Background

This chapter begins early on the first day of the week
(Sunday). The previous Friday Jesus died
and was buried. Most scholars believe
the unnamed disciple in this section is the apostle John.

Wrestling with the Text

Read John 20:1-9

Do you understand from the Old Testament Scriptures that
Jesus had to rise from the dead (see verse 9)?
Read Isaiah 53 and Psalm 16 and write any observations you have.

Regarding Isaiah 53, it is important to understand how
antithetical to the ancient Jewish min this was. Jews knew that chapter 53 had
something to do with the messiah, but they so disliked the notion of the
messiah being humiliated and mocked, that in the Jewish Targums (an ancient
Jewish document) they have actually retranslated all the embarrassing or lowly
texts as ones of power and glory. What does this say about the difference
between God’s notion of power and mans? What does this say about love and our
purpose? How does the broken lamb on a cross go against the militaristic
warrior king that the ancient Jews (and much of our modern power greedy
society) so desperately craves?

Did Mary go to the tomb alone? Read verse 1 again. Then read Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1-3, and Luke
24:1,9-10. Is this a contradiction? John
does not mention that anyone accompanied Mary to the tomb, but neither does he
say she was alone. Also notice that when
Mary speaks in verse 2 she says “we” rather than “I.” So according to John, was Mary alone when she
went to the tomb?

Journaling

Background

Yes, this is the same text as yesterday. This section gets two days.

Wrestling with the Text

Read John 20:1-9

What was Mary’s conclusion when she saw the empty
tomb? What was John’s? Why did they reach different conclusions?
What would you have thought?

What is the significance of the burial cloth being folded?

John believed because he saw the empty tomb. Do you believe Jesus rose from the dead? What convinced you? If you are not sure how to answer that
question, this is a good time to begin thinking through why you believe.

Journaling

Background

Mary has already been to Jesus’ tomb, then run to tell His
disciples. Now she is at the tomb a
second time, later that same day. Peter
and John have looked in the tomb and gone home.
Remember that Mary has not yet realized that Jesus has risen.

Wrestling with the Text

Read John 20:10-18

What emotions does Mary experience in this section of
Scripture? How do you think she felt
when she first realized she was talking with Jesus?

I love Mary’s intense passion to be with Jesus. He has to tell her to stop clinging to Him
(see verse 17). This is not the first
time we see Mary’s desire to spend time with Jesus. Read Luke 10:38-42. Do you long for Jesus the way Mary did?

From verse 17 why was it so urgent that Jesus return to the
Father? Read John 16:5-7 and John
20:20-22.

Journaling

Background

In this text most of the disciples are together (Thomas is
not present). All the texts we have
looked at so far this week (including today’s) happen on the same day – the day
Jesus rose from the dead. Mary has
already told the disciples about her conversation with the risen Jesus.

Wrestling with the Text

Read John 20:19-23

Repetition is often used for emphasis. Twice in this section Jesus says, “Peace be
with you.” In verse 26 He says it a
third time. What does Jesus mean by this
statement?

In verse 23 Jesus gives tremendous authority. We might even be uncomfortable with how much
authority He gives in this verse. What
does the exercise of this authority look like?
Is it only for the apostles, or do other believers have it as well?

Journaling

Wrestling with the Text

Read John 20:24-31

In verse 29 Jesus commends those who believe without seeing
Him, but is it reasonable for anyone to believe without seeing? What would such belief be based on? Recall that John believed before he saw Jesus
(see verse 8). What was John’s belief
based on?

John hopes that his testimony will cause you to believe. Is the testimony of another person a valid
reason to believe something?

Despite the testimony of the other disciples, Thomas doubted
Jesus’ resurrection. Do you identify
more with Thomas or John? Why?

Even though Thomas was not as quick to believe, Jesus still
used him as an apostle. What does this
show about Jesus’ ability to work despite our doubts?

As was just mentioned, in verse 28 Thomas calls Jesus “my
God.” But in verse 17 Jesus refers to
the Father as “my God.” And in verse 31
Jesus is called the “Son of God.” Ponder
the relationship between Jesus and the Father.
Also consider John 1:1-18. After
you have figured it all out, be sure to explain it to me.

Journaling

Chapter 20 of John is about one of the central issues of the
Christian faith – the resurrection of Jesus.
To understand people’s reactions it is essential that we step out of our
perspective. We all know how the story
ends, but none of His followers expected Jesus to rise from the dead. Keep this in mind as you read the accounts in
John 20.