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John Chapter
Twenty
I. Content of the Chapter
The Resurrection and
Manifestation of the Son of God the Savior
A.
The Survey of the Resurrection ---- the Empty Tomb
(v.1-10)
B. The Manifestation of
the Resurrection
1. To Mary ---- it satisfied her loving heart
toward the Lord (v.11-18).
2. To all the disciples ---- it gave them the Holy
Spirit, peace, joy and authority (v.19-23).
3. To Thomas ---- it removed his
doubts (v.24-29).
C. The Purpose of this Book ---- you may believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life
(v.30-31)
II. Verse by Verse commentary
John. 20:1 “Now the first day of the
week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw
that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. ”
YLT: “And on the
first of the Sabbaths, Mary the Magdalene doth come early (there being yet
darkness) to the tomb, and she seeth the stone having been taken away out of
the tomb,”
The
Background: at that time, a
rich man’s tomb was a stone cave chiseled out of a rock, which looked like a
house where had a stone bed, stone tables and stone chairs for the purpose of mourning
for the dead. There was a big low and groove shaped like a rectangle, which was
used to lay the body with the spices. At the entrance of the stone cave, there
was a big stone shaped like a cake in a track chiseled out of a bedrock. Only a
strenuous man could roll
away the stone out of the door of the sepulcher.
Literal
Meaning: “the first day of the week”, there were seven days a week according to
the Jewish calendar, and the seventh day was the Sabbath (see Gen 2:2-3).
Therefore, the Sabbath was the last day of a week, and the next day was a new
beginning of another week, i.e. Sunday, also “the Lord’s day” called by
Christians (see Rev 1:10). The Jews took Sunday as “the first day of the week”, and believers in the New Testament called
Sunday “the Lord’s day” in order to remember the resurrection of the Lord Jesus
(see Acts 20:7; 1Cor 16:2).
“Early”, according to the Roman chronometry, there were four watches at
night: (1) the first watch was six o’clock to nine o’clock; (2) the second was
nine o’clock to the midnight; (3) the third was the midnight to three o’clock
before dawn; (4) the fourth was three o’clock before dawn to six o’clock in the
morning. “Early” referred to the fourth watch.
“Mary Magdalene”, out of whom the
Lord Jesus had
cast seven demons (see Luke 8:2; Mark
16:9).
“Went to the tomb”,
she went to anoint the body of Jesus (see Mark 16:1).
Spiritual
Meaning: “the first day of the week”, it symbolized the beginning of a new age.
The burial of the Lord had finished the old creation, and the resurrection of
the Lord had brought the new creation.
“Early”, it symbolized that the Lord’s life had broken through the power
of darkness and brought those who sat in darkness and in the
shadow of death the dayspring from on high (see 4:16; Luke 1:78-79).
“Mary Magdalene”, she followed the
Lord till the cross (see Matt 27:56-57), and was the last one who left the tomb
and the first one who returned the tomb. Therefore, she could be the
representative of those who were drawn near to the Lord and loved Him.
“The
stone had been taken away from the tomb”, it symbolized that the risen power had removed
all the obstacles, thus manifesting the risen life.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Lord Jesus rose in “the
first day of the week”, symbolizing that the resurrection of Christ had brought
a new beginning. The old things have passed away. Behold all things have become
new (2Cor 5:17).
2) “Early”, whenever
we believers live in the old creation, we will live in darkness. And whenever
we live in the new creation, we will enter the spiritual early morning.
3) The Lord rose “the
third day” after His suffering (see 16:21; 17:23; 20:19). In the creation of
God in Genesis, it was also in the third day that there was life (see Gen
1:11-13). Therefore, that the Lord rose in the third day symbolized the manifestation
of the life of God.
4) The Lord said: “I
am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)”. Resurrection has revealed not
only He is the Lord of life (see Acts 3:15), but also life has sorrowed up the
death (2Cor 4:10-11; 5:4).
5) When it was dark,
being drawn by Christ, an infirm woman like Mary even dared to go to the land
of tombs. Yes, the glorious and adorable Christ has transcended all the
darkness and death. Therefore, he who has been drawn by Him can likewise be not
afraid of the darkness and death, but advance bravely.
6) “The stone had been
taken away from the tomb”, he who loves and serves the Lord must be confronted
with many difficulties and obstacles (like the big stone), but one shall not
worry how to resolve it. When we advance bravely instead of escaping all the difficulties
and afflictions, we will find that many difficulties (stone) have been already
taken away.
John. 20:2 “Then she ran and came to
Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them,
"They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where
they have laid Him." ”
YLT: “she runneth,
therefore, and cometh unto Simon Peter, and unto the other disciple whom Jesus
was loving, and saith to them, `They took away the Lord out of the tomb, and we
have not known where they laid him.'”
