What Jesus Revealed About Himself by the Sea of Galilee

John 21:1-14

Truth Taught- Jesus reveals that He is the Lord of Heaven and Earth

Introduction

Too often we are held captive by misinterpretations of Scripture. I could also say we are often led astray or down a wrong path as we listen to what many say about certain texts. Here is a famous one. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard it said that the disciples were being disobedient by going fishing here.

The real issue is that if anything they were being obedient. In Mark’s Gospel we read that Jesus had told them a few days ago that after the resurrection He was going to Galilee.

Mark 14:28 (ESV)

²⁸ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.”

This is, no doubt, why the disciples go to the region of Galilee. While they are waiting, Peter says, Let’s go fishing. I don’t think he was making some claim of going back to his former life as a fisherman, as many have said. I don’t think he’s giving up on Jesus. I don’t think he’s thrown in the towel. Peter is different now. He’s been completely humbled by the sifting that Jesus allowed Satan to accomplish.

You see sometimes, so called, biblical scholars can read too much into things and create some doctrine that’s not in the text at all. When they do this, they often miss what is there in the text.

It was the fact that they were fishing that made this so sweet to the disciples. This is especially sweet to Simon Peter, John, and James.

Early on when Jesus called Peter, James, and John to be His disciples, He did so with a powerful miracle. The miracle had to do with a great catch of fish. The disciples had been fishing all night and caught nothing. They were on the shore of the Sea of Galilee cleaning and mending their nets when Jesus shows up. Jesus gets into one of the boats and puts out a little from the shore and begins to teach. This was a special boat. This boat was where the Lord taught from and it was this boat that Simon Peter had been fishing in all night and caught nothing.

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Title: Believing Thomas

John 20:24-31

Truth Taught: When Thomas saw the evidence he believed

Introduction

Someone has said that you’re remembered for the dumbest thing you did in high school. You could have been a straight arrow and made straight A’s but it was that one time that you did……..
This is Thomas’ story. While not mentioned a lot in the NT, he did do other things but the nickname, Doubting Thomas stuck. Doubt is so associated with Thomas and has been used together with his name so much, that Doubting Thomas is used even today to call out someone who has doubts.
After the raising of Lazarus, Thomas speaks out…

John 11:16 (ESV)

¹⁶ So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Many things bring doubts into our mind. Sometimes doubts come and those doubts are good. Take a young adult who is out on his or her own now. He or she cannot feel comfort in their parent’s faith and must think through and even at times doubt whether their faith is real or not.

Sin can bring doubt into our lives. Often time we try to justify our actions by downplaying the truth that down deep we know to be true. The more we do this the more we open ourselves up to doubt. Sometimes we doubt because we don’t have all the facts. Often times when our questions are answered doubt leaves us. Finally, we can doubt when life just isn’t working out like we thought it would. Where is the abundant life Jesus promised us as His children?

Human Need

As believers, our doubts must be fought with truth. Ignorance leads to doubts. So, for us, the cure for doubting is truth.

Father, You have Gathered Your people that You may let us hear Your words, so that we may learn to fear You all the days that we live on the earth, and that we may also teach our children…amen

John 20:24–31 (ESV)

²⁴ Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

³⁰ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

1. What Kind of Doubt Did Thomas Have?

²⁴ Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Martin Luther is a very good example of someone who was a lot like Thomas. Early in Luther’s life, he did not have the truth he needed. In fact, all Luther had was church tradition. He had no access to the Scriptures. He believed that God was angry and just couldn’t wait to pass judgment on Luther. Luther’s doubts were many, in those days. What did Luther need? He needed truth. Truth from God’s Word would scatter the darkness of doubt and discouragement for Luther. There was a moment in Luther’s life when, as he read and studied the Bible, God saved him. Luther has mentioned in his writings what the very verse was when, as he states He was born again by the Holy Ghost and heavens gates swung open wide and he walked through…
Romans 1:16–17 (ESV)

