
the world.
He says again
"Peace be unto you
" to send
them forth into the world clothed and filled with that peace
their feet shod
with it
even as the Father had sent Him. He gives them the Holy Ghost for this
end
that according to His power they might bear the remission of sins to a
world that was bowed down under the yoke of sin.
I do not doubt that
speaking historically
the Spirit
here is distinguished from Acts 2
inasmuch as here it is a breath of inward
life
as God breathed into the nostrils of Adam a breath of life. It is not the
Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. Thus Christ
who is a quickening Spirit
imparts spiritual life to them according to the power of resurrection. [3] As to the general picture figuratively
presented in the passage
it is the Spirit bestowed on the saints gathered by
the testimony of His being risen and His going to the Father
as the whole
scene represents the assembly in its present privileges. Thus we have the
remnant attached to Christ by love; believers individually recognised as
children of God
and in the same position before Him as Christ; and then the
assembly founded on this testimony
gathered together with Jesus in the midst
in the enjoyment of peace; and its members
individually constituted
in
connection with the peace which Christ has made
a witness to the world of the
remission of sins-its administration being committed to them.
Thomas represents the Jews in the last days
who will
believe when they see. Blessed are they who have believed without seeing. But
the faith of Thomas is not concerned with the position of sonship. He
acknowledges
as the remnant will do
that Jesus is his Lord and his God. He was
not with them in their first church gathering.
The Lord here
by His actions
consecrates the first day
of the week for His meeting together with His own
in spirit here below.
The evangelist is far from exhausting all that there was
to relate of that which Jesus did. The object of that which he has related is
linked with the communication of eternal life in Christ; first
that Jesus is
the Christ
the Son of God; and
second
that in believing we have life through
His name. To this the Gospel is consecrated.
[1]
"Seven demons." This represents the complete possession of this poor
woman by the unclean spirits to whom she was a prey. It is the expression of
the real state of the Jewish people.
[2] It
is impossible to me
in giving great principles for the help of those who seek
to understand the word
to develop all that is so deeply touching and
interesting in this twentieth chapter
on which I have often pondered with
(through grace) an ever-growing interest. This revelation of the Lord to the
poor woman who could not do without her Saviour
has a touching beauty
which
every detail enhances. But there is one point of view to which I cannot but
call the reader's attention. There are four conditions of soul presented here
which
taken together
are very instructive
and each in the case of a
believer:- 1st. John and Peter
who see and believe
are really believers; but
they do not see in Christ the only centre of all the thoughts of God
for His
glory
for the world
for souls. Neither is He so for their affections
although they are believers. Having found that He was risen
they do without
Him. Mary
who did not know this
who was even culpably ignorant
could
nevertheless not do without Jesus. She must possess Himself. Peter and John go
to their home; this is the centre of their interests. They believe indeed
but
self and home suffice them. 2nd. Thomas believes
and acknowledges with true
orthodox faith
on incontestable proofs
that Jesus is his Lord and his God. He
truly believes for himself. He has not the communications of the efficacy of
the Lord's work
and of the relationship with His Father into which Jesus
brings His own
the assembly. He has peace perhaps
but he has missed all the
revelation of the assembly's position. How many souls-saved souls even-are
there in these two conditions! 3rd. Mary Magdalene is ignorant in the extreme.
She does not know that Christ is risen. She has so little right sense of His
being Lord and God
that she thinks some one might have taken away His body.
But Christ is her all
the need of her soul
the only desire of her heart.
Without Him she has no home
no Lord
no anything. Now to this need Jesus
answers; it indicates the work of the Holy Ghost. He calls His sheep by her
name
shews Himself to her first of all
teaches her that His presence was not
now to be a Jewish bodily return to earth
that He must ascend to His Father
that the disciples were now His brethren
and that they were placed in the same
position as Himself with His God and His Father-as Himself
the risen Man
ascended to His God and Father. All the glory of the new individual position is
opened to her. 4th. This gathers the disciples together. Jesus then brings them
the peace which He has made
and they have the full joy of a present Saviour
who brings it them. He makes this peace (possessed by them in virtue of His
work and His victory) their starting-point
sends them as the Father had sent
Him
and imparts to them the Holy Ghost as the breath and power of life
that
they may be able to bear that peace to others. These are the communications of
the efficacy of His work
as He had given to Mary that of the relationship to
the Father which resulted from it. The whole is the answer to Mary's attachment
to Christ
or what resulted from it. If through grace there is affection
the
answer will assuredly be granted. It is the truth which flows from the work of
Christ. No other state than that which Christ here presents is in accordance
with what He has done
and with the Father's love. He cannot
by His work
place us in any other.