Literal
Meaning: “the other disciple, whom
Jesus loved”, it referred to
the Apostle John (see 13:23; 21:7).
“We do
not know where they have laid Him”,
the word “we” indicated that except for Mary Magdalene there were also other ones who came to the tomb
together (see Matt 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10). “Do not know where they have laid Him”, apparently, they had not imagined the
matter of resurrection.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Hastily look,
hastily run and hastily report will make a man anxious. All the anxious tidings
that have not been inspected tend to be wrong.
2) Though He had
passed the tomb, the tomb was not His destination. Likewise, all of us will be
dead, but death is not our destination.
3) He could neither be
kept by the tomb, nor be held by the death (see Acts 2:24). Similarly, those
who believe the Lord will never remain in death for long. Since we have
received the risen life, we should have the experience that “life sorrows the death”.
4) There are two
precious things in the Christianity ---- one is the cross, and the other is the
empty tomb. The skeletons of the hierarchs of every religion in the world had
been buried in their tombs. Only our Lord Jesus was risen and left an empty
tomb.
John. 20:3 “Peter therefore went out,
and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. ”
YLT: “Peter,
therefore, went forth, and the other disciple, and they were coming to the
tomb,”
Literal
Meaning: “Peter and the other disciple went out”, they hid themselves in their own homes,
for fear of
the Jews (see v.10, 19). “Went
out” meant coming out of their homes.
John. 20:4 “So they both ran together,
and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. ”
YLT: “and the two
were running together, and the other disciple did run forward more quickly than
Peter, and came first to the tomb,”
Literal
Meaning: “the other disciple outran
Peter”, apparently, John
was younger than Peter.
John. 20:5 “And he, stooping down and
looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. ”
YLT: “and having
stooped down, seeth the linen clothes lying, yet, indeed, he entered not.”
Meaning
of Words: “look”:
behold, take heed, and see carefully (the one who is seeing desires to see something
important).
The
Background: according to the funeral
custom of the Jews, the corpse should be bound up in linen with the spices, and
the head should be wrapped by napkin
(see 11:44; 19:40).
Literal
Meaning: “saw the linen cloths lying
there”, “the linen cloths”, they were the cloths that bound the body
of Jesus. What was surprised to the disciples was that the Lord’s body was not
there, but the shape of the linen clothes remained without any disorder. If He
was stolen by others, the linen cloths would be definitely carried away
together, or the linen cloths would be unfastened and the shape would be in
disorder.
Spiritual
Meaning: “saw the linen cloths lying
there”, the Lord Jesus
entered the tomb with the “linen cloths” that bound Him, symbolizing that He
was buried with the old creation. However, when He was risen from the death, He
left the old creation.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Believers should put off the old men, and put on the new men (see Eph
4:22-23;
2) The handkerchief
and the linen cloths (see v.7) were done by two disciples who loved the Lord
(see 19:38-40). They became the evidences left by the risen Lord, bearing witness of the Lord’s
resurrection. Everything we have
done on the Lord for the sake of loving Him is bearing good witness.
John. 20:6 “Then Simon Peter came,
following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there,”
YLT: “Simon Peter,
therefore, cometh, following him, and he entered into the tomb, and beholdeth
the linen clothes lying,”
Meaning
of Words: “see”:
see without hesitation;
Literal
Meaning: “he saw the linen cloths
lying there”, the linen cloths
kept the same shape, proving that the body of the Lord Jesus was not stolen by
others (see Matt 28:11-13). Therefore, the linen cloths laying there were the
testimony of the Lord’s resurrection.
The body of the risen Lord could not be separated
by anything, but could act freely. Beyond all question, He could be off the
entanglement of the linen cloths freely.
John. 20:7 “and the handkerchief
that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded
together in a place by itself.”
YLT: “and the napkin
that was upon his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but apart, having
been folded up, in one place;”
Meaning
of Words: “fold”:
fold like the previous condition;
The
Background: in the chiseled tombs,
the corpse was placed with the head toward the inner end of the tomb and the
feet toward the entrance. Therefore, men would see the linen clothes that bound
the corpse, and would then see the napkin.
Literal
Meaning: “but folded together in a
place by itself”, it did not mean
the handkerchief had been arranged, but it was still folded like the original
shape.
John. 20:8 “Then the other disciple,
who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed.”
YLT: “then,
therefore, entered also the other disciple who came first unto the tomb, and he
saw, and did believe;”
Meaning
of Words: “see”:
perceive;
Literal
Meaning: the word “then”
indicated that John was encouraged by Peter so he came to the tomb first then.
“And he saw and believed”, he believed the Lord Jesus had been risen,
not the report of the women that the corpse of the Lord Jesus was taken away
(see v.2).
