This is the last study in our Lent series, and we will be taking a look at the appearances of Jesus to His disciples following His resurrection.
(A) First Appearance: Sent out with the Holy Spirit and Gospel (John 20:19-23)
In John 20:19, the events here take place on the evening of the resurrection of Christ. Jesus had appeared to Mary Magdalene earlier in the morning and had told the disciples (20:18). That same morning, Peter and John had also visited the empty tomb of Jesus.
The mood among the disciples was probably one of uncertainty, fear, and sadness. Their master had just been killed in a brutal crucifixion, and neither did they understand that he must rise (John 20:9). The passage tells us that they were afraid of the Jewish religious leaders, the very ones who killed Jesus. We are told that they were meeting behind locked doors. You can sense the tension among them. It no wonder that Jesus comforts them with “Peace be with you” as the first thing as he appears to them
Jesus proves his identity to his disciples by showing them his hands and his side (John 20:20). His wounds at the cross is what proves to his disciples that he is indeed their master. The disciples were glad when they saw Jesus. Our response today as we meet Jesus today in his word should also be one of joy and gladness. When we see his wounds on the cross, we know that that is good news for our souls.
Jesus tells them that as God the Father sends him, He is sending them (John 20:21-23). Jesus is effectively commissioning them to continue his ministry on earth, he is sending them to continue his work. In their Jewish context, there is an idea that the messenger is like the sender himself; they are representing Jesus.
This isn’t the first time Jesus is mentioning the idea of sending the disciples in John as he prays for the disciples in John 17:18. For this mission, Jesus gives them the Holy Spirit. The Helper (John 14:16) that enables them to continue his mission. This is a foretaste of Pentecost which happens in Acts 2:33. But the point is that all 3 persons of the Godhead is involved in this commission, this sending out.
John 20: 23 speaks about the ability to forgive or not forgive sins. However, this is not so much that individual Christians having the ability/authority to decide on whether to forgive or not forgive sins. But as a church with the help of the Holy Spirit, as we proclaim the gospel and its call to repent and believe in the saving work of Christ on the cross, we proclaim forgiveness for those who heed this call while no forgiveness of sins for those who reject it
Just as Jesus had sent the disciples out, he sends us out on a mission today. Every Christian has a mission to represent Christ and share his message of salvation. We cannot think that sharing the message of the gospel is reserved for missionaries, or full time Christian workers, or pastors, or just “the church”. If we are not in some form of active evangelism and sharing Christ, we have in a way not done what our sender has sent us to do. We’re like a messenger that has failed.
Can you imagine you posting a letter, and the your intended receiver never receives it? That is what we do when we fail to share the gospel. If your boss sends you on a task, would you do it? We would because he is our boss. If your parent sent you on an errand, would you do it? We would seek to fulfil it! If Christ your God sends you on a mission, would you not do it?
I (the study leader) admit that I am no great sharer of the gospel myself. If I think about the number of times, I have tried to share the gospel with another, it is few. But in my little experience, I have come to one conclusion, you have to be intentional, and rely on God to do the saving work. We will never share the gospel if we are always comfortable. If we don’t make an effort and pray for God’s help in his Spirit to proclaim his gospel, our sinful selves will never do so or if we depend on ourselves to convert others, we will be disappointed because we can’t save anyone on our own efforts.
We are all stuck at home in this season and this could be an opportunity for us to share the gospel. Maybe we find ourselves stuck at home with family during this season. That could be a chance to share the gospel. How can Jesus bring comfort to those around you? May God grant us the desire and ability to share his gospel. May we love the people around us enough to proclaim the gospel to them
(B) Second Appearance: No Doubt that Jesus is the Christ, in whom is Life (John 20:24-31)
Thomas was not with the other disciples when Jesus appeared to the disciples during the first appearance (John 20:24-25). We could say that Thomas’ reaction was cynical, or disbelieving, or doubting but I would also say that Thomas’ reaction was a real one. Thomas probably thinks that they saw a ghost or spirit. But in fact, we read in the following verses that Jesus’ body was a physical one, one that Thomas can touch and feel. How would you react if someone told you about the resurrection there and then. Put yourself in Thomas’ shoes: You have just witnessed this man dying on the cross, and now, people are telling you that they have seen him.