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
He says, “Here in it,” in the gospel, “the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, ‘the just shall live by faith.’” A verse taken from the book of Habakkuk in the Old Testament that is cited three times in the New Testament. As Luther would stop short and say, “What does this mean, that there’s this righteousness that is by faith, and from faith to faith? What does it mean that the righteous shall live by faith?” Which again as I said was the thematic verse for the whole exposition of the gospel that Paul sets forth here in the book of Romans. And so, the lights came on for Luther. And he began to understand that what Paul was speaking of here was a righteousness that God in His grace was making available to those who would receive it passively, not those who would achieve it actively, but that would receive it by faith, and by which a person could be reconciled to a holy and righteous God.
Now there was a linguistic trick that was going on here too. And it was this, that the Latin word for justification that was used at this time in church history was—and it’s the word from which we get the English word justification—the Latin word justificare. And it came from the Roman judicial system. And the term justificare is made up of the word justus, which is justice or righteousness, and the verb, the infinitive facare, which means to make. And so, the Latin fathers understood the doctrine of justification is what happens when God, through the sacraments of the church and elsewhere, make unrighteous people righteous.
But Luther was looking now at the Greek word that was in the New Testament, not the Latin word. The word dikaios, dikaiosune, which didn’t mean to make righteous, but rather to regard as righteous, to count as righteous, to declare as righteous. And this was the moment of awakening for Luther. He said, “You mean, here Paul is not talking about the righteousness by which God Himself is righteous, but a righteousness that God gives freely by His grace to people who don’t have righteousness of their own.”
And so Luther said, “Woa, you mean the righteousness by which I will be saved, is not mine?” It’s what he called a justitia alienum, an alien righteousness; a righteousness that belongs properly to somebody else. It’s a righteousness that is extra nos, outside of us. Namely, the righteousness of Christ. And Luther said, “When I discovered that, I was born again of the Holy Ghost. And the doors of paradise swung open, and I walked through.”[1]

Do you see that for Luther, he needed knowledge from God’s Word. He was ignorant of the truth of salvation. The Roman Catholic Church had taught a false gospel that was really a works gospel. So Luther needed his past belief system shattered and replaced with truth.
This is exactly what Thomas needed.
Thomas was a devout Jew. He was one who believed in a works righteousness. He believed that keeping the Law and the Sabbath and being Jewish was how one was made right with God. Then Jesus comes along a shattered that system with His teaching. Then he switched his thinking to the things Jesus said. But now Jesus is dead. Do you see where Thomas is? He tired of being scammed and tired of believing things only to have them trampled on. He’s had it with all this stuff. He’s discouraged and questioning everything because he feels he been conned.   Scammed by the Jews, by Jesus, even by his friends who keep saying Jesus is now alive…yeah right. What Thomas needs is truth.
Life isn’t working out the way Thomas thought it would. He believed and trusted Jesus who spoke about a coming Kingdom and now there’s nothing but discouragement and doubt.
The kind of doubt Thomas had was the kind that comes about from ignorance. He needed truth.

2. Truth Enters the Room and Doubt Leaves

John 20:26–29 (ESV)

²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

There is a week lapse in time between the claims Thomas heard the disciples make and him actually seeing Jesus. What do you think Thomas did during that week?

He no doubt mulled over what the disciples told him. He rehearsed all that Jesus had done and said for the three years they were together.
He remembered that Jesus claimed deity…
John 8:56–58 (ESV)

⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” ⁵⁷ So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” ⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

John 12:41 (ESV)
⁴¹ Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him.
John 1:51 (ESV)

⁵¹ And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

He remembered what Jesus did…
John 5:8–9 (ESV)

⁸ Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” ⁹ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Now that day was the Sabbath.

John 5:18 (ESV)

¹⁸ This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

John 10:27–30 (ESV)

²⁷ My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are one.”

John 11:43–44 (ESV)

⁴³ When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” ⁴⁴ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Now Thomas and Jesus meet again.

Notice the first miracle is that Jesus appears to the disciples and to Thomas even though the doors were again locked. Our Lord extends to them again the great Shalom or Peace be unto you. Then before any thing else is said, our Lord walks up to Thomas, knowing already what Thomas had said, and shows him what he needed to see in order to believe. Do you see the astounding narrative?