John did not believe the Lord’s resurrection through the teachings of
the scriptures of the Old Testament (e.g. Ps 16:12; Is 53:10-11 and etc), but
personally witnessing the fact that the linen cloths and the handkerchief lying in the same shape and knowing that
the body had not taken by others (see 19:40).
John. 20:9 “For as yet they did not know
the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. ”
YLT: “for not yet did
they know the Writing, that it behoveth him out of the dead to rise again.”
Literal
Meaning: “for as yet they did not know
the Scripture”, it indicated that
they had witnessed the fact of resurrection first, and afterwards knew the
prophecy concerning the resurrection in the Scripture. That was to say, they
had not fabricated a tale of resurrection to cater for a certain imagination in
them.
“He
must rise again from the dead.” ---- In the Old Testament
(namely, the word of God), all things concerning the Lord Jesus who shall rise
from the dead should be fulfilled (see Luke 24:44-46; Ps 16:10; Act 13:34-35).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If Christ is not raised, then, indeed,
vain also our preaching, and vain also your faith (1Cor 15:14). Because:
1.
He was declared to
be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead (Rom 1:4).
2.
God raised Jesus to
prove us that He is the Son of God (see Acts 13:33; Ps 2:7).
3.
Christ has been
delivered for our offences and has been raised for our justification, it will
be reckoned (Rom 4:25).
4.
If Christ be not
raised, we are yet in your sins (1Cor 15:17).
5.
Christ has become
the first-fruits of them that slept. Since Christ has been is raised from among
dead, thus also in the Christ all shall be made alive (1Cor 15:20-23).
6.
If in this life only
we have hope in Christ, but will not rise, we are most miserable of all men.
(1Cor 15:19)
2) Many believers may
have the knowledge of the Lord’s
resurrection, but have no thorough one. If we desire to learn the fact of the
Lord’s resurrection, we
shall love and seek Him earnestly.
3) All those who
neither understand the Scripture nor know the resurrection of Christ can only
return their own homes (see v.10) and live a life weeping toward the tomb (see
v.11).
John. 20:10 “Then the disciples went
away again to their own homes. ”
YLT: “The disciples
therefore went away again unto their own friends,”
Literal Meaning: “went away again to their own homes”, this verse indicated
that they did not even take it seriously when they saw the Lord was not there. They
still had their homes beside the Lord.
Spiritual
Meaning: “the disciples”,
they were men. In the Bible, man usually stands for rationality and knowledge. The
two disciples observed their situation through their rationality. Having known the
fact of the Lord’s resurrection, they felt relieved and went back homes.
John. 20:11 “But Mary stood outside by
the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. ”
YLT: “and Mary was
standing near the tomb, weeping without; as she was weeping, then, she stooped
down to the tomb, and beholdeth two messengers in white, sitting,”
Meaning
of Words: “weep”: wail aloud;
Literal
Meaning: “but Mary stood outside by the
tomb weeping”, “but” indicated
that the mood of Mary was totally different from that of the disciples, who did
not take it seriously when they had not seen the Lord. However, when Mary did
not see the Lord, the world seemed to be blank in her eyes. She did not know
where to go, and only remained weeping there.
Spiritual
Meaning: “Mary” was a woman.
In the Bible, woman usually stands for emotion and experience. She pursued
Christ further in love and sought the personal experience in the Lord.
John. 20:12 “And she saw two angels in
white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of
Jesus had lain. ”
YLT: “one at the
head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been laid.”
Literal
Meaning: “saw two angels”, when the Lord was born, there were angels
coming to preach the glad tidings (see Luke 2:10). When the Lord was raised
from the death, there were also angels coming to verify it. Both of them were
great events that shook heaven and earth. Therefore, they were preached by
angels from the heaven, and were heard and seen by men on the earth.
John. 20:13 “Then they said to her,
"Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they
have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." ”
YLT: “And they say to
her, `Woman, why dost thou weep?' she saith to them, `Because they took away my
Lord, and I have not known where they laid him;'”
Literal
Meaning: Mary’s heart was so
concentrating on the Lord that she had not been drawn by the angels. She only
took her Lord to her heart.
John. 20:14 “Now when she had said this,
she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was
Jesus.”
YLT: “and these
things having said, she turned backward, and seeth Jesus standing, and she had
not known that it is Jesus.”
Literal
Meaning: “saw Jesus standing there,
and did not know that it was Jesus”,
it indicated that the risen body of the Lord Jesus was totally different from
the physical one of Him (see Mark 16:12; 1Cor 15:42).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The
Lord should ascend to His Father after His resurrection (see v.17). However, the
earnest love of Mary made the Lord could not help revealing to her first. To
love the Lord was a prerequisite for “seeing” the Lord. If we loved the Lord like Mary
Magdalene, the Lord could not help revealing Himself to us.
