(John) 22 - Triumph of Divine Love — Alan Redpath

20, just two more hours on John to endure for you, for you to endure, as you say. John chapter 20. And if you've got your notes and in your outline, we've had to miss, I'm afraid, John 14, 15 and 16. But if you've got your outline, we're at the last part now.

The Triumph of Divine Love in John 20

And chapter 20 is underheading the triumph of divine love. And then there's the epilogue, chapter 21. So tonight, hopefully, we'll get through John chapter 20, and on Wednesday at the same hour, John chapter 21.

I think the best thing this evening is to go through this chapter in the sections into which I've divided it in your outline. Have you got that with you? The great discovery, verses 1 -10. Love rewarded, verses 11 -18.

Peace for fear, verses 19 -23. Certainty for doubt, verses 24 -29. And the purpose of the record, verses 30 and 31. So we'll just take it through under those headings, if we may. And we'll read those verses as we come to each different heading.

The Great Discovery of the Empty Tomb

So we'll start in chapter 20 now, and I'll read verses 1 -10. John chapter 20, reading in the RSV. 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.

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 led him. Peter then came out with the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb.

They both ran, but the other disciple outran Peter, and reached the tomb first. And stepping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb.

He saw the linen cloths lying, and the napkin, which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in.

And he saw, and believed. For as yet they did not know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their home. This is the word of the Lord. A wonderful chapter. The first ten verses are called the great discovery.

The people who are really ready for the resurrection of Jesus, were Mary Magdalene, Peter and John. The disciple whom Jesus loved. These three, really prepared. And the signs which prepared them here, are the open sepulchre, grave throats.

Mary sees the first of these, the open sepulchre. And the men, see the others. Look at what Mary saw. What wonderful verses, those two verses of this are. How spontaneous, how passionate. Let me read them again.

Just to check, what she saw. 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. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter, and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved.

And said to them, they've taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him. In those few words, how much is said, do you notice, about the time, early in the morning, before, before dawn, while it was still dark.

Incidentally, could I say that early morning appointments with Jesus, hold secrets, for those who are there with him. Early morning appointments with Jesus, hold secrets, for those who are there with him.

She was there, before the dawn, the time, and the place, and the fact of an empty tomb, and the effect, and her testimony. See all those things, in the first two verses. Time, place, fact, effect, testimony.

See if you can trace them. The first evidence, the resurrection, was given, to the one who loved Jesus so much. In fact, well enough to be at the tomb, before sunrise. I'll come back to that in a moment.

Notice what Peter and John saw, verses 3 through 10. When Mary ran and reported to them, they ran, toward the serpulchre, that Easter morning. Love, in the person of John, went faster than enthusiasm.

Peter had to run him, beat him to it. I can imagine those two fellas, covering the ground, can't you? That's the Sabbath morning. A nip in the air, I'm sure there was a light in their eye, and wonder in their heart.

Amazing. I said to them, love beats enthusiasm. But it was enthusiasm that went right into the tomb, to look. Verses 6 and 8. However, the race went on, and love continued. And you notice, love was the first to believe.

Verse 8. They saw the linen cloth lying, and the napkin which had been on his head, not lying with the linen cloth, but rolled up in a place by itself. Lying, that is still in their original fold. Lying, still in their original fold, by human hands, but no longer containing the body.

Lying. Repeat that. Still in their original fold, untouched by human hand, but no longer containing the crucified body of Jesus. They saw that. And John saw it, and believed. Verse 8. It's a great discovery.

Mary Magdalene: Love Rewarded by the Risen Christ

Now second here, love rewarded. Mary stood, verse 11, weeping outside the tomb. And as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain.

One at the head, and one at the feet. 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. Same as she turned round, and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek? 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.

Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned and said to him in Hebrew, which means, teacher. Jesus said to her, do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brethren, and say to them, I am ascending to my Father, and your Father, to my God and your God.

Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, I have seen the Lord. And she told them that he had said these things to her. Some of the details in those verses are only recorded in John's Gospel. There are some things for our thought here.

Verses 11 -15, look at her love, and her sorrow. Verses 11 -14, she stood weeping at the tomb. Look at her sorrow. And then in verse 16, look at Jesus' revelation of herself, of himself. Mary's sorrow, and her love.

