Sunday, January 27, 2013
am
The Life of Jesus (44)
From the Grave to Glory
John 20:19-21:25
a.
In discussing the
appearances of Jesus on the day He arose, we noted that in the evening
He appeared to the apostles and other disciples (Luke 24:33-34, Jn.
20:20-23). John 20 continues
following this appearance by saying that Thomas was absent (Jn. 20:24).
Other disciples came to him and told him they had seen the Lord.
Thomas said, “Unless I see
in His hands the prints of the nails, and put my finger into the print
of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
(vs. 25)
Thought: The tragedy of
skepticism. Sadly, we
live in a world filled with skeptics of Jesus and His word.
Many, because of worldly wisdom cannot (or shall I say will not)
consider the concept of Jesus.
Others believe in Him, but they are skeptical of His message.
Far too many are not interested in total submission to Him and
express doubts. Such is
tragic because all such skeptics, will stand before Him in judgment and
tremble when the learn the fate of their refusal to obey.
I read one man commenting on this text say that he believed God would
meet honest doubt (such as that of Thomas – though it is still a
problem), but he had concerns about dishonest doubt.
Dishonest doubt is the one who SAYS he has an intellectual
problem believing, but in reality he has a MORAL problem.
One doesn’t want to accept the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality,
or adultery, or divorce, etc.
And that is at the crux of his “doubt”.
[1]
Recall again the warning of Jesus early on in Matt. 7:21.
b.
Then 8 days later
(actually a week – a Jews counted days (including the first and last)),
the disciples again are assembled.
This time Thomas is with them.
Jesus again appears saying, “Peace to you!”
He then goes to Thomas and says, “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.” (Jn.
20:27)
NOTE: Thomas was not
rebuked for DOUBTING on this occasion (as we sometimes
affectionately name him), he was rebuked for unbelief.
Is there a difference?
Some say that doubt is the product of one who refuses to consider
something (such as the moral skepticism above), whereas unbelief demands
“proof.” Both pose a danger
unless they are overcome! (Cf. Heb. 3:12 – an evil heart of unbelief can
cause one to drift away from God).
Whether or not Thomas actually touched the wounds, he said, “My
Lord and my God!” (vs. 28).
Jesus responded to him, “Thomas,
because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those
who have not seen and yet have believed.” (vs. 29)
Mark 16
:14 tells us when Jesus later appeared to the eleven He rebuked
their unbelief. WE sometime
marvel at how the apostles and women who spent so much time with Jesus
doubted His words. But we
ought to be careful, for we were not there.
BUT, Jesus speaks highly of OUR faith!
c.
Do we believe? In this study we have tried to not only examine the life and teachings of
Jesus, but we have presented proofs that these things really occurred.
We may not be able to physically put our hand in His side, we can
still believe. Are we
in the group of whom Jesus spoke on this occasion?
i.
Heb. 11:1 says, “Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen.” There is
something to be said of a faith based upon that which is not seen.
Our faith involves a great TRUST in what we have read and heard.
Know that God recognizes such a faith and commends those whose
lives demonstrate that faith.
2 Corinthian 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”
ii.
BUT, our faith is not
blind in that there are no proofs of God and Jesus.
Luke spoke of many infallible proofs with which Jesus presented Himself
alive – Acts 1:3.
Following the account of Jesus appearing to the eleven with Thomas, John
says, “And truly Jesus did many
other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in
this book; 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.” (Jn. 20:30-31)
We can make the case for faith, for Jesus, for the creation, and God of
the Bible. There is plenty
of “evidence” out there.
BUT, even when presented with all of it, ultimately, we have to make a
choice to believe in Him – everything about Him.
This is the faith that Jesus is commending in our text.
iii.
But let us also realize
this faith is more than mere mental acknowledgement.
True faith ACTS and obeys.
That is what James was speaking of when He spoke of dead faith
and working faith. We find
in James 2:14-26 that ONLY a working faith will justify us (vs. 24).
Romans 10:17 says, “So
then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
iv.
Will we with our faith
say as Thomas did, “My Lord and My God”?
d.
One more quick thought!
Consider what Thomas missed
because he failed to ASSEMBLE with the other apostles that first week.
Heb. 10:24-25 speaks for itself!
BTW, when he heard, even though he was skeptical, he DID show up
the next week!
a.
The account
– we don’t know when, but “after these things” meaning the appearances
previously recorded, Jesus shows Himself again at the Sea of Tiberias
(The Sea of Galilee).
Peter and several other apostles and disciples decided to go fishing.
They fished all night and caught nothing.
When morning came, Jesus stood on the shore (but not yet
recognized). Jesus asked if
they had any food and they spoke of their lack of success.
Jesus then tells them to cast their nets out on the right side of
the boat and when they do, there we so many fish that they were not able
to draw the net in. John
then recognizes Jesus and tell Peter, “It is the Lord.”
Peter then plunged into the sea and went to shore.
The others brought the boat dragging the net with fish.
When they arrived, there was a fire with fish laid on it and bread.
Jesus asked for some of their fish (there were 153 large fish,
though the net was not broken).
They eat breakfast with Jesus though none ask Him, “Are you the
Lord.” (NOTE: In His glorified state, there were differences but it was
His body as we have discussed.)