2) The Lord Jesus that
Mary was seeing was the one she had seen and had followed for many years, but
she did not even know he was the Lord Jesus here. Today, He is no longer the
one in history, but the Lord Jesus who is risen, spiritual, and heavenly and
abides in the Holy Spirit.
3) Henceforth we shall
neither know others according to flesh (see 2Cor 5:16), nor know Christ who has
been raised from the death according to flesh.
4) May the Lord grant
us spiritual eyes ---- namely, the faith (see John 20:29; 2Cor 5:7; 1Peter1:8)
---- in the full knowledge of Him (see Eph 1:17-18).
5) The Lord’s resurrection is a fact beyond question as
well as an important spiritual truth (see 1Cor 15:14). However, if we neither
love the Lord nor seek the Lord, the Lord’s resurrection to us will be only knowledge
and have little influence on us.
John. 20:15 “Jesus said to her,
"Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing
Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away,
tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." ”
YLT: “Jesus saith to
her, `Woman, why dost thou weep? whom dost thou seek;' she, supposing that he
is the gardener, saith to him, `Sir, if thou didst carry him away, tell me
where thou didst lay him, and I will take him away;'”
Literal
Meaning: “Sir, if You have carried
Him away”, she did not even
explain who was “Him”. In her heart, there was only one “Him”, so she thought
everyone had known Mary’s “Him”. Mary thought everyone had to know “Him”. This
was her heart!
“Tell
me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away”, she neither considered whether her strength was
enough, not how long it was, she had only her heart set on carrying Him.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “Love” makes one ignore the difficulties. This is
the most wonderful thing in the world ---- where there is love, there is no
difficulty.
2) Seen from Mary and
the two disciples, we find that the faith of brothers is greater than that of
sisters, but the love of sisters is greater than that of brothers. Faith
enlightens one the spiritual facts clearly, but love usually makes one feel
muddled. However, if one lacks love, he will not fully experience the Lord of
Himself.
John. 20:16 “Jesus said to her,
"Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to
say, Teacher). ”
YLT: “Jesus saith to
her, `Mary!' having turned, she saith to him, `Rabbouni;' that is to say,
`Teacher.'”
Literal
Meaning: “Rabboni!” ---- It was an appellation more honorable
and intimate than Rabbi.
Spiritual
Meaning: once the Lord
called the name of Mary, she immediately knew it was the Lord. Such calling was
a revelation. That a man has received a revelation means he knows something spontaneously
beside the ears, the eyes, and the power of understanding. Revelation means
that one knows the spiritual things suddenly.
“Mary turned”, the first turn of Mary (see v.14) was a turn
concerning her body. The second turn was a turn of spirit (see Rev 1:12).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The whole life of Christians has
been started from the turn of mind (repentance). And they shall turn to the
Lord in spirit constantly (see 2Cor 3:16-18).
2) It is so urgent
that all those Christians in their blind zeal need the calling and revelation
of the risen Lord.
John. 20:17 “Jesus said to her, "Do
not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My
brethren and say to them, "I am ascending to My Father and your Father,
and to My God and your God."' ”
YLT: “Jesus saith to
her, `Be not touching me, for I have not yet ascended unto my Father; and be
going on to my brethren, and say to them, I ascend unto my Father, and your
Father, and to my God, and to your God.'”
Meaning
of Words: “urgently”: attach oneself to, to touch;
Literal
Meaning: “Do not cling to
“For I have not yet ascended
to My Father”, there were two steps of the Lord’s
ascension: (1) the hidden ascension ---- it happened in the morning of the day
of His resurrection, for the purpose of satisfying God the Father, presenting
the freshness of the resurrection to please the Father. (2) The public
ascension ---- it happened after forty days of His resurrection (see Acts
1:9-11), for the purpose of edifying the disciples, presenting Himself living
to His disciples (see Acts 1:3).
“Go to My brethren”, “brethren” were
not His brethren in the flesh, but His disciples,
who had received His risen and divine life and became the brethren of the house
of God.
“To My Father and your
Father, and to My God and your God”, through the resurrection
of Christ, His disciples could partake in the divine life of God. In this life,
His disciples have become His brethren, and His Father is the disciples’
Father, and His God is the disciples’ God.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) After the Lord’s
resurrection, He did not reveal Himself to His great disciples like Peter,
James and John, but to the infirm Mary, out of whom He had cast seven demons.
Many believers usually believe that only those experienced
and renowned spiritual elders can meet
the Lord. However, some unremarkable and ordinary believers often meet the Lord.
2) We should never
despise the young and infirm brothers and sisters. Sometimes, there are
precious experiences in them which will help us to know the
Lord.
3) Why did the Lord
reveal firstly to Mary Magdalene? The only cause was her love toward the Lord
(see 14:21):
1. Because of her love to the
Lord, she followed Him from
2. When the Lord was buried
after His death, Mary was one of those who left the tomb in the end (see Matt
27:61; Mark 15:47).