[3]
Compare Romans 4-8 and Colossians 2 and 3. Resurrection was the power of life
which brought them out of the dominion of sin
that had its end in death
and
that was condemned in the death of Jesus
and they dead to it
but not
condemned by it
sin having been condemned in His death. This is a question
not of guilt
but of state. Our guilt
blessed be God
was put away too. But
here we die with Christ
and resurrection presents us (Romans
as quoted
unfolds the side of death; Colossians adds resurrection. Romans is death to
sin
Colossians to the world) living before God in a life in which Jesus-and we
by Him-appeared in His presence according to the perfection of divine
righteousness. But this supposed His work also.
── John Darby《Synopsis of John》
John 20
Chapter Contents
The sepulchre found to be empty. (1-10) Christ appears to
Mary. (11-18) He appears to the disciples. (19-25) The unbelief of Thomas.
(26-29) Conclusion. (30
31)
Commentary on John 20:1-10
(Read John 20:1-10)
If Christ gave his life a ransom
and had not taken it
again
it would not have appeared that his giving it was accepted as
satisfaction. It was a great trial to Mary
that the body was gone. Weak
believers often make that the matter of complaint
which is really just ground
of hope
and matter of joy. It is well when those more honoured than others
with the privileges of disciples
are more active than others in the duty of
disciples; more willing to take pains
and run hazards
in a good work. We must
do our best
and neither envy those who can do better
nor despise those who do
as well as they can
though they come behind. The disciple whom Jesus loved in
a special manner
and who therefore in a special manner loved Jesus
was
foremost. The love of Christ will make us to abound in every duty more than any
thing else. He that was behind was Peter
who had denied Christ. A sense of
guilt hinders us in the service of God. As yet the disciples knew not the
Scripture; they Christ must rise again from the dead.
Commentary on John 20:11-18
(Read John 20:11-18)
We are likely to seek and find
when we seek with
affection
and seek in tears. But many believers complain of the clouds and
darkness they are under
which are methods of grace for humbling their souls
mortifying their sins
and endearing Christ to them. A sight of angels and
their smiles
will not suffice
without a sight of Jesus
and God's smiles in
him. None know
but those who have tasted it
the sorrows of a deserted soul
which has had comfortable evidences of the love of God in Christ
and hopes of
heaven
but has now lost them
and walks in darkness; such a wounded spirit who
can bear? Christ
in manifesting himself to those that seek him
often outdoes
their expectations. See how Mary's heart was in earnest to find Jesus. Christ's
way of making himself known to his people is by his word; his word applied to
their souls
speaking to them in particular. It might be read
Is it my Master?
See with what pleasure those who love Jesus speak of his authority over them.
He forbids her to expect that his bodily presence look further
than the
present state of things. Observe the relation to God
from union with Christ.
We
partaking of a Divine nature
Christ's Father is our Father; and he
partaking of the human nature
our God is his God. Christ's ascension into
heaven
there to plead for us
is likewise an unspeakable comfort. Let them not
think this earth is to be their home and rest; their eye and aim
and earnest
desires
must be upon another world
and this ever upon their hearts
I ascend
therefore I must seek the things which are above. And let those who know the
word of Christ
endeavour that others should get good from their knowledge.