Before we think lowly of Thomas, we remember that we ourselves doubt God all the time. You might not question the resurrection as Thomas did, but how have you doubted God? How have we found it hard to believe what God has said or promised in his word? Recently, I have found myself doubting God’s goodness in my life as I haven’t gotten everything going my way in life. In my struggle with my circumstances, I have found it hard to love God, hard to serve him, hard to be grateful for other good things given by God, and in this season of Lent, hard to see Christ as God’s biggest goodness and gift to us. But how does Jesus respond to doubters? Is what we really need a change of our circumstances? Will that make us complete, happy, full?
Jesus’ response to Thomas was a loving one. He meets the disciples in a similar setting, but this time with Thomas present (John 20:26-29). There is nothing new and extra.
Notice that Jesus gives all the proof that Thomas requested for and needed. He meets Thomas at his doubts and calls him to put your finger here, place your hand there onto his wounds. Jesus is one who knows our doubts and he doesn’t leave us alone there. In fact, it is amazing that doubt is addressed in the bible. It is not always a fairy tale in our bibles, the bible is so real to life.
With this, Thomas immediately recognises Jesus as both his Lord and God.
This is relevant to us in 2 ways:
(1) John 20:29 tells us that Jesus knows that some of us won’t be seeing Jesus’ physical body, and yet are called to believe in his work on the cross. If you have placed your trust in Christ today, Jesus pronounces blessing on us.
(2) If you are a doubter today just as Thomas was, see how Jesus responds. Jesus invites us today through the reading of his word as we are doing today to see his hands and his side. When you doubt God’s goodness and his promises, look to the cross and see what Christ has done for you. Place your finger into his pierced hands, and your hand in his side when you read about the cross in your bibles. As real as these wounds are, God’s love for us is real and true. This is a God who suffered and died for you, don’t need to doubt him but can trust him. The cross is where we know God’s absolute goodness, kindness, grace, mercy on us. God is “all in” at the cross
John concludes his book with these verses in 20:30-31. We learn that the bible is not an exhaustive account of things. John tells us that Jesus did many other things beside these! But the purpose of all of these signs, and events that were written down is for us to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed one, the promised one that God sends that by believing in his name, you may have life. Life not just confined to this world, but a greater reality, a relationship with your God.
(C) Third Appearance: Shepherd His People and Follow Christ (John 21:1-25)
In John 21, the disciples returned to their respective vocations, their own work. Peter was a fisherman before following Christ (as were the sons of Zebedee James and John) and here he returns to fish. We know also that Paul the apostle was a tentmaker too from Acts 18. While they were sent out to do Jesus’ work, it doesn’t mean that their livelihoods stopped.
Today, as followers of Christ, while we are called to be Christ’s ambassadors to the world and sent out, our daily work continues. The big question is of course, how can we be faithfully following Jesus as we perform our daily work? What must change about the way we think about work if we are to follow Jesus well?
What were their reactions? Peter couldn’t wait to get close to Jesus. You could sense his eagerness to meet up with Jesus. Do you yearn for Jesus the same way? In this circuit breaker period where we can’t meet our family and our friends, I am sure you have experienced some sort of longing to meet up and have a good time together with your friends, church mates, family and loved ones. That longing should be the same with Jesus. Do you long as eagerly to see him today? Or do you feel like you want much more of this world and Jesus shouldn’t come again soon?
Jesus has an exchange with Simon Peter, where he asks 3 questions of Peter.
Jesus intentionally asked the questions of Peter for 3 times. Previously, we saw Peter denying Christ 3 times (John 18:15-18, 25-27). He denied being a disciple of Jesus at all, he wanted nothing to do with Jesus at that point. Here, Peter is grieved that Jesus asked him for the third time, but how often do we need God to remind us over and over to love him more than anything else? We too, are prone to wander and God is kind to ask us: “do you love me?” It is part of God’s kindness that He does that.