3. Men could do nothing on the
Sabbath, and she was one of those who
came to the tomb firstly after the Sabbath (see v.1; Matt 28:1).
4. When others saw the empty tomb, they returned. However, only
Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping. Such earnest longing and love of the
Lord earnestly made the
Lord could not help revealing earlier to her (see v.9-18).
4) Though Mary had not anointed the risen Lord because of her ignorance, the Lord still revealed to
her. It indicates that the one who loves the Lord truly can know
the Lord most easily. Though we are less intelligent than others, if we love
the Lord with our whole heart, the Lord will still help us to know Him.
5) The words of the
Lord Jesus in this verse tell us that: (1) though His disciples denied Him and
escaped because of infirmity (see Matt 26:56; 69-75), He did not forsake them,
but called them “brethren” (see Heb 2:11-12), showing
their relationship in the risen life. (2) Though it was woman that brought
death into the world (see Gen 3), it was still woman that preached the good
news of resurrection to the world.
6) So then we are no
longer strangers and foreigners, but are of the household of God (see Eph
2:19).
John. 20:18 “Mary Magdalene came and
told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these
things to her.”
YLT: “Mary the
Magdalene cometh, telling to the disciples that she hath seen the Lord, and
these things he said to her.”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) “Mary
Magdalene came and told the disciples”, the resurrection of
Christ is the center of all the messages. How beautiful are the feet of them
that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things (Rom
10:15)!
2) The resurrection of
Christ is the common massage of men and angels. Whatever the heaven or the
earth should preach Him.
3) Even the strong
apostles needed the infirm women to preach the message of the resurrection to
them ---- we should seek the humbleness in the church, and receive the
spiritual provision from the unremarkable brothers and sisters modestly.
4) The first report of Mary
was a false report because she did not know the truth (see v.2). Now, it was
the second report, for she had personally experienced the reality of
resurrection, so she corrected her error. It taught us that: (1) though men spoke
the fact, it still might not be true. (2) The authenticity of man’s
words should be determined by his knowledge about the matter. (3) We should not
refuse to believe a man any
longer only because of his past false words.
John. 20:19 “Then, the same day at
evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the
disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the
midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you." ”
YLT: “It being,
therefore, evening, on that day, the first of the sabbaths, and the doors
having been shut where the disciples were assembled, through fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in the midst, and saith to them, `Peace to you;'”
Meaning
of Words: “shut”: close; “Peace be with you”: rejoice, joy (there was only one word in the
original).
Literal
Meaning: “when the doors were shut,
Jesus came and stood in the midst”,
it indicated that the risen body of the Lord Jesus
could not be restricted by any physical matter or space.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) On
the day of the Lord’s
resurrection, when the disciples were assembled, the Lord came to reveal to
Him. It unveils that the Lord rejoices that His disciples are gathered together
on the day of His resurrection, namely, the Lord’s day, for it is the manifestation of His
resurrection.
2) The Lord is glad
that we are assembled on the day of His resurrection, revealing that we should
act in His risen life when we are assembled.
3) The risen Christ is
beyond any restriction. Though the door was closed, He could not be shut
outside. Nothing could block Him if He came. He could bestow grace to those who
were open to Him as well as those who were close to Him. Therefore, we need not
use artificial ways to encourage others to open to Him. Only the revelation of
the risen Christ will break through all the blocks.
4) If man has not
experienced the risen Lord, he will unavoidably live in dread. Once he has
experienced the risen Lord, he will have true peace.
5) The revelation of
the Lord will bring us peace and joy. Therefore, if we want to enjoy more peace
and joy, the best way is to love and seek the revelation of the Lord.
6) The true peace
comes from the living presence of the Lord in spirit. And nothing and nobody
can take such peace.
7) If believers lack
peace, it must be caused themselves, not the original will of the Lord.
John. 20:20 “When He had said this, He
showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw
the Lord. ”
YLT: “and this having
said, he shewed them his hands and side; the disciples, therefore, rejoiced,
having seen the Lord.”
Literal
Meaning: “His hands and His side”, they referred to the marks left by the
Lord’s crucifixion (see v.25; 19:34).
John. 20:21 “So Jesus said to them
again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." ”
YLT: “Jesus,
therefore, said to them again, `Peace to you; according as the Father hath sent
me, I also send you;'”
Literal
Meaning: “As the Father has sent Me”, though the Father has sent Him, the
Father is still with Him (see 8:29).
“I also
send you”, it means that the
Lord on one hand has sent us to the world (see 17:18), and on the other hand,
He is still with us (see 14:17-18).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Since the Lord Jesus has been sent by God the Father and has manifested God the Father,
we have also been sent by the Lord and will manifest Christ in the world in like manner.