And then, Jesus reveals himself and said to her, Mary. And she turned and said to him, in Hebrew, Rabboni, which means, teacher or master. And you notice the two-fold command, verses 17 -18, do not hold 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, to my God and your God. Do not hold me. Why? Don't touch me. It's a very strong word. Wrote out in translation, which says, stop touching me.

The reason the Lord gives is that he has not yet ascended to his Father. And for that event, the ascension of Jesus, she must begin to prepare, by ceasing to cling too closely to the physical form of her master.

Notice that. Could I just repeat that to you, because it's important, just by the way, to get that down. Why did Jesus say, don't touch me? She was alone, had to learn something. She hadn't ascended to his Father.

She must begin to prepare for that, when he would leave her, physically. Therefore, she mustn't cling too closely to the physical. Begin to trust the spiritual. And commissions her to declare to his disciples, his ascension.

You notice in verse 27, just glance ahead of that, will you? Verse 27. He said to Thomas, put your finger here, see my hands. Put out your hand and place it in my side. Don't be faithless, but believing.

That was the only evening of the same day. Jesus hadn't ascended into heaven. Why did he say to one, don't touch me? To the other, stretch out your hand. Well, it's a different word. One, to me, used to mean, stop clinging to me.

The other, a word that simply means, a touch. A touch. Quite different. An invitation to touch him. You want evidence, touch me. Look at my hand, it's in my side. Stretch your hand into it and see. A suggestion, if they want evidence, just touch, to be sure.

But to Mary, a danger that she clung to the Lord Jesus. Hadn't learned to trust the spiritual Christ. But there's something else about his appearance to Mary that we must look at. Which I think is very wonderful.

And you don't get it in John. Mark's gospel account is Mark 16 and verse 9. Mark 16 verse 9 says, when he arose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene. Now just hold it a minute.

What an opportunity to stand before Pontius Pilate as the risen Lord. What an opportunity to go to the Roman political authority and stand before them. But he didn't. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene and Mark goes on to remind us, out of whom he had cast seven demons.

A resurrection priority. Jesus showed himself first to Mary, out of whom he'd cast seven demons. Because, go slow, write this down, ready, go. The first significance, long word, s-i-g-n-i-f-i-c-a-n-c-e.

The first significance, important thing, of his resurrection. His authority in spiritual realm. Prove his authority in the spiritual realm over all forces of evil. His resurrection had struck at the root, out of this woman Jesus had cast seven demons.

I'll repeat, the first significance of the resurrection. Was to prove his authority in the spiritual realm of all forces of evil. His resurrection had struck at the root. He cast out of that woman seven demons.

As a result, she responded to him with all her love. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene. Now hold to that word. Appeared. Circle it round, ring it round, underline it. You're studying the epistle to the Hebrews, aren't you?

Well, you have been, yeah? Have you got to Spyrus chapter 9? All right, I'll just get it in front, for one minute, and ask you to look at chapter 9, a moment, up to and to, where angels might fail to tread.

Right here, just to support Billy. Is it Billy? Hebrews chapter 9. Ring round the world here. Look. Verse 24. 24, right? Hebrews 9, 24. Christ has entered, not into a sanctuary made with hands, a copy of the true one, that into heaven itself now to appear, circle that word, in the presence of God on our behalf.

Verse 26. He would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world, but as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age, to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. He has appeared.

Circle the word there. Verse 26. Verse 28. So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to be with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

It's a very interesting word, because none of those words are the words Mark uses. He appeared first to Mary Magdalene. Hebrews 9, 24. He has entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God.

And that means, the word means literally, to give information. The word is emphanizal, but you don't need to put it down. It's the word from which we get emphasis. To give information. To appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

In verse 26, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age, to put away sin. The word is evidence. To give evidence that he's put away sin. Then in verse 28, Christ will appear a second time, a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

He will be seen. It's the word from which we get optician, optical. He'll be seen, literally seen, a second time. But none of those are the word that John uses, that Mark uses. Got those three just as a matter of interest, so that you have a note of that when you come perhaps to that chapter in Hebrews.

