John 20: The Resurrection

Nov 25, 2024

John Chapter 20

The Resurrection of Jesus.

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the scripture that he had to rise from the dead.
Then the disciples returned home.

The Appearance to Mary of Magdala.

But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.

The Appearance to the Disciples.

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
[Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas.

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”
Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Conclusion.

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of [his] disciples that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.

The Empty Tomb: Mary Magdalene discovers the empty tomb and informs Peter and the beloved disciple. Their investigation leads to belief, even though they do not fully understand the resurrection at this point (John 20:1-10).
Appearance to Mary Magdalene: Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, who initially does not recognize him. Her encounter with the risen Christ transforms her grief into joy, and she becomes the first to announce the resurrection to the disciples (John 20:11-18).
Appearance to the Disciples: Jesus appears to the disciples, offering them peace and commissioning them with the Holy Spirit to continue his mission. This includes the authority to forgive sins, highlighting the sacramental nature of reconciliation (John 20:19-23).
Thomas’ Doubt and Faith: Thomas initially doubts the resurrection but comes to faith when Jesus appears to him, leading to his profound declaration of faith, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus blesses those who believe without seeing (John 20:24-29).
Purpose of the Gospel: The chapter concludes by stating the purpose of the Gospel: to inspire belief in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God, leading to eternal life (John 20:30-31).

CCC 641-642: Discusses the appearances of the risen Christ, including to Mary Magdalene and the apostles, emphasizing their role as witnesses (John 20:11-18).
CCC 976-977: Relates to the power to forgive sins, as given to the apostles, which is foundational for the sacrament of reconciliation (John 20:22-23).
CCC 1084: Explains the sacraments as actions of Christ, who is present and active in them, reflecting the giving of the Holy Spirit (John 20:22).

Embrace the Resurrection: Reflect on the transformative power of the resurrection in your life, allowing it to bring hope and renewal in times of doubt or despair.
Be a Witness: Like Mary Magdalene and the apostles, share the message of the risen Christ with others, bearing witness to your faith through words and actions.
Seek Reconciliation: Make use of the sacrament of reconciliation, recognizing the gift of forgiveness and the peace it brings, as instituted by Christ.
Cultivate Faith: Follow Thomas’ journey from doubt to faith, striving to believe in Christ’s presence and promises even when you cannot see them, and finding strength in the community of believers.

Embrace the Reality of the Resurrection:
- Read the account of the empty tomb and Jesus' appearances to Mary Magdalene and the disciples (John 20:1-18).
- Reflect on the significance of the resurrection as the cornerstone of Christian faith, affirming Jesus' victory over death and His divine nature.
- Consider how the reality of the resurrection impacts your beliefs and daily life, offering hope and assurance of eternal life.
Experience Peace and Commissioning:
- Focus on Jesus' appearance to the disciples, where He offers them peace and commissions them to continue His work (John 20:19-23).
- Reflect on the peace that Jesus brings, even in times of fear and uncertainty, and how you can cultivate this peace in your own life.
- Think about how you are called to participate in Jesus' mission, sharing His message of love and forgiveness with others.
Strengthen Your Faith Through Belief:
- Study the encounter between Jesus and Thomas, who initially doubted the resurrection (John 20:24-29).
- Reflect on Jesus' response to Thomas and the blessing for those who believe without seeing.
- Identify areas in your life where you struggle with doubt, and seek ways to strengthen your faith, such as through prayer, study, and community support.

For a deeper exploration of this topic, check out the podcast where the hosts will dive into this article.