2) Since the Lord Jesus walks to keep the will
of God the Father through the complete union with God the Father, likewise, we
shall also walk to keep the will of the Lord through the union with the Lord.
John. 20:22 “And when He had said this,
He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. ”
YLT: “and this having
said, he breathed on , and saith to them, `Receive the Holy Spirit;”
Meaning
of Words: “breath”:
spirit, wind;
Literal
Meaning: “breathed on them”,
just like God breathed into Adam’s nostrils the breath of life, and he became a
living soul (see Gen 2:7). When the Lord breathed on the disciples, He had
breathed the divine constitution into the disciples.
“Receive the Holy Spirit.” ---- The indwelling spirit is different from
the befalling spirit on the day of Pentecost. The former relates to life, and
the latter concerns power. The former is the seal of the Holy Spirit (see Eph
1:13), and the latter is the pouring of the Holy Spirit (see Acts 2:33). The
former is received when a man has just been saved, and the latter is sought
after a man has already been saved.
This verse has fulfilled the Lord’s promise to His disciples (see 7:39;
14:16, 17, 26; 15:26; 16:7, 8, 13).
Spiritual
Meaning: “breathed on them”, “breath” is the sign of the Holy Spirit
(see Acts 2:2).
Controversial
Clarification: some Bible exegetes thought
here “receive the Holy Spirit” was only a typification, which should not be
truly fulfilled until the day of Pentecost (see Acts 2:1-4). This was wrong, and
there were reasons as below: (1) they confused the indwelling spirit with the
pouring spirit else. However, they were characteristically different. (2) They
said: “the Holy Spirit would not come until the Lord had ascent to see the
Father (see 15:7; 16:7), and the Lord was taken up forty days after His
resurrection.” Actually, the Lord had already ascent to see the Father as the
first-fruit offering to God on His risen morning after His revelation to Mary
(see v.17; 1Cor 15:20-23). (3) The Lord could never say “receive the Holy
Spirit” only as playing a drama, but not actually give the Holy Spirit.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) If
believers do not want to be in debt to the Lord’ sending (see v.21), they shall rely on the
assistance of the Holy Spirit. Without the guidance and assistance of the Holy
Spirit, we could never fulfill the commission entrusted by the Lord.
2) The Lord grants us
the Holy Spirit so as to let us use the spirit authority (see v.23). We can use
the authority rightly only by the Holy Spirit.
John. 20:23 “If you forgive the sins of
any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are
retained." ”
YLT: “if of any ye
may loose the sins, they are loosed to them; if of any ye may retain, they have
been retained.'”
Meaning
of Words: “forgive”:
absolve (language of the court), remit, lay aside; retain: judge (language of
the court), hold, keep;
Literal
Meaning: God neither
forgives others because we have forgiven them. nor refuses to forgive others
because we do not forgive them. The Lord here means that once believers have
the indwelling spirit, they will know clearly the will of God and make right
judgment from the clear revelation of the Holy Spirit.
Controversial
Clarification: someone misapplied
this verse, believing that the Lord had granted the church or believers infinite
authority to judge anyone, and whatever the result was, God would respect it.
Actually, the words “forgive” and “retain” in this verse emphasize the
spiritual discernment ---- which helps us to tell apart whether a man has been
saved or not, thus deciding whether we should accept or refuse him. In other
words, the authority is mainly used in accepting those whom God has forgiven
into the church.
Enlightenment
in the Word: today, there are
many nominal Christians, for the leading brothers have not relied on the
guidance of the Holy Spirit when accepting the new members.
John. 20:24 “Now Thomas, called the
Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.”
YLT: “And Thomas, one
of the twelve, who is called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came;”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) We shall usually
enjoy the revelation and presence of the Lord. However, he that does not come
to be assembled will surely miss many
chances to meet the Lord.
2) It is a great
spiritual loss that one has not been together with believers. It is a great
blessing that they are gathered together. Much spiritual grace is granted to
the whole assembly when they are gathered.
3) A normal Christian
on one hand shall not overlook the spiritual fellowship in the morning ---- communing with the Lord in private, like Mary (see v.1, 16). On the other hand, he shall not
neglect partake in the gathering on the Lord’s day ---- worshiping God with all the saints, like the disciples.
John. 20:25 “The other disciples
therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them,
"Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into
the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not
believe." ”
YLT: “the other
disciples, therefore, said to him, `We have seen the Lord;' and he said to
them, `If I may not see in his hands the mark of the nails, and may put my
finger to the mark of the nails, and may put my hand to his side, I will not
believe.'”
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The disciples said: “we …”, but
Thomas said: “I …I…”
Believers of the individualism often think others are unbelievable and not as real as “themselves”.
2) He who thinks he is
a man seeks truth from facts is usually uneasy to believe others’
testimonies.