Hebrews 9 .24, the word is to appear, to give information. I'll give you the word if you like. E-M-P-H-A-N-I-Z-O. Z-O. Doesn't really matter. To give information. Hebrews 9 .26, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age, to put away sin.

Evidence, he's accomplished it. And the third word, Christ will appear a second time, will be seen, literally, up to man. To those who are eagerly waiting for him. Well, if those are not the word in John, what's his word?

It's a word which means shine. Literally, it's shine. It's the same word that you have in Revelation 1 .16, when John, on Patmos, saw the risen Lord, and his face was like the sun shining in its full strength.

That's the word. You find it again in Revelation 21 .23. Revelation 21 .23, the city has no need of sun or moon, to shine upon it. Revelation 21 .23, that was the word, he appeared, he shone, first to Mary Magdalene.

A great blazing light in her heart, he shone. Same word in 2nd Corinthians 4 .6, God who said, that light shine of darkness, has shone in our hearts, to give the light to the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ.

That's it. He appeared, like that. Not to give information, or evidence, but a tremendous revelation of his power. Now, did you get those verses? Yes? You have a wonderful, wonderful little Bible study, all on your own, with those verses.

Want them again? Quickly, Hebrews 9 .24, now to appear in the presence of God, to give information. Hebrews 9 .26, he appeared once for all at the end of the age, to put away sin, evidence, to put away sin.

Hebrews 9 .28, Christ will appear a second time, will be seen a second time. But the word here, in Mark 16, he shone, shone. Same word as Revelation 1 .16, his face like the sun, shining in full strength.

Revelation 21 .23, the city has no need of the sun or moon to shine upon it, its length is the lamb. But when Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, he shone, like a blazing light into art. That's what you need, that's what I need.

He has commanded light to shine in the darkness, 2 Corinthians 4 .6, has shone in our hearts, to give the light to the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Not to give me evidence or information, but a tremendous, dynamic power, a mighty revelation of his power.

And he's been doing it ever since, in lines like Mary's. He encouraged me, he tells me this, and maybe we all just need reminding of it, that Jesus is greater than all our sin, and that kind of deliverance is sufficient for the worst of us.

Peace for Fear: The Holy Spirit and Authority to Declare Forgiveness

He appeared first to Mary Magdalene. God rewarded, rewarded with a tremendous in-shining of glory in our heart. And then replaces fear, verses 19 through 23. On the evening of that day, that is Easter Sunday, the first day of the week, the doors being shut, where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came, and stood among them, and said to them, peace be with you.

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. And the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them, again, peace be with you, as the Father has sent me, even so send I you.

And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained. One or two important things to notice in those verses.

I've had to them, peace replaces fear. See these disciples were hiding in Jerusalem. The Lord comes to them through shut doors, stands in the midst, and says, peace, verse 19. His body wasn't a kind of phantom body.

It was a resurrected body, spiritual body. And his appearance to them, is just, as he tells it here, is told us in such a way, that it's a fulfillment of the promises he made, before the Calvary. He imparts his peace, chapter 14, 27.

My peace I give to you, as the world giveth, give I unto you. My peace, John 14, 27. Here it says, peace be to you. Verse 11 -18, it was in the morning. Verse 19 -23, it was in the evening. Verse 11 -18, one person, Mary.

Verse 19 -23, the rest of the disciples. One, Easter Sunday morning, out in the open. Two, the evening, behind closed doors. They're all shut in, for fear of the Jews. Closed doors, people afraid, departed.

Disciples begin to fall apart, when Jesus came. And, verse 20, the disciples were glad, when they saw the Lord. The presence of Jesus always changes fear to joy. Now, what does verse 22 mean? Oof. Here we come, with all the theological discussions and arguments.

Verse 22, when he said this, he gazed on them, and said to them, perceive you, the Holy Spirit. Did the Holy Spirit come before Pentecost? No. At Pentecost, he came to indwell. So, what can this mean?

Westcott, he suggests, a suggestion. This was the gift of the Holy Spirit, the power of the new life, proceeding from the person of the risen Lord, in anticipation of his indwelling at Pentecost. Think that one through.

I give it to you again. Westcott's commentary suggests, this is a gift of the Holy Spirit, the power of the new life, proceeding from the person of Christ, of the risen Christ, in anticipation of his indwelling at Pentecost.

