GEMS FROM THE GOSPELS JOHN 20 & 21 #52days

GEMS FROM THE GOSPELS

JOHN 20 & 21

John 20 – Early on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found the stone rolled away from the entrance. She ran to tell Peter and John that Jesus had been moved, and she did not know where. John outran Peter to the tomb and saw the empty burial cloths but did not go in. Peter caught up and barged in. He also saw the burial cloths and the face cloth folded separate from the rest of them. John saw this and believed Jesus had raised from the dead. Prior to this they did not realize that Scripture taught the Messiah must rise from the dead (Isaiah 53:9-12, Psalm 16:10). After the two disciples went home, Mary Magdalene stood outside the tomb crying. She saw two angels sitting in the tomb and told them she cried because the Lord had been moved. She turned and saw a man she thought to be the gardener and asked where he had put the body. Jesus said her name, and she cried out, “Rabbani!” Jesus told her not to cling to Him because He had not yet gone to the Father. He told her to tell His disciples He was going to his Father and theirs. She went and reported what Jesus said to the disciples. MARY SHARED HER CONFIDENCE.  That evening the disciples gather in a room with the doors locked for fear of the Jews. Jesus appeared and said, “Peace be with you!” He showed them His hands and side and repeated, “Peace be with you.” The disciples were filled with joy to see Him. Jesus said He was sending them out as God had sent Him out, and breathing on them said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Thomas had not been there when Jesus appeared. The disciples SHARED THEIR CONFIDENCE with Thomas, but he said that unless he saw the nail scars and put his finger into Jesus’s side, he would not believe that Jesus was alive. A week later, the disciples gathered again, and Thomas was with them. Jesus appeared and invited Thomas to check out His wounds and believe. Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus told Thomas he believed because he had seen, but those who believe without seeing are truly blessed. Jesus performed many miracles in their presence, but John said he did not record all of them. He wrote, “But these which have been recorded are here so that you may trust that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by this trust you may have life because of who He is. John SHARED HIS CONFIDENCE by preaching and writing his account of the Gospel. SHARE YOUR CONFIDENCE in our risen Lord as you walk through your daily life.

John 21 – Thomas, Nathanael, James, John, and two other disciples went fishing with Peter, a return to a familiar occupation. They didn’t catch anything all night. A man on the shore told them to cast their net on the starboard side of the boat. When they did so, the net was so full of fish they couldn’t haul it aboard. John said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” Peter threw on his coat and dove into the water. The others followed in the boat dragging the net full of fish. Jesus had a fire burning and fish already cooking and some bread. Simon Peter dragged the net ashore, and even though it contained 153 fish, it had not torn. Jesus invited His disciples to join Him for breakfast. They all recognized Him as the Lord. This was the third time He had appeared to the disciples after being raised from the dead. Jesus took Peter aside and asked him if he loved Him, the first two times using “agapaŏ” which is a moral choice to love without condition. Peter replied each time that he loved Jesus as a friend (philĕō). The third time Jesus changed to philĕō which pained Peter that the Lord had changed it to his level. Peter assured Jesus of his friendly love.

25 – agapaŏ – to love (in a social or moral sense) (be-) love (-ed) related to 26 – agape – affection or benevolence – a love-feast – charity, dear, love.

5368 – philĕō – to be a friend to (fond of), have affection for (denoting personal attachment, as a matter of sentiment or feeling: while 25 is wider embracing espec. The judgment and the deliberate assent of the will as a matter of principle, duty and propriety; the two thus stand related; the former (25) being chiefly of the heart and the latter of the head; spec. to kiss (as a mark of tenderness) – kiss, love.

Each time Peter responded to the Lord, Jesus told him to feed or shepherd His sheep, meaning those who trusted in Christ for salvation. Then Jesus described a scenario of Peter in his older years which indicated he would be crucified. After explaining that the cost would be martyrdom for Peter, Jesus simply said, “Follow me.” Peter saw John nearby and asked, “What about him?” Jesus said if He wanted John to live until he returned, it was not any of Peter’s business. The rumor spread that John would not die, but that was not what Jesus said. John ended his account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by saying that if he had written everything Jesus had done, the whole would could not contain the books. Peter is not the only one to whom Jesus says, “FEED MY SHEEP.” Those of us who have walked with Jesus longer, have studied the word more intently, have a responsibility to teach others. We are all to go along making disciples and teaching them what Jesus did and said.

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV) Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

For a more in-depth study of the Gospel of John go to www.biblestudy-pjm.blogspot.com. It is in the archived lessons from November 5, 2016 to November 24, 2016.