Thomas was amazed, like before, Jesus appears through the locked doors (He is omnipotent). Jesus begins speaking to Thomas about the very things Thomas had privately spoken of, namely, the wounds of Jesus (Jesus is Omniscient). This man, Thomas begins to think, is acting a lot like the Jesus I once knew. Then our Lord shows the wounds to Thomas…

Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side.

3. Thomas’ Faith and Ours

²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

³⁰ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; ³¹ but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Beloved, we no doubt have heard it taught that Thomas’ faith is good but those who have not seen…now that is the kind of faith God wants us to have. That’s not what this passage is teaching at all.
Mary Magdalene believed when she saw Jesus

The Apostle John believed when he saw the folded burial cloths

Thomas believes when he saw Christ and touched His wounds.

We too believe based on proof not based on here say.

John is the Gospel of evidence.

The Bible never asks you to believe what’s not shown to be true. Truth will increase our faith. When Thomas saw the proof he believed. He examined the evidence and discovered that this really is the same Jesus that taught me all God desires. This is the same Jesus that did all those things that only God could do.

John 14:1–7 (ESV)

14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to where I am going.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Application

When you feel discouraged and when it seems doubts are invading your heart and mind dwell on the truths presented in God’s Word and doubts will dissipate.

Application

Hebrews 12:1–2 (ESV)

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

If you’re wrestling with doubts, here are a few practical helps:
Soak in the Gospel according to John: “These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). The whole book is about believing.
It’s time to lay aside the weights of doubt. They need not impede your race. Your Savior died to free you from them and he’s going to help you. Trust him. And keep running with your eyes fixed on him (Hebrews 12:2).

[1] http://www.ligonier.org/blog/justification-faith-alone-martin-luther-and-romans-117/

Worship Like Never Before

John 20:19-23

Truth Taught- Jesus gives His Church the gift of the Holy Spirit and now we can worship like never before.

Father, You have Gathered Your people that You may let us hear Your words, so that we may learn to fear You all the days that we live on the earth, and that we may also teach our children…amen

John 20:19–23 (ESV)

¹⁹ On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” ²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

1. The First Day They Could Truly Worship, Because Jesus Died and Rose Again

¹⁹ On the evening of that day, the first day of the week

John 20:1 (ESV)

20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

John keeps telling us the day all these things took place…the first day of the week. He does this to help us see why the early church began what may be called the Christian Sabbath or the Lord’s Day. By the time John wrote his Gospel the church was already meeting together for corporate worship on Sunday. Saturday had become just another day.

Mary, the first person to see the risen Christ saw Him on a Sunday.

The Apostle John believed after seeing the evidence on a Sunday.

When Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week, things changed. Christ, the second Adam, “finished” (John 19:30) the work that the first Adam failed to do (Rom. 5:12-19).

Romans 5:18–21 (ESV)

¹⁸ Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. ¹⁹ For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. ²⁰ Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, ²¹ so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It was also that day the New Covenant began…the first day of the week.

Because of that pivotal event, the church determined that for Christians under the new covenant, the day of worship and celebration of the Lord’s grace in Jesus Christ was to be the first day of the week, Sunday:

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What Mary and John Saw

John 20:1-18

Truth Taught – The resurrection of Jesus is the assurance that all He did and taught is true

Father, You have Gathered Your people that You may let us hear Your words, so that we may learn to fear You all the days that we live on the earth, and that we may also teach our children…amen

John 20:1–18 (ESV)

20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” ³ So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. ⁴ Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to their homes.

¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

1. Mary Sees and Believes

Luke links Mary with Joanna and Susanna and “many others” as those healed of evil spirits and infirmities by Jesus. As Mary is referred to as having “seven demons” her condition must have been worse than the rest. But the moment Jesus’ compassionate eyes saw the wild-eyed and cringing woman of Magdala, He saw in her the ministering angel who would be a blessing to His own heart and to others. In His authoritative voice He commanded the tormenting demons to come out—and stay out—of her. “Back! back! to your native hell, ye foul spirits of the pit,” and the miracle happened. Her deranged and nerve-racked mind became as tranquil as the troubled lake Jesus calmed. Sanity returned, the rosy tint was restored to her cheeks, and she was made whole. Now, “clothed and in her right mind,” she was ready to become one of the most devoted woman disciples of Him to whom she owed so much. That she was deeply grateful for physical and mental healing is shown by what she endeavored to do for her Deliverer and His cause. Saved from the terrible power of hell, she gave of her best to Him who had fully emancipated her from demonic possession. When Christ saved her, He liberated the highest virtues of sacrifice, fortitude and courage.