Notice something else here. Verse 23, if you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained. I'll go slowly for a couple of sentences. Important. Right. Jesus gives his disciples authority.

Jesus, repeating, gives his disciples authority, publicly to declare forgiveness of sin in his name. Publicly to declare, or to declare publicly, however you like, forgiveness of sin in his name. To repentant believers, condemnation to unbelievers.

Repeating, Jesus gives to his disciples authority, publicly to declare forgiveness of sins in his name. To repentant believers, and condemnation to unbelievers. It's not a question of deciding who will be forgiven, and who will not.

Compare Luke 24, verses 46 and 47, which I will read to you. Thus it is written, the Christ should suffer, and the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sin should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

You are witnesses of these things. Witnesses of these things. So again, I repeat, it's not a question of deciding who will be forgiven, and who won't. The power, and one more sentence more here, the power given, authority to declare forgiveness on the basis of the death of Jesus.

The power given, repeating, is authority to declare forgiveness on the basis of his death. And that authority was to be theirs, and incidentally ours, because of the presence of the Holy Spirit. That authority was to be theirs, and ours, because of the presence of the Holy Spirit.

And that authority is given to the whole church, not just to ordain people to the ministry. The presence of everyone who has the indwelling Christ, in his or her life. Peace is turned to fear, and in fear is turned to peace.

Certainty for Doubt: Thomas and the Evidence of Faith

Now look something else. Certainty takes the place of doubt. Verses 24 to 29. Jesus again appears to his disciples. Verse 24. Now Thomas, he's back now. One of the twelve, called the twin, was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples told him, we've seen the Lord. But he said to them, can't you hear him say it? Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came, and stood among them, and said, peace be with you. 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 be faithless, but believing. Thomas answered him, my Lord, and my God. And Jesus said to him, have you believed, because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe. Thomas was always a skeptic.

He wanted evidence. He wanted evidence. Jesus said, touch, invited him, touch the mark in my hands, and say it. It's my conviction, but I can't say it of any authority. He never did so. He just simply saw the nails, saw the mark, and fell at his feet, and said, my Lord, and my God.

Very interesting. Would you just put a wee little cross-reference there, to 1 Thessalonians, just put it there, 1 Thessalonians, chapter 1, 1 Thessalonians, chapter 1, and verse 7. 1 Thessalonians 1 .7.

This, mustn't get diverted, but this is the most amazing church in the whole New Testament. It grew so fast. Disciples were only in Thessalonica three weeks, and then they were kicked out. But, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Nicaea.

Example, same word, except I see in his hands the print of the nails, that's the word. You became like the mark of the nails, in Macedonia and Nicaea. People want evidence. Some evidence for what we believe.

Let me see the marks. Got any marks on you? Not necessarily physically, but got some marks, to give you away? The evidence, that you belong to Jesus. That's what they wanted. That's what people want now.

The evidence. Have you no scar? You know that poem by Amy Carmichael, tremendous. I hear you, hailed as mighty in the land, but have you no scar? What's the evidence? And, uh, and so Thomas saw the evidence of a risen Christ, and he fell to his feet.

The Purpose of John's Gospel: Belief in Christ and Eternal Life

My Lord, and my God. One other thing, and then we're through. The whole purpose of the gospel, in verses 30 to 31, verses 30 to 31. The whole purpose of the gospel. Jesus did many others signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.

But these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is a Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. The purpose of the gospel of John, in those two verses. Is that the readers of it should believe in Jesus, even though they've never seen him.

Let me repeat this and underline it. And think back, the hours, few hours that we had in this. Any reading of this gospel. I'm speaking at dictation speed. Any reading of this gospel, which does not lead to belief in the deity of Christ.

Repeating, any reading of this gospel, which does not lead to faith in the eternal life, is a misreading of it. Principle words of the whole book of John, are believe life and life. Yet we love him. Just let me give that to you again, because it's so important.

That's the purpose of the record. Verse 30 and 31. Any reading of this gospel, which does not lead to faith in the deity of Christ, and the receiving of eternal life, is a misreading of it. The principle words in the whole book, are believe and life.

So that though we have not seen him, we may yet love him. 1 Peter 1 chapter verse 8.