John. 20:26 “And after eight days His
disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being
shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!" ”
YLT: “And after eight
days, again were his disciples within, and Thomas with them; Jesus cometh, the
doors having been shut, and he stood in the midst, and said, `Peace to you!'”
Literal
Meaning: “after eight days”, when the Jews counted the days, they
usually counted the first and last day in, without counting the certain hour. Therefore,
“after eight days” was the second Lord’s day (namely, the next “first day of
the week”).
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) In the previous gathering
on the Lord’s day, Thomas was
absent, so he lost a chance to witness the manifestation of the Lord (see
v.24). Today, in another gathering on the Lord’s day, his loss was compensated. Obviously,
to partake in the gathering of the church frequently is of great importance
(see Heb 10:25).
2) Although listening
to the sermon, praying and bearing witness are important, they are still secondary,
not primary. The core purpose of being gathered is to meet the Lord.
John. 20:27 “Then He said to Thomas,
"Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here,
and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." ”
YLT: “then he saith
to Thomas, `Bring thy finger hither, and see my hands, and bring thy hand, and
put to my side, and become not unbelieving, but believing.'”
Literal
Meaning: “Reach your finger here, and
look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My
side.” ---- Obviously, the
prints of the nails still remained on His hands and feet. All these prints are
the signs of His love to us.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Lord did not reproach others
except for Thomas. He who is unwilling to believe the testimony of church should also be reproached by the Lord.
2) He who
does not believe the testimony of the church does not believe the Lord. He who has been out of
joint to the body will surely be out of joint to the head.
John. 20:28 “And Thomas answered and
said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" ”
YLT: “And Thomas
answered and said to him, `My Lord and my God;'”
Literal
Meaning: “My Lord and my God!” ---- Finally, Thomas not only believed the
resurrection of the Lord Jesus, but also experienced His divinity.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) The Lord can deal with those
whom men can not deal with. The Lord can subdue those whom what men can not
subdue.
2) All those who have
witnessed the Lord’s manifestation can
not help falling down and showing honor to Him wholeheartedly.
John. 20:29 “Jesus said to him,
"Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those
who have not seen and yet have believed." ”
YLT: “Jesus saith to
him, `Because thou hast seen me, Thomas, thou hast believed; happy those not
having seen, and having believed.'”
Literal
Meaning: the true faith is
not by sight. All those who have seen only have received an established fact,
which is not the faith that the Lord asks.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) It is the expression of little faith
of asking more evidences. The sensuous evidence is not the right foundation of
faith.
2) The presence of the
Lord has one kind of hidden one and the other of the obvious one. The former
one is always more than the latter one. We should be trained to a degree that
we can still trust Him at ease without any obvious presence of the Lord.
3) We walk by faith,
not by sight (2Cor 5:7).
John. 20:30 “And truly Jesus did many
other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this
book; ”
YLT: “Many indeed,
therefore, other signs also did Jesus before his disciples, that are not
written in this book;”
Meaning
of Words: “sign”:
mark;
John. 20:31 “but these are written that
you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing
you may have life in His name. ”
YLT: “and these have
been written that ye may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and
that believing ye may have life in his name.'”
Literal
Meaning: “but these are written that
you may believe that”, it showed the
purpose of writing this book.
“Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God”, “Christ” is the
call of the Lord’s ministry. “The Son of God” is the person of the Lord Jesus. He
is the Christ of God, coming to fulfill the will of God and complete the
counsel of God. He is the Son of God, coming to manifest God Himself and reveal
God Himself.
“You
may have life in His name”, “name” represents
His person and His everything.
Enlightenment
in the Word:
1) Christ relates to the work of God, and
the Son of God concerns the life of God. The Lord Jesus is the Son of God who
comes to be the Christ of God and does the work of God through the life of God,
thus granting the life of God to believers. Meanwhile, believers can also do
the work of God through the life of God.
2) “Believe that Jesus is the
Christ, the Son of God”, this is the “truth”. “Have life in His name”, this is “grace”. Grace and truth subsists
through Jesus Christ (see v.1:17).
III. Outlines of the Spiritual
Lessons
I. The Resurrection and
Manifestation of the Lord
A. The Descriptions of the Resurrection
1. The first day of the week (v
2. Early (v.1b) ---- which symbolized that the
risen life had broken through the power of darkness and brought men the dayspring
(see Matt 4:16; Luke 1:78-79).
3. The stone had been taken away from the tomb
(v.5-6) ---- which symbolized that the risen life had swallowed the death (see
1Cor 15:54).
4. The linen cloths lying…the handkerchief…folded
together in a place by itself (v.5-7) ---- which symbolized that the risen life
had removed all the bondages.
B. The Testimonies of the Resurrection
1. The one who saw the empty tomb first ---- Mary Magdalene (v.1) ---- who typified those who loved the
Lord.