Mary went with her Lord into the shadows, and is thus represented as being among those who followed Jesus on His last sad journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. And as they followed, they still “ministered unto Him.” Mary was present with the other holy women at the mock trial of Jesus. No longer is He on the road with crowds gathering and hanging on His words. Fearless in His declaration and denunciations, He is arrested and tried for His life. Some of His intimate friends had deserted Him, but Mary and her band did not forsake Him. The poet reminds us—
Not she with traitorous kiss her Master stung,
Not she denied Him with unfaithful tongue;
She, when Apostles fled, could dangers brave,
Last at the Cross, and earliest at the grave.
Mary was present in Pilate’s Hall and saw and heard the religious leaders clamoring for the blood of Him who was so precious to her heart. She listened as Pontius Pilate pronounced His death sentence of crucifixion although he had found no fault in Him. She witnessed and wept as Jesus left the hall to be spat upon and ill-treated by the crowd thirsting for His blood. Then she saw Him led out to Calvary’s fatal mount to be nailed to a tree.
Mary was one of the sorrowing group of holy women who stood as near as they could to comfort Jesus by their presence in the closing agonies of the crucifixion (Luke 23:49). Mary listened with a broken heart to His bitter cries and watched through those dread hours until at last the Roman soldier thrust his spear into the Saviour’s side and declared Him dead. In the renowned picture gallery in the Louvre, there is a painting of desolation, despair and love. The artist has depicted the night of the crucifixion. “The world is wrapped in shadow; the stars are dead; and yet in the darkness is seen a kneeling form. It is Mary Magdalene with loving lips and hands pressing against the bleeding feet of Christ.” Yes, she was there when they crucified her Lord.
No sooner had Jesus dismissed His spirit than the question arose among the Marys at the cross, “How could they secure that blood-stained body, and prepare it for burial?” Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus, to the relief of the sorrowful mourners, had come for that very purpose. The artist Rubens, in his masterpiece, The Descent of the Cross represents Mary Magdalene, and Mary the wife of Cleophas, assisting Joseph and Nicodemus in receiving the battered body from the tree, preparing it for burial, then placing the precious remains in the new tomb in the garden. Mary Magdalene remained “sitting over against the sepulchre” and “beholding” until Joseph had laid the Lord’s body away (Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55).
Last at the cross, where Jesus died as the Lamb of God, Mary Magdalene was also the first at the garden tomb to witness the most important event in world history and the pivotal truth of Christianity, namely the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. She was at the tomb early on that first Easter morning, and as the light of earliest day filtered across Jerusalem, she peered into the cave. Seeing it was empty, she wept.[1]
Now keeping in step with John’s purpose for writing, we see that when Mary saw her Lord she believed.
Something we must see here is that prior to this moment she did not believe that Jesus would rise from the tomb. We know this because when Jesus was not there her first inclination was to find where they (whoever they were) had taken the body.
It took Jesus, Himself to say to her, Mary it’s Me…even then at that moment in time she hardly believed.
¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” ¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).
So, what was Mary’s response? She immediately grabbed Jesus and began to hug Him. Notice what Jesus said to her…He said that she had to let Him go so that He could finish everything. She had to let Him go so He could ascend to the Father. Then our Lord tells her that His Father is now her Father and His God is her God. Then what did she do? She went to tell the others. Her belief was made real when she saw the risen Lord.
Her evidence was Jesus Himself…
2. John Sees and Believes
⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
Here, we have a belief similar to ours today. John believed when he saw the evidence of the resurrection. He mentions this not to draw attention to himself but to help us in our belief. We do not have the opportunity like Mary did to see the risen Lord with our own eyes. We do, however, have the opportunity to see the evidence.
What was it that brought forth faith/belief in John?
He saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.
What was it about these cloths that brought life into John’s heart? Well, I think this goes back to the event of the resurrection of Lazarus.
John 11:38–44 (ESV)

³⁸ Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. ³⁹ Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” ⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” ⁴¹ So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴² I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” ⁴³ When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” ⁴⁴ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

What John noticed was a significant difference between Jesus’ burial cloth and Lazarus’. He remembered how Lazarus was bound by the cloths and needed to be released from them.