Commentary on John 20:19-25
(Read John 20:19-25)
This was the first day of the week
and this day is
afterwards often mentioned by the sacred writers; for it was evidently set
apart as the Christian sabbath
in remembrance of Christ's resurrection. The
disciples had shut the doors for fear of the Jews; and when they had no such
expectation
Jesus himself came and stood in the midst of them
having
miraculously
though silently
opened the doors. It is a comfort to Christ's
disciples
when their assemblies can only be held in private
that no doors can
shut out Christ's presence. When He manifests his love to believers by the
comforts of his Spirit
he assures them that because he lives
they shall live
also. A sight of Christ will gladden the heart of a disciple at any time; and
the more we see of Jesus
the more we shall rejoice. He said
Receive ye the
Holy Ghost
thus showing that their spiritual life
as well as all their
ability for their work
would be derived from him
and depended upon him. Every
word of Christ which is received in the heart by faith
comes accompanied by
this Divine breathing; and without this there is neither light nor life.
Nothing is seen
known
discerned
or felt of God
but through this. After
this
Christ directed the apostles to declare the only method by which sin
would be forgiven. This power did not exist at all in the apostles as a power
to give judgment
but only as a power to declare the character of those whom
God would accept or reject in the day of judgment. They have clearly laid down
the marks whereby a child of God may be discerned and be distinguished from a
false professor; and according to what they have declared shall every case be
decided in the day of judgment. When we assemble in Christ's name
especially
on his holy day
he will meet with us
and speak peace to us. The disciples of
Christ should endeavour to build up one another in their most holy faith
both
by repeating what they have heard to those that were absent
and by making
known what they have experienced. Thomas limited the Holy One of Israel
when
he would be convinced by his own method or not at all. He might justly have
been left in his unbelief
after rejecting such abundant proofs. The fears and
sorrows of the disciples are often lengthened
to punish their negligence.
Commentary on John 20:26-29
(Read John 20:26-29)
That one day in seven should be religiously observed
was
an appointment from the beginning. And that
in the kingdom of the Messiah
the
first day of the week should be that solemn day
was pointed out
in that
Christ on that day once and again met his disciples in a religious assembly.
The religious observance of that day has come down to us through every age of
the church. There is not an unbelieving word in our tongues
nor thought in our
minds
but it is known to the Lord Jesus; and he was pleased to accommodate
himself even to Thomas
rather than leave him in his unbelief. We ought thus to
bear with the weak
Romans 15:1
2. This warning is given to all. If
we are faithless
we are Christless and graceless
hopeless and joyless. Thomas
was ashamed of his unbelief
and cried out
My Lord and my God. He spoke with
affection
as one that took hold of Christ with all his might; "My Lord
and my God." Sound and sincere believers
though slow and weak
shall be
graciously accepted of the Lord Jesus. It is the duty of those who read and
hear the gospel
to believe
to embrace the doctrine of Christ
and that record
concerning him
1 John 5:11.
Commentary on John 20:30
31
(Read John 20:30
31)
There were other signs and proofs of our Lord's resurrection
but these were committed to writing
that all might believe that Jesus was the
promised Messiah
the Saviour of sinners
and the Son of God; that
by this
faith
they might obtain eternal life
by his mercy
truth
and power. May we
believe that Jesus is the Christ
and believing may we have life through his
name.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on John》
John 20
Verse 3
[3]
Peter therefore went forth
and that other disciple
and came to the sepulchre.
Peter went out — Of
the city.
Verse 6
[6] Then cometh Simon Peter following him
and went into the sepulchre
and
seeth the linen clothes lie
Peter seeth the linen clothes lie — and the napkin folded up - The angels who ministered to him when he
rose
undoubtedly folded up the napkin and linen clothes.
Verse 8
[8] Then
went in also that other disciple
which came first to the sepulchre
and he
saw
and believed.
He saw —
That the body was not there
and believed - That they had taken it away as Mary
said.
Verse 9
[9] For
as yet they knew not the scripture
that he must rise again from the dead.
For as yet —
They had no thought of his rising again.
Verse 10
[10] Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
They went home —
Not seeing what they could do farther.
Verse 11
[11] But
Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept
she stooped down
and looked into the sepulchre
But Mary stood —
With more constancy. Mark 16:9.
Verse 16
[16]
Jesus saith unto her
Mary. She turned herself
and saith unto him
Rabboni;
which is to say
Master.
