Lesson 7 – Highlighting the Resurrection and Life
John 20:1-30
A.
Suggested
Ice-breakers:
· What in this world breaks your heart?
· How do you cope with losing loved ones?
· What would make you believe more?
B.
Background of John 20:
Within the last two chapters of John, we find some of Jesus’ most tender moments with His disciples and the women who served Him tirelessly. To those Jesus left behind, His death carried a crushing finality that ended their once hopeful future. We know what they did not. His death is not the end of the story. Jesus has some unfinished business to take care of:
II. Into the Bible:
A.
The
Empty Tomb:
i. Read John 20:1-10.
ii. Question: What is Mary’s reaction to the empty tomb?
A grief-stricken Mary goes to Jesus’ tomb and finds the stone covering
the mouth of the tomb removed. After
witnessing the horrific torture of Jesus on the cross, she assumes Jesus has
been stolen and fears He will be further abused, even in death. She immediately runs to tell the
disciples. Peter and John race each
other to the tomb (I find it a bit amusing that John notes he beat Peter) to
see for themselves.
iii. Question: Besides the body of Jesus being gone, what did they find that was peculiar? Something which raised a hopeful possibility?[1]
Jesus’ grave clothes are neatly folded where Jesus once lain. The disciples expected to see a disheveled
burial site but instead the shroud is resting exactly where the body had been
placed, apparently undisturbed. The
position of the grave clothes puzzled Peter, John, and Mary. The body of Jesus was indeed gone, but what
was one to make of the grave clothes?
Mystified, the disciples return to their own homes.
B.
Jesus Appears to Mary:
i. Read John 20:11-18.
ii. Question: Why do you suppose Mary thought Jesus was the gardener?
She was so focused on the death of Jesus, as well as the possibility
that his body was stolen, that she was unaware of her surroundings.
iii. Question: What do you suppose Jesus meant when he told Mary to stop clinging on to him?
These words spoke of a new relationship, new relatives, and a new
responsibility. Many wanted to “hold onto” Jesus. Jesus said, in effect, “This (the physical
contact) is not My real presence for the church. A new relationship will begin
with My Ascension and the gift of the Holy Spirit to the church.” Jesus then
explained the fact of the new relatives. He called His disciples His brothers.
Earlier, He had said they were friends: “I no longer call you servants . . .
instead, I have called you friends.” (John 15:15) Believers in Jesus become a
part of Jesus’ family with God as their Father. (cf. Heb.
iv. Question: Why did Jesus appear to Mary first? Why not go directly to the disciples? What is the significance that the first one to see the resurrected Jesus was a woman?
This attests to the validity of the Resurrection of Christ. If the disciples (or later zealots) meant to
fabricate Christ’s resurrection, they never would have chosen women to discover
the empty tomb. In that culture, the
testimony of women was regarded as absolutely inadmissible. To use women to substantiate the claims of
Christ’s resurrection would be undermining.
This shows that the gospel writers were faithful in recording the
events, even though they might be embarrassing and potentially undermining.
C. Jesus Appears to the Apostles:
i. Read: John 20:19-30
ii. Question: Has Thomas been falsely labeled as “doubter?”
Thomas has been labeled a “doubter,” but the
fact is, the other disciples did not believe until they saw Jesus’s wounds
also. Jesus words to Thomas may seem
like a reprimand for lack of faith but if this were true it would apply to all
the disciples, not just Thomas. Jesus
didn’t return to lay a guilt trip on them.
His focus is on the future. Jesus
tells the disciples many more will believe, having not seen Him at all, and
they will be blessed for their child-like faith. John writes directly to those who have not
seen in the last verse of John 20:
“And truly
Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not
written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.”
(
iii. Question: Why do you think the disciples were so incredulous given the many signs and wonders performed by Jesus, especially since he specified telling the disciples he would be raised from the dead?
Hint:
An examination of our lives reveals that even though God is often undeniably gracious and merciful to us,
we lapse into unbelief.
III. Into Our Lives:
A. Suggested Questions for Application:
i. Question: What is so important about Jesus rising from the dead?
·
It
confirms what Jesus said about himself – He is God.
·
It
confirms what Jesus did for us – salvation.
1 Corinthians 15:14: “…and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.”
ii. Question: What should our response be to Christ’s resurrection?
“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
(
The disciples are terrified of the Jewish
leaders and are at a loss for what to do next.
Each time Jesus appears, He speaks peace to them but He also informs
them they will now take up His message.
Jesus’ death is not the end of the mission, but the debut of the disciples:
So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to
you! As the Father has sent Me, I also
send you.” (
Just at the Father sent Jesus with His
divine message of mercy, forgiveness and hope, Jesus sends us. How could we be silent? Where would you be, if you had not been told
“Jesus lives!” We are now His lips, His
hands, and His love in the world.
iii. Question: How do you feel about being “sent out” by Jesus to tell others of the life-changing news of God’s mercy?
B. Pray