Jesus is not trying to make Peter feel bad. He is reassuring Peter and entrusts Peter with an important task! In the same way, when people ask us about our spiritual life, it is actually God’s kindness in our life. They are holding us accountable for our faith in God!
It is also interesting for Peter to answer each time with “you know that…”. It could be that Peter was recognising Jesus’ omniscience but there is also a sense that he got a little frustrated because he knows that Jesus knows. But again, while God knows everything, we can be forgetful and need reminding. We need these questions to be asked of us. Is there someone in our lives asking us questions? If you do, you should be extremely thankful because it is an precious relationship. Otherwise, consider asking your elders and pastors for help to point you to someone that can help you with your walk.
Each time, Jesus’ response to Peter’s is regarding his sheep and lamb. This refers to Jesus’ people, God’s people. He tells Simon to feed and tend them. Essentially to care for them, to love them. Peter will love Jesus by caring for his people. Jesus himself is the good shepherd (John 10:11, 14), and now he sends Peter to tend his sheep. How are we prone to forget to love others? In this COVID-19 season, it is easy for us to remember to care for ourselves and our own comforts as we all stay in our own homes, but how can we practically help others who have been affected? How can we practically care for one another without meeting? How have you shown care to another this week?
How can you love people even when you can’t meet them? Would you call them through a Zoom call? Would you send them some items they need? Perhaps you could also establish new ways of worship together, or even reading together.
At the end, Jesus tells Peter that he will suffer: he can’t dress himself, he can’t walk where ever he wants, and in fact, he will be carried to places that he does not want to go to. This describes the kind of death which Peter will die, some say that he died by crucifixion.
His death will glorify God. What will we show with our death? Will we show the infinite riches of Christ, or will we cling on to this world and its pleasures? Will we say with Paul that to die is gain because we get to be with Christ (Phil 1:21).
Jesus then calls Peter to “Follow me”.
At the end, Peter compares what Jesus has revealed to him to what will happen with John. Peter noticed “the disciple whom Jesus loved” following them and asked about his fate too (“What about this man?” John 21:20). Aren’t we so keen to ask the same? We are so keen to compare our own lives with that of others? When we compare favourably, it gives us a kick, almost as if our own circumstances have improved even though nothing has changed at all. But when we compare less favourably, we are devastated. We envy, we covet what others have and ask God why don’t we have the same. With Social Media, It is easy to compare everything. We can compare our holidays on Instagram, our jobs and positions on Linkedin, our salaries on Glassdoor, our grades in school, our marriages, our relationships, our family, and guess what even our ministries and churches. We are prone to compare, and the benchmarks are all over the internet for us.
Remember that Peter has just said “I love you” to Jesus 3 times, and the next moment, he compares himself to John.
We are all guilty of comparing. We love knowing that we are doing better than others and feel “thankful” when we do better but bitter when we are doing worse off. You know how people like to say “everything is relative”. Well, that is at the heart of comparing. But how does Jesus respond to this? He says to Peter and to us who compare: “What is that to you? You follow me. What is it to you that your friend next to you gets the best grades, lives the longest life, earns the highest salary, goes on the best of holidays, finds their true love, have the most amazing church ministry? You follow me.
Jesus’ call to us to follow him is the same today, this call is for us who are prone to wander and compare. In Christ, we are released from these comparisons, we don’t have to live by them. We can trust in Christ and know that our eternal hope is secure in him. Our identity is tied up with following our master and Lord, not by comparing ourselves with others.
A word about John’s comment (John 21:23): God’s word is easily twisted and transmitted wrongly, so don’t take everything you hear from others. Don’t just hear what I am telling you, but read your bibles carefully! Study God’s word yourself, read your bibles.
As we close for today and enter into this weekend where we celebrate Good Friday and Easter, we know the outcome is secure. When Christ died on the cross for our sins, he gave all those who trust and lean upon him an eternal hope and life. In the 3 appearances of Jesus we have studied today, we know that we have a mission, a loving God who meets us when we doubt, and a God who calls us to love his people and follow him. During this season of staying home through Good Friday and Easter, would you find new ways to practically love your brothers and sisters in Christ. May His Spirit help us to do these things so that our lives will be to His glory.