Simply Jesus The Life and Ministry of God s Son Lesson 28 Introduction He is not here, but is risen! So spoke the angels from the empty tomb to Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James and other of the women who had returned the next day to finish preparing the body with spices and fragrant oils (Luke 24). And the angels said to the women, Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they rememberd His words. So they returned from the tomb and told the news to the disciples, but their words fell on deaf ears, seeming like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But still, upon hearing the news, Peter and John ran to the tomb to see for themselves. John outran Peter arriving first and looking in saw the linen cloths lying there; and he believed (John 20). Peter went into the tomb, scrutinized the folded handkerchief and the placement of the linen cloths; then they went away, returning to their own homes. Mary stood outside the tomb weeping and was asked by the angels, Woman, why are you weeping? She wanted to know the whereabouts of the body so she could take Him away. As she turned, she saw a man who spoke her name, Mary! She recognized it was Jesus. Standing there before Him, Mary fully realized that love, faith, and hope could conquer death; and she became the first witness to the other disciples that Jesus Christ was indeed alive! After that, Jesus made a number of group appearances, fulfilling His promises to replace the disciples grief with rejoicing and their doubt and confusion with the Holy Spirit. Did you know ~ Jesus had fulfilled His mission, and now He was about to send His followers out to begin theirs. The reception of the Holy Spirit in the Lord s place mentioned in John 20:21 23, was temporary. It was not the fulfillment of Christ s prayer and promise to the disciples on the night before His crucifixion (John 14 16). That fulfillment would occur fifty days later on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Here they received what has been described as a prechurch age filling of the Spirit so they could fully perceive and understand the Lord s instructions to them. 1
Open your Bible and lesson each day by beginning with a word of prayer. Up Close ~ The chart below represents a reader s guide to the contents of this week s lesson. The topical teachings and/or events covered are followed by the primary scriptural text as well as the supportive parallel passages. You will be able to receive and grasp a well-rounded picture of the story narrative in the Gospel harmony by reading every passage. However, using the bolded text as your point of reference (your anchor text) will allow you to determine the facts, lessons, and personal applications necessary to formulate your own conclusions. Teaching / Event Scripture Text Parallel Passages Appearances of the Risen Lord: John 20:1 29 Mary; Disciples; Thomas Two Travelers on Road to Emmaus Luke 24:13 35 Breakfast by the Sea: John 21:1 19 Jesus Apears to Seven Disciples Restores Peter Jesus Gives Great Commission Luke 24:44 53 Matt. 28:16 20; Mark 16:14 20 Ascends into Heaven First Impressions: Group Discussion Reflect for a moment on the passages you have just read. Respond by recording your first impressions from your initial reading of the text. Be prepared to share one of your impressions with your discussion group. Heartbeat: Matthew 28:18 20 NKJV (Memory verse) (Write it out once in the space below. Practice it each time you open your lesson.) And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. 2
Part One: John 20:1 29 Appearances of the Risen Lord Both Peter and John ran to the tomb, looked inside for themselves to confirm what they d been told by the women, and then returned to their own homes. John records that Mary stayed at the tomb, inconsolable with grief, and became the first witness to the post-resurrection appearance of Jesus. Mary, who supported the Lord financially, and out of whom the Lord had cast seven demons, was more grieved over the loss of Jesus than she was frightened by the two angels who spoke with her. When she turned and saw Jesus, she didn t recognize Him at first glance. Many scholars have questioned why; but it s not difficult to accept that she was traumatized by being one of the last who remained at the cross. Consumed by her tears that began flowing at Golgotha, in the confusion of the moment she expected to find a body not a risen Lord! 1. When Jesus spoke Mary s name, her sorrow turned to joy. How does the poignant moment depicted in verse 16 remind you of Jesus words in John 10:4? 2. In Jesus day, women were oppressed, considered second-class citizens. But what does the Lord s first appearance to a woman tell you about the grace and openness of the gospel message? 3. What does Jesus say to Mary in verse 17? Why do you think He said this to her? Mary wasn t to cling to Jesus because a new relationship existed between them. Soon He would ascend to the Father and His followers would be united by the Holy Spirit, who would remain with and in them forever. Notice in verse 17 that Jesus no longer refers to His followers as disciples, but as brethren or brothers. Mary becomes the first witness to testify that she saw and spoke with Jesus (v. 18). 4. On the evening of the same day as the Resurrection, the disciples were locked behind closed doors for fear of the Jews. When Jesus came and stood in their midst, He showed them His hands and His side. What did Jesus say to them? vv. 19, 21 The Lord s last instructional words to His disciples before His death were words of peace (16:33); and now the first words they hear following His resurrection are also of peace. 5. He then commissions them for their mission by giving them what? vv. 21 22 3
Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into His disciples to mark the beginning of their ministries. The full manifestation of the Holy Spirit would take place shortly on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2); but for now, just as Jesus was sent to call sinners to repentance, so too, He sends His disciples out as His ambassadors. Theologians have long debated the full meaning of Jesus words in verse 23: If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. To help us better understand, we refer back to two earlier occasions when Jesus told His disciples that they had authority to bind or loose on earth and it would be done in heaven (Matthew 16:19; 18:18). Here in John 20, Jesus commissions the disciples to proclaim the gospel of forgiveness. They did not have the authority to forgive sin only God can do that but when they led others to saving faith in Christ, the sins of that person were forgiven in heaven. 6. Eight days later, to whom does Jesus turn His attention? Why? vv. 24 25 a. Just as earlier, how does Jesus address these men? v. 26 b. What does Jesus instruct Thomas to do? v. 27 c. How does Thomas respond? v. 28 The Lord did not reprove Thomas for doubting; He merely tells him to stop doubting and believe. Thomas instantly goes from being a skeptic to a worshiper! d. Jesus then follows with a blessing for all those who do not have the opportunity to see for themselves what Thomas saw with his own eyes. What does He say? v. 29 e. How do the words found in 2 Corinthians 5:7 bear this same truth? Selah ~ John states in verses 30 31, that Jesus did many miracles that are not recorded in this gospel account. Rather, he carefully chose the words and works of Jesus that would induce faith in the reader. His ultimate desire was that others would continue to come to faith by the reading of this book. Can you think about a word or work spoken or performed by Jesus that has helped you grow in your walk with God? Briefly share your thoughts. 4
