Bible Study - Essentials (5) - The Resurrection of JESUS - John 20:3-9, 19-23, 27-29 - April 4, 2021

 

Bible Study – Essentials (5) – The Resurrection of JESUS – April 4, 2021

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled, “Essentials of Christianity.”

Our focus scripture is John 20:3-9, 19-23, 27-29.

New life is possible when we trust in the risen CHRIST.

JESUS paid, in full, the price for our sins. In 2 Corinthians 5:21, we read:

²¹ He (GOD) made the one who did not know sin (JESUS) to be sin^[e] for us, so that in him we (those who accept JESUS as their Savior) might become the righteousness of God.

JESUS became sin for each person who will place his or her faith in HIM.

And in Isaiah 53:5-6:
⁵ But he was pierced because of our rebellion,
crushed because of our iniquities;
punishment for our peace was on him,
and we are healed by his wounds.
⁶ We all went astray like sheep;
we all have turned to our own way;
and the Lord has punished him
for^[c] the iniquity of us all.

The resurrection of JESUS confirms our hope of eternal life when we place our faith in JESUS. Because JESUS lives, so will all who place their faith in HIM. Do you believe JESUS was resurrected from the physically dead? Let’s explore!

Let’s back up to the burial of JESUS.

As you recall, Joseph of Arimathea had asked for JESUS’ body as recorded in John 19:38-42:

³⁸ After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body. Pilate gave him permission; so, he came and took his body away. ³⁹ Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night – John Chapter 3.) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds^[j] of myrrh and aloes. ⁴⁰ They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ There was a garden in the place where he was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. ⁴² They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish day of preparation (Passover) and since the tomb was nearby.

Passover was celebrated by the Jews to remember their release from Egyptian bondage. Those who were obedient and placed the blood of the slain lamb over the doorpost of their homes were passed over by the death angel of their first-born son. How fitting for the death of the Lamb of GOD, JESUS, to be slain on this day which will mark the release of all who place their faith in JESUS from their bondage of sin and eternal death. WOW!!! Only our loving GOD can orchestrate such a timely event. Thank YOU, FATHER and JESUS! We serve a risen Savior and the empty tomb is one proof but there are many other proofs.

*Let’s read John 20:1-9:

The Empty Tomb

20 On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ² So she went running to Simon Peter and to the other disciple (John), the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They’ve taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they’ve put him!”

The first day of the week would be our Sunday. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where JESUS was placed to complete the embalming process.

Back to John 20:3-10:

^*3 At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together, but the other disciple (John) outran Peter and got to the tomb first. ⁵ Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then, following him, Simon Peter also came. He (Simon Peter) entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. ⁷ The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. ⁸ The other disciple (John), who had reached the tomb first, then also went in, saw, and believed. ⁹ For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead. * ¹⁰ Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying.

This is the Apostle John’s eyewitness account of resurrection morning. The Disciples of JESUS were on a steep learning curve in the next days, before JESUS ascended in Heaven. Now that the essentials recorded in the scriptures had been fulfilled, JESUS still had work to do. HE had to teach HIS disciples what had just taken place but there was more to come to put the final touch on the resurrection story.

Let’s read John 20:11-18:

Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord

¹¹ But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.”

¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. ¹⁵ “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?”

Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic,^[a] “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.”

¹⁷ “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that 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 she told them what^[b] he had said to her.

**Let’s read John 20:19-23:

The Disciples Commissioned

^*19 When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

²⁰ Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So, the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” ²² After saying this, he breathed on them and said,^[c] “Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”**

Let’s read John 20:24-26:

Thomas Sees and Believes

²⁴ But Thomas (called “Twin”^[d]), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!”

But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

²⁶ Eight days later His disciples were again inside the house, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, though the doors had been barred, and stood among them and said, “Peace to you.” (Amplified Bible)

(Eight days later is interesting - The number 8 in the Bible represents a new beginning, meaning a new order or creation, and man's true 'born again' event when he is resurrected from the dead into eternal life.)

***Let’s read John 20:27-29:

^*27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.”

²⁸ Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed.^[e] Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”***

Luke 24:36-49:

³⁶ As they were saying these things, he himself (JESUS) stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace to you!” ³⁷ But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. ³⁸ “Why are you troubled?” he asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹ Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself! Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see, I have.”

What is missing? The Blood. In human life our life is in the blood. In the Spirit life, our life is in JESUS.

⁴⁰ Having said this, he showed them his hands and feet. ⁴¹ But while they still were amazed and in disbelief because of their joy, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” ⁴² So they gave him a piece of a broiled fish,^[g] 43 and he took it and ate in their presence. (JESUS’ Glorified Body and an example of the Glorified bodies Christians will have after the second coming of JESUS.)

Luke 24:44-49: (Teaching the disciples by JESUS takes on new meaning since the resurrection and all has been fulfilled. Now it was easier to tie what was written in the Old Testament to their fulfillment by JESUS, then, and what is recorded in the New Testament. Keep in mind that the brothers of JESUS did not believe in HIM until after the resurrection. We will cover this in next week’s study.)

⁴⁴ He (JESUS) told them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. ⁴⁶ He also said to them, “This is what is written:^[h] The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and repentance for^[i] forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ And look, I am sending you^[j] what my Father promised. As for you, stay in the city^[k] until you are empowered^[l] from on high.” (This is next week’s lesson.)

Blessings!!!