Jesus ate with them.
WE are told that this was the third time Jesus showed Himself to His
disciples after His resurrection.
b.
His conversation with
Peter –
After breakfast, Jesus asks Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me
more than these?” Peter
responds, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
Jesus says, “Feed My lambs.”
Jesus asks him again, “Simon, do
you love Me?” Peter again
responds, “Yes Lord; You know that I love You.”
Jesus said, “Tend my sheep.”
Then a third time Jesus asks him, Simon, do you love Me?”
Peter is grieved and says, ”Lord, you know all things: You know
that I love You.” Jesus
says, “Feed My sheep.”
This is followed by a brief
conversation about the Peter’s future including what death he would die.
Jesus then said, “Follow Me!”
c.
This conversation is interesting
– it is an example of a text where some knowledge of
the original wording is helpful.
In English translations, the word, “Love” is used some 6 times.
But in Greek, there are two totally different words with
different meanings. Together
they help explain why the question was asked 3 times.
The words used are agape (Christian love – sometimes described as
a higher love than that of the world. It
is at the pinnacle of attributes that perfect the Christian – 2 Pet.
1:5-7. This is a love that
is “caring enough to sacrifice for what is best.”
See Matt. 22:37-39) and phileo (kind affection for a friend).
It is believed that on this occasion, Jesus is seeking to restore
Peter for his 3 times of denial.
Observation: Recall
where Peter was when he denied his Lord – warming by a fire of coals of
the enemy (Jn. 18:18). NOW,
he is at another fire, only this time in the presence of the Lord
Himself AND his friends. BUT
do you suppose that Peter can let it escape from his mind what he had
done to the Lord prior to His death?
It begins with Jesus asking
Peter, “Do you “agape” Me?
Peter responds, “You know that I phileo you.”
I see here a hesitation to commit the high form of agape love
that Jesus is calling for.
Considering Peter’s hasty response to Jesus’ warning of denial and his
personal denials, I see Peter as one who doubts himself.
But Jesus commands him to work saying, “Feed
My lambs.”
Jesus then asks Peter a second time the same thing and He receives a
similar hesitant response.
Peter says, “I phileo You.”
The third time, Jesus asks Peter, “Do you phileo Me?” (as if to say, do
you EVEN have brotherly affection for Me as a friend?”
Peter is grieved at this and responds, “Lord
you know all things. You
know that I Phileo You.”
Jesus tells him, “Feed My sheep.”
What is the significance of
this? I believe Jesus is seeking to build Peter up and get him
to make the TRUE commitment necessary to follow Jesus with your all.
This is a moment of decision for Peter.
Jesus KNOWS Peter will follow Him and gives him further
instructions about his future.
NOTICE how Peter doesn’t rebuke Jesus this time!
d.
Forgiveness.
We are all sinners (Rom. 3:23).
To deny that we are sinners is to lie (1 John 1:8, 10).
We may not have physically denied the Lord the way Peter did (or
maybe we have), but we have all sinned against Him.
Perhaps so much that when we assess our true spiritual worth we
KNOW how unworthy we are.
Isaiah described their righteousness as, “filthy rags” (Isa.
64:6).
WE tell ourselves we don’t deserve God’s forgiveness (Isa. 59:2 –
your iniquities have separated you
from your God). And
while that might be true, we NEED His forgiveness and He offers it to
us!
Jesus is eager to restore us, even if we have denied Him.
That God wants to forgive us is seen in the sacrifice of Jesus. (Rom.
5:8, 1 John 4:9-10) 2 Pet. 3:9 also speaks of His longsuffering and that
He is not willing that any should perish.
Even as Jesus was being crucified He prayed, “Father forgive
them…” (Lk. 23:34)
I see in the example of Jesus and
Peter on this occasion, the lengths to which Jesus WANTS to forgive.
Jesus didn’t tell Peter he was unworthy or disqualify him because
of his denial. Instead, He
commissions him to do more – feed His flock!
We can take confidence in passages like 1 John 1:9 says, “IF we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
BUT, I want to us to understand clearly that Peter REPENTED!
That is demonstrated by the life he lived after Jesus went back
to heaven.
When God forgives us, let us be quick to show our gratitude to God by
living for Him.
e.
“YOU follow Me!”
– It is near the final words recorded of Jesus to Peter.
Interestingly, it was also some of the FIRST words Jesus spoke to
him (Matt. 4:19)
We need to be concerned about ourselves and whether or not we are ready
to stand before Him. While
we CARE about others (2 Cor. 5:11), ultimately we have to prepare
ourselves to stand before God – 2 Cor. 5:10, Rom. 14:12.
The best way to teach others is by being a light yourself – Matt. 5:16,
Phil. 2:16.
The quickest way to turn
others away is by NOT being a good example!
And thus we find some of the appearances of Jesus during this
time. We know He made other
appearances (cf. 1 Cor. 15:6-8).
These appearances continued to demonstrate that He physically
arose. They also show Jesus
taking care of important matters as He prepared the way for His kingdom.
May we continue to learn from His life how to live with a hope
that goes beyond this life.
Think about it.
[1] McGee, J.
Vernon. Thru the Bible Commentary. electronic ed.
Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1997.
(John 20:25 comments)