Monday | Week 15

We move from Jesus’ death and burial in chapter 19 to the amazing events of chapter 20. Jesus is not in the tomb! He has risen! That profound statement is the foundation of our Christian faith. However, as we read in John’s account, it takes time for this to fully sink into Jesus’ downcast followers.

Mary Magdalene is the first to believe, having had an encounter at the empty tomb with two angels, then with the Lord Jesus himself. Peter and John hear the news and come running. They see the empty tomb, but at that time have no encounter with the angels or Jesus. These two disciples return to the place they were staying.

That evening as the disciples were meeting behind locked doors, Jesus appeared in their midst. He showed them his hands and feet and gave them a blessing, “Peace be with you!” (John 20:19). They were overjoyed. Jesus gave a charge, sending them into the world, and supplying the power to do so by giving them the Holy Spirit.

John tells us that not all disciples were present at this amazing meeting. Thomas was absent, and because he had not personally seen Jesus, he did not believe their story. He needed to see Jesus and actually put his hands in Jesus’ wounds before he would believe. A week later Jesus again appeared to the disciples, and Thomas was present. After his personal encounter, Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus’ words to Thomas have been so encouraging to believers over the last two millennia, “Because you have seen me you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

John ends his Gospel with a very personal conversation between Jesus and Peter. The disciples were eating from a haul of fish Jesus had miraculously provided. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he loved Jesus. All three times Peter said “yes”, and each time Jesus followed Peter’s response with the command to feed, or take care of Jesus’ sheep. Peter’s feelings were hurt when Jesus kept asking the same question.

John doesn’t try to explain or analyze all that Jesus was trying to do in his conversation with Peter. What we do know, by peeking into the first few chapters of Acts, is that Peter became a profoundly loyal and vibrant leader of Jesus’ “sheep”.

Discussion Questions

  1. Why do you think the followers of Jesus had to physically see Jesus before believing in his resurrection?

  2. Why are you able to believe in the resurrection, even though you haven’t physically
    seen Jesus?

  3. Jesus ate a meal with Peter prior to asking him, “Do you love me?” Why do you think this was important?

  4. Think of a time you have been asked probing questions by a loved one. How did you feel and how did you respond?