Day 115: John 20- Hungry for Life

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.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
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.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
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.”
Jesus and Thomas
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.”

The Purpose of This Book
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.


Meditation
God’s love for you is shown in His longing for you to live in abundance of life now and to experience eternal life later. John’s gospel is written, “That we may believe and, by believing, we may have life in the name of Jesus.” (20:31) John 20 invites us to celebrate love of God through believing, experiencing abundant life in every circumstance. Jesus meets us in the dark, our isolation, and in our doubts. The love of God longs for you to have life.

Jesus appeared to Mary in the garden, (11-18) meeting Mary in her despondency, disorientation, and in the dark.  Mary heard her name, believed, and experienced resurrection life!

Jesus appeared to the Disciples who were in lock down due to fear. (19-23) Jesus went through a wall to invite fearful disciples to believe. Notice the Trinitarian language, a picture of our whole God inviting the whole disciple to find life in Him. 

Jesus appears to doubting Thomas. (24-29) After Thomas articulated his doubt Jesus came and stood among them. (25-26) In vulnerability Jesus shows His scars. Thomas believes and Jesus proclaims,

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The love of God sends Jesus to give life to those who believe. (3:16) Jesus meets us personally in any circumstance we find ourselves in, even in despair, darkness, fear, or doubt. Jesus comes to give us life and life abundantly. 

Jesus, we believe. Will you help us with our unbelief?

Richly Dwelling
-How has God been pursuing you to show you His love and to give you life?

-With whom do you identify most in John 20- Despondent and discouraged Mary, the disciples on lock down from fear, or doubting Thomas?  Why?

-The heartbeat of John’s gospel, that “God so loved the world he sent his only son, that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life,” (3:16) is captured in the narrative of John 20. Does the love of God capture you?

Key Verse
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.