⁴⁴ The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Unbind him and let him go. This shows us that while Lazarus’ resurrection was real and an amazing miracle showing the power of Christ and that his resurrection was a pointer to Jesus who is the resurrection, Lazarus’ body was different. You see Lazarus would die again. If there were any bad news to tell someone whom Jesus raises is that they will endure death twice.
For our Lord, however, His body was different. This is what John saw in the cloths. They were not unwrapped like Lazarus’ the cloth covering the face of Jesus was not unwrapped but folded. You see while Jesus’ resurrection was bodily, His body was not earthly but heavenly. His body was glorified. His body passed through the cloths. This evidence was what John saw and believed. It was as if, when John saw the cloth that bound Jesus his heart was unbound. He became like Lazarus, he was unbound and let go.

The resurrection is evidence and proof that all Jesus said is true. It would be the final miracle that would prove all He did and said. This is John’s purpose behind his Gospel and behind the way he records the events surrounding the resurrection.

Application
As we consider the evidence for ourselves, I pray that it produces faith within our hearts as well. Mary Magdaline had many good traits but we don’t have the opportunity to say, Ill believe if I see Jesus with my own eyes. Our prayer is that God would grant us faith as we examine the cloths, as it were, and believe based on eyewitness accounts and evidence like John did.

God’s plan is that His people, those who believe, would share this truth with others so that they too might believe. While there was a great number of people who saw Jesus after the resurrection, God did not show Jesus to everyone.

Notice what Peter says…

Acts 10:34–43 (ESV)

³⁴ So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶ As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), ³⁷ you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: ³⁸ how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, ⁴¹ not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

The Apostle Paul some 20-30 years after the resurrection is also preaching and notice how he uses the resurrection as proof. In his sermon, it is proof that there is coming a judgment that will be carried out by the One whom God raised from the dead.

Acts 17:30–31 (ESV)
³⁰ The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, ³¹ because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

Finally, we also have John telling us that all our hope is to be placed on Christ and the fact that God raised Him from the dead.
John 19:35 (ESV)

³⁵ He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe.

John 21:24 (ESV)

²⁴ This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

So, the resurrection is the assurance we need to believe all God has spoken to us through His Word, the resurrection is all we need to trust that everything Jesus said and did is true. The resurrection is also proof that there is coming a day of judgment for all people and it will be carried out by Jesus the risen Lord. I’m sure, if John were here, he would ask you…do you believe?

[1] http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/all-women-bible/Mary-Magdalene

For Sin the Double Cure

John 19:31-37

Truth Taught- When our Lord Jesus’ side was pierced out flowed dual grace, Justification and Sanctification

Introduction

Last time we saw that many OT prophecies were fulfilled in the crucifixion of Jesus. We saw the last prophecy concerning His obedience as the Savior was fulfilled when our Lord said He was thirsty.
John 19:28–30 (ESV)

²⁸ After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Even now, after His death, God is still fulfilling Scripture. We’re going to look at a little more typology.
1 Corinthians 10:1–5 (ESV)

10 For I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, ² and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ and all ate the same spiritual food, ⁴ and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

So Paul tells us that it was the Pre-incarnate Christ that followed Moses and the Hebrews throughout the Exodus. It was Christ who gave them water to drink.

Exodus 17:4–7 (ESV)

⁴ So Moses cried to the Lord, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” ⁵ And the Lord said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. ⁶ Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. ⁷ And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”

Notice with me this one amazing point. The Lord stood before the Hebrews on the rock when Moses struck it. This is very close to saying Moses symbolically struck Christ. As Paul tells us it was Christ who is the rock and it is Christ who met their needs in the wilderness.

Father, You have Gathered Your people that You may let us hear Your words, so that we may learn to fear You all the days that we live on the earth, and that we may also teach our children…amen

John 19:31–37 (ESV)

³¹ Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. ³² So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. ³⁵ He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. ³⁶ For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

1. Not One Bone Will Be Broken

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