2. Mary thought someone had
taken away the Lord out of the tomb
(v.2) ---- she did not understand the Lord’s resurrection from the dead.
3. When the two disciples saw the condition of
the linen cloths and the
handkerchief, they believed
(v.5-8) ---- they believed the Lord’s word of His resurrection from the dead.
4. They went away again to their own homes for they did not know the Scripture (v.9-10) ---- they could not connect the
truth with life together.
5. Mary stood outside by the
tomb weeping (v.11) ---- love
usually makes one muddled.
6. She only cared about Her Lord. Even the
angels could not distract her (v.12-13).
7. When the Lord called Mary, Mary suddenly
realized it (v.16) ---- one should have the spiritual revelation and insight.
C. The Effects of the Resurrection
1. I am ascending to My
Father (v
2.
My
brethren… My Father and your Father… My God and your God (v.17b). ---- The resurrection had
established a relation of life between God and believers.
3.
Peace
be with you. (v.19, 21, 26) ----
The resurrection brought true peace in fearful conditions.
4.
Then
the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord (v.20) ---- The resurrection brought true joy in
sorrowful environment.
5.
As
the Father has sent Me, I also send you (v.21) ---- The resurrection brought
the heavenly life to the earth.
6.
He
breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit (v.22) ---- The resurrection turned the physical
presence of the Lord outside to the inner presence in the Holy Spirit.
7.
If
you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of
any, they are retained
(v.23) ---- The resurrection
brought the spiritual authority to the disciples.
8.
The resurrection
removed the doubts and confirmed the disciples’ faith (v. 24-29).
D.
How to See and
Experience the Risen Christ?
1. One should love and seek the Lord like Mary
(v.1, 11-16).
2.
One should believe the
Lord’s word and understand the Holy Scripture (v. 8-9).
3.
One should often
partake in the gathering of the church (v. 19, 26).
4.
One should doubt,
but always believe (v.24-29).
II.The Risen Lord Manifested Himself to Those
Who Loved Him.
A. There is no fear in love (v.1) ---- she did
not fear the darkness at night, the tomb, the soldier and the coldness and etc.
B. Love makes one run (v.4) ---- she sought the
Lord earnestly.
C. Love increases one’s faith (v.8) ---- love
and faith were complementary.
D. Sensibility and rationality are in counterpoise
(v.10-11) ---- Man is characterized by the rationality, and woman is characterized
by sensibility. They should be in counterpoise.
E.
Love makes one preserve
(v.11-14) ---- she did not give up easily.
F.
Love covers many
transgressions (v.2, 11-15) ---- which covered many faults in knowledge.
G.
Love grants one the
Lord’s revelation (v.16-17) ---- she was awakened by the Lord.
H.
Love makes one be
entrusted by the Lord (v.17b-18) ---- she was entrusted by the Lord.
III. The Wondrous Risen
Body
A.
Mary saw Jesus standing there,
and did not know that it was Jesus
(v.14) ---- His physical appearance was changed.
B.
When the doors were shut,
Jesus came and stood in the midst
(v.19) ---- He was free from the physical obstacles.
C.
He
showed them His hands and His side
(v.20) ---- He still carried the physical scars.
D.
He
said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach
your hand here, and put it into My side (v.27) ---- He could be touched.
IV. The Blessings Brought
by the Manifestation of the Resurrection
A. Peace be with you (v.19, 21, 26) ---- the heavenly peace.
B. I also send you. (v.21) ---- the sending of the Lord.
C. The Lord breathed on them, and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit. (v.22) ---- the
indwelling spirit.
D. If you forgive the sins of
any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained (v.23) ---- the heavenly authority.
E. Do not doubt, but believing (v. 24-27) ---- The doubts were removed,
and the faith was increased.
F. Thomas answered and said to
Him, "My Lord and my God!"
(v.28) ---- the truthful worship.
V. Three Matters
Concerning the Peace Granted by the Lord Jesus
A. Which relates to the life (v.19)
B. Which relates to the work (v.21)
C. Which relates to the life (v.26)
VI. The Failures of
Thomas
A. He had not partaken in the gathering of all
the disciples (v.24) ---- who seldom partook in the gathering of the church.
B.
He did not believe
the testimonies of all the disciples (v.25) ---- who did not believe others.
C.
Unless
I see…, I will not believe (v.25) ---- who walked by sight, not by
faith.
VII. The Teachings of the
Lord about the Failure of Thomas
A. Do not be unbelieving, but
believing (v.27).
B. Blessed are those who have
not seen and yet have believed (v.29).
VIII. The Contents and
Function of Faith
A. The content of faith:
1. To believe that Jesus is the Christ.
2. To believe that Jesus is the Son of God.
B. The Function of faith ---- that one may have life in His name.
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Mary Zhou