5 Steps to Embrace the Risen Jesus Today and Everyday (John 20)

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Scripture: John 20

Translation: ^{John 20.1}And on the first day of the week, Mary from Magdala came early in the morning while it was still dark to the tomb and saw the stone taken away from the tomb. ²So, she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple that Jesus loved, and said to them, “They took the Lord from the tomb and we don’t know where they put Him!” ³So, Peter and the other disciple left and were going to the tomb. ⁴And the two of them were running together and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and he got to the tomb first. ⁵And taking a look in he saw the linen cloths lying there, although he didn’t go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter also came , following him, and went into the tomb. And he was staring at the linen cloths lying there, ⁷and the face-cloth, which was over His head, not lying there with the linen cloths, but folded up separately in one place. ⁸So, at that point, the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, also went in and saw and believed. ⁹You see, they didn’t yet understand the Scripture that it is necessary for Him to rise from the dead. ¹⁰So, the disciples went back to the other disciples [lit. them].

¹¹And Mary was standing outside right in front of the tomb crying. So, as she was crying, she took a look into the tomb. ¹²And she saw two angels in white clothes sitting, one by the head and one by the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. ¹³And those angels were saying to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” she was saying to them that “They took my Lord and I don’t know where they put Him!” ¹⁴After saying these things she turned around behind her and saw Jesus standing and she didn't know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵Jesus was saying to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” That woman, thinking that He was the gardener, was saying to Him, “Sir, if you carried Him away, tell me where you put Him, and I will take Him!” ¹⁶Jesus was saying to her, “Mary.” Turning around that woman was saying to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbuni!” which means “Teacher.” ¹⁷Jesus was saying to her, “Don’t touch me, because I haven’t gone up to My Father yet. But go to My brothers and tell them, “I’m going up to My Father and your Father, and My God and Your God.” ¹⁸Mary from Magdala went, announcing to the disciples that “I really saw the Lord!” and that He said these things to her.

¹⁹Then, while it was early in the morning on that day, the first day of the week, and while the doors were locked up tight where the disciples were due to fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle and was saying to them, “Peace to you!” ²⁰And after saying this, He showed them the hands and the side. So the disciples celebrated because they saw the Lord! ²¹So, He said to them again, “Peace to you! Just as the Father sent Me, I’m sending you!” ²²And after saying this, He breathed on them and was saying to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit! ²³If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven for them; if you hold anyone’s they are held tight. ²⁴And Thomas, one of the Twelve, the one called Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵So, the other disciples were saying to him, “We really have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails on His hands put my finger in the place of the nails and put my hand into his side, there’s no way I will believe!” ²⁶And a week later, His disciples are inside again and Thomas is with them. Jesus comes while the doors were locked up tight and stood in the middle and said, “Peace to you!” ²⁷Then He was saying to Thomas, “Bring your finger here and see My hands; bring your hand and put it on My side. And don’t become faithless, but faith-filled!” ²⁸Thomas responded and said to Him, “My Lord and My God!” ²⁹Jesus was saying to him “ Is it because you really have seen me, you actually believe? Blessed are those you don’t see and believe!”

³⁰So, on the one hand, Jesus did many other signs in front of the disciples, which are not actually written in this book, ³¹but on the other hand these things are actually written, so that you would believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and so that by believing you would have life in His Name!

Interpretation

1.      Structure

a.       The Disciples Run and Find the Empty Tomb (vv.1-10)

b.      Mary from Magdala sees angels and the Risen Christ Jesus (vv.11-18)

c.       Jesus appears in the locked room twice, so that His disciples would believe and know that He was alive, truly raised from the dead, and to send them on their mission with the Holy Spirit (vv.19-29)

d.      John gives a preliminary conclusion: Believe in Jesus as Messiah and God and Have eternal life (vv.30-31)

2.      Themes

a.       Empty tomb

b.      Resurrection

c.       Proof/Evidence of Jesus’ Resurrection

d.      Faith in Christ

e.       Jesus is going to the Father

f.       Running/coming/going

g.      Deity of Christ

h.      Witnesses

i.        Holy Spirit

j.        Mission

3.      Doctrines

a.       Jesus physically raised from the dead

b.      Jesus is God

c.       Jesus is the Messiah

d.      Belief in Jesus brings eternal life in Christ.

e.       Jesus is in heaven

Applications

1.      Outline: 5 Steps to Embrace the Resurrected Jesus the Messiah Today and Everyday

a.       Step 1: Care

                                                              i.      Examples of people who cared

1.      Peter and John cared

2.      Mary cared

3.      The disciples cared

4.      Thomas cared

5.      The angels

                                                            ii.      Things that can keep us from caring

1.      Business

2.      Sin

3.      Skepticism

4.      Laziness

b.      Step 2: Believe

                                                              i.      Jesus actually raised from the dead

1.      Proof 1: The empty tomb

2.      Proof 2: The folded cloths

3.      Proof 3: The angels

4.      Proof 4: The eyewitnesses of the resurrection: Peter, John, Mary, Thomas, etc.

5.      Proof 5: All the other miracles and prophecy of Jesus the Messiah

                                                            ii.      Jesus is God the Son

                                                          iii.      Jesus is the Messiah, the Promised and Prophesied Savior and King

                                                          iv.      Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life

c.       Step 3: Rejoice

                                                              i.      Because Jesus is alive

                                                            ii.      Because your sins are forgiven through faith in the Risen Jesus

                                                          iii.      Because new life—eternal life—is yours through faith in the Risen Jesus

                                                          iv.      Because Jesus gave us a mission and the Holy Spirit

d.      Step 4: Worship

                                                              i.      Worship Jesus as our Lord

                                                            ii.      Worship Jesus as our God

e.       Step 5: Go  

                                                              i.      Go out into the world

1.      You will need to be bold

2.      You will need to be diligent

3.      You will need to be determined

4.      You will need to be directed

                                                            ii.      Go out into the world full of the Holy Spirit

1.      Rely on the Holy Spirit for courage

2.      Rely on the Holy Spirit for strength/discipline

3.      Rely on the Holy Spirit for determination

4.      Rely on the Holy Spirit for direction

                                                          iii.      Go out into the world full of the Holy Spirit to Complete the Mission

1.      To bring the Good News of Jesus the Messiah’s resurrection

a.       He is alive

b.      He is God

2.      To bring the Good News of forgiveness through faith in Jesus

3.      To bring the Good News of eternal life through faith in Jesus

2.      Discussion Questions

a.       Do you ever find yourself apathetic? What about? Is there something you are never apathetic about? What about Christ, do you ever find yourself apathetic about Him? Why or why not?

b.      What proofs of Jesus’ resurrection are most convincing to you? Is there any proof you wish you had?

c.       How do you think Jesus being God’s Son and the promised Messiah are related to His resurrection? In other words, how does the resurrection prove that Jesus is God the Son and that Jesus is the Messiah?

d.      Why/how does Jesus’ resurrection matter to you personally?

e.       Jesus gave us a mission to complete by going out into the world filled with the Holy Spirit. What are some things that make it difficult for you to engage in the mission Jesus gave you? what are some things that are hold us back as a group?

f.       How can the Holy Spirit help you to accomplish Jesus’ mission for us? Be specific.

Illustrations/Explanations

1.      Skepticism that you should care is like when you are trying to convince your friend that this one restaurant is awesome, and he’s all like, “uh…I doubt it.” Or like someone who’s never had pizza before, and you are trying to tell them, “hey man, you have to try pizza! It’s so good.” And the guy is like, “no, I’m fine with the food I’m used to.” And you’re like, no way, dude, you got to try it!