Jesus saith to her
Mary — With his usual voice and accent.
Verse 17
[17]
Jesus saith unto her
Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but
go to my brethren
and say unto them
I ascend unto my Father
and your Father;
and to my God
and your God.
Touch me not — Or
rather
Do not cling to me (for she held him by the feet
) Matthew 28:9. Detain me not now. You will have
other opportunities of conversing with me. For I am not ascended to my Father -
I have not yet left the world. But go immediately to my brethren - Thus does he
intimate in the strongest manner the forgiveness of their fault
even without
ever mentioning it. These exquisite touches
which every where abound in the
evangelical writings
show how perfectly Christ knew our frame.
I ascend — He
anticipates it in his thoughts
and so speaks of it as a thing already present.
To my Father and your Father
to my God and your God - This uncommon expression
shows that the only - begotten Son has all kind of fellowship with God. And a
fellowship with God the Father
some way resembling his own
he bestows upon
his brethren. Yet he does not say
Our God: for no creature can be raised to an
equality with him: but my God and your God: intimating that the Father is his
in a singular and incommunicable manner; and ours through him
in such a kind
as a creature is capable of.
Verse 19
[19] Then
the same day at evening
being the first day of the week
when the doors were
shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews
came Jesus and
stood in the midst
and saith unto them
Peace be unto you.
Verse 21
[21] Then
said Jesus to them again
Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me
even so
send I you.
Peace be unto you —
This is the foundation of the mission of a true Gospel minister
peace in his
own soul
2 Corinthians 4:1.
As the Father hath sent me
so send I you — Christ was the apostle of the Father
Hebrews 3:1. Peter and the rest
the apostles of
Christ.
Verse 22
[22] And
when he had said this
he breathed on them
and saith unto them
Receive ye the
Holy Ghost:
He breathed on them — New
life and vigour
and saith
as ye receive this breath out of my mouth
so
receive ye the Spirit out of my fulness: the Holy Ghost influencing you in a
peculiar manner
to fit you for your great embassy. This was an earnest of
pentecost.
Verse 23
[23] Whose
soever sins ye remit
they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye
retain
they are retained.
Whose soever sins ye remit — (According to the tenor of the Gospel
that is
supposing them to repent
and believe) they are remitted
and whose soever sins ye retain (supposing them
to remain impenitent) they are retained. So far is plain. But here arises a
difficulty. Are not the sins of one who truly repents
and unfeignedly believes
in Christ
remitted
without sacerdotal absolution? And are not the sins of one
who does not repent or believe
retained even with it? What then does this
commission imply? Can it imply any more than
1. A power of declaring with
authority the Christian terms of pardon; whose sins are remitted and whose
retained? As in our daily form of absolution; and 2. A power of inflicting and
remitting ecclesiastical censures? That is
of excluding from
and re-admitting
into
a Christian congregation.
Verse 26
[26] And
after eight days again his disciples were within
and Thomas with them: then
came Jesus
the doors being shut
and stood in the midst
and said
Peace be
unto you.
After eight days — On
the next Sunday.
Verse 28
[28] And
Thomas answered and said unto him
My Lord and my God.
And Thomas said
My Lord and my God — The disciples had said
We have seen the Lord. Thomas now not only
acknowledges him to be the Lord
as he had done before
and to be risen
as his
fellow disciples had affirmed
but also confesses his Godhead
and that more
explicitly than any other had yet done. And all this he did without putting his
hand upon his side.
Verse 30
[30] And
many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples
which are
not written in this book:
Jesus wrought many miracles
which are not
written in this book — Of St. John
nor indeed of the other
evangelists.
Verse 31
[31] But
these are written
that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ
the Son of
God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
But these things are written that ye may
believe — That ye may be confirmed in believing.
Faith cometh sometimes by reading; though ordinarily by hearing.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on John》
Chapter 20. Rise and Appear
Private Quiet
time
Group Fellowship
I. Jesus Raised
from the Dead
II. Mary of
Magdalene
III. Jesus
Gives Peace
── Chih-Hsin Chang《An Outline of The New Testament》