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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.

Footnotes

[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 DarbySynopsis 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 HenryConcise 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.

Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36.

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 WesleyExplanatory Notes on John

 

Chapter 20. Rise and Appear

Private Quiet time
Group Fellowship

I. Jesus Raised from the Dead

  1. Early on the First Day of the Week
  2. The Stone Taken Away
  3. See and Believe

II. Mary of Magdalene

  1. Weep Before the Tomb
  2. Turn Around
  3. Testify Resurrection

III. Jesus Gives Peace

  1. Peace of Life
  2. Peace of Inner Dwelling
  3. Peace of Living
── Chih-Hsin ChangAn Outline of The New Testament