Please forgive this rough draft format, as these are my raw study notes on the Gospel of John, although they are a bit better formatted than former efforts. I felt a great sense of urgency to publish them rather than waiting until I had the time to pretty them up. Thank you and I pray that God blesses and encourages you through this material. I’m not sure of the condition of the world at the time of this publication. But at the time of its writing, fall 2009 through late spring 2010, things are looking increasingly bleak with the economy, health care and unemployment, there is a renewal and increase of racism, and godly principles of living being disregarded, there are floods in India, earthquake and tsunami in Samoa. Are these the first stages of birth pains? The last? God only knows. And He is very busy these days. Seek His wisdom. Encourage each other. Pray. Jesus is coming to deliver His people and judge the wicked…Stacey
Take a few minutes to pray and savor chapter 20 of the book of John. Then return here and ponder the thoughts, answer the questions, and be sure to leave comments about your own revelations…
20:1-8 – See Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-10. What similarities exist in these parallel accounts? What additional information do you glean from these passages? What does this tell you about the perspective of the writer, John? How does this knowledge enhance your understanding of the event?
20:1 – Jesus later shows that He can enter a locked room (20:19, 26). So, He didn’t require the stone to be removed. Why was the stone rolled away?
20:3-5 – Why do you think John hesitated to enter the tomb? What does the different reaction from Peter tell you about each of these disciples?
20:8 – What do you think John saw that made him believe?
20:12 – see Exodus 25:17-22. The angels in the tomb sat similar to the cherubim on the atonement cover of the ark. Perhaps that’s how they watched over His body as they waited for Him to rise?
this posture of the angels appears to mimic the atonement cover of the ark of the covenant.
20:13 – why would the angels ask why Mary is crying?
Why would anyone have stolen Jesus’ body?
20:15 – ironically, this Man Who Mary just accused of carrying Jesus away did exactly that – ON HIS OWN TWO FEET!
20:16-17 – she must have hugged Him. His “rebuke” was tender.
20:16 – Can you relate to Mary’s recognition of Jesus by the way He spoke her name? Take a moment to contemplate (and maybe even journal) this scene using your own experience.
20:17 – scripture doesn’t say it, but Jesus’ response to Mary would indicate that she grabbed a hold of Him. He told her to let go of Him and go tell His brothers that He is returning to the Father.
What did He mean by this? He stuck around the disciples for 40 (?) days before His ascension.
20:19 – Jesus appeared in a room where the doors were locked.
Jesus revealed Himself through the Old Testament scriptures the disciples didn’t originally see fulfilled.
20:22 – Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit onto the disciples.
20:26-29 – I wonder why it isn’t recorded that Jesus breathed the Spirit onto Thomas.
20:26-28 – Thomas never touched Jesus. He just declared Him to be his Lord and God.
20:28 – Thomas is the eighth witness for Christ.
20:29 – Those who believe without seeing refers to us! How do you think we are blessed because of this?
20:31 – Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?
• The book of John is called the “Love Gospel”. How have you seen God’s love at work in this chapter of scripture and how will you apply it to your life this week?
• What attributes of God do you see in this book?
• What verse of scripture seemed to be God speaking directly to you? What is He teaching you in these verses? How does He want you to respond?
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