Luke 24:13 35 Two Travelers on the Road to Emmaus In Mark 16:12 13, we read, After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. Luke inserts the narrative of Mark s statement by adding the account of the two disciples who walked the seven mile road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, discussing the dramatic events that had just unfolded. Luke describes their conversation by using the word homileo, which conveys the idea of a back and forth banter or chitchat filled with great emotion; both were trying to analyze what had taken place. At some point Luke says, While they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him (vv. 15 16). 1. Jesus joined in the discussion with what question? a. What kind of response did He receive? 2. One of the disciples, Cleopas, summarized the Lord s ministry, but how did he fall short of understanding His mission? vv. 19 20 In verse 20, Cleopas stated who they had hoped and thought Jesus to be Redeemer of Israel but they believed He would be an earthly king. They had the actual story facts straight but they has missed the true meaning of the Lord s mission; and now they were absolutely clueless, blind to the reality of the resurrection as Jesus walked the road beside them. It is a good lesson for us all that when we factor our own expectations into what God is doing, we can actually be blinded to Jesus presence with us! 3. How did Jesus begin to adjust the perspective of these two disciples so they could see the truth? vv. 25-27 Can you even begin to imagine being a front row listener to that magnificent Bible study?! Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, he expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. 4. When the men invited Him to stay, what did Jesus do? When did they realize who he was? vv. 30 31 5. What was their response to that remarkable moment with the risen Savior? vv. 32 35 5
Part Two: John 21:1 19 Breakfast by the Sea John wrote his gospel with the intended purpose that those reading it would believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and that believing you may have life in His name. As John nears the end of his writing, he takes a close up look at a personal conversation between the Lord and Peter to underscore the depth of commitment the disciples would need to have for their Master. The resulting impact would be evident in later years when Peter would write his own epistles to the church. Jesus called all the disciples into service, but there is no doubt that Peter was singled out for extraordinary leadership, discipleship, and sacrifice. It would require his unwavering confidence in the one fact upon which his faith was based Jesus is Lord! The setting for the closing scene of John s account is the Sea of Tiberias (also known as the Sea of Galilee). It was at this particular lakeside where the disciples had on numerous occasions listened to Jesus teaching and where they had experienced for themselves His miraculous works. At a seaside breakfast, Jesus was about to manifest Himself once again through a miracle. 1. From your reading of the passage, what sense do you get about the occasion for this gathering? What was the result of their efforts? From the boat, no one recognized Jesus on the shoreline, but the suggestion the stranger made to the disciples would forever be etched in John s mind. 2. After the futility of fishing all night and catching nothing, what did Jesus suggest? What miraculous thing happened as the disciples heeded His advice? 3. John was the first to realize, It is the Lord! Once he announced it, impetuous Peter was the first to respond. What did he do? What does this reveal about Peter s heart? John may have recollected another time when Jesus made a similar suggestion (Luke 5) and they caught so many fish their nets broke apart and the boat began to sink. a. This time as they came to shore dragging the net full of fish, what did they find awaiting them? vv. 9 14 Selah ~ Jesus guided the catch that day, as the disciples brought the fish to Jesus to be used for His purpose. When the disciples relied on themselves, they caught nothing. But when they acted according to the Lord s directions, the catch far exceeded their own expectations! It was a lesson Jesus wanted them to remember and it became symbolic of the method that would guide them into the future. Looking back at John 15:5 8, how do the Lord s words confirm the truth that the disciples would need to continue to rely on Him? 6
Once this group of brothers had eaten breakfast, Jesus turned to Peter, who now begins to emerge as the leader. Previously a fisherman by profession, Jesus focuses on Peter s new call as a shepherd by caring for the Lord s flock. Three times Peter had denied his Lord, and three times Jesus will question him about his love. Look closer ~ In verses 15 17, each time Jesus posed the question to Peter, Do you love Me? - He changed the command following Peter s response. The reference at the end to more than these in verse 15, is unclear whether it refers to the other disciples or to the fact that Peter had returned once again to his former profession of fishing. a. v. 15: Jesus used Peter s given name, Simon, son of Jonah, reverting back to pebble rather than the name rock Jesus had given him. How does Peter answer the Lord? What is the Lord s command to Peter? b. v.16: For the second time, Jesus poses the question, Do you love Me? by using Peter s old name. In the first two questions, the word Jesus used for love is agape, the perfect, sacrificial love of God that desires the best for the one being loved. The NIV translates it truly love. Peter s answer is the same; what does He say? What is Jesus command? c. v. 17: Jesus changed the verb form in the third question, using the word phileo for love, which refers to a brotherly, friendship love. The penetrating questions hit their mark, and Peter is hurt that Jesus would ask him a third time using a lesser word to describe their love. In turn, what is his lesser reply to the Lord? What is Jesus command? The interrogation and particularly the form of the last question could not help but vividly bring back to Peter s mind his failure; but here it is meant to show that Peter was fully restored in his relationship to Christ. Three times Peter denied; three times he was asked to affirm his love; and three times he was commissioned to a position of trust in caring for the Lord s flock. The lesson in humility would form the fabric of Peter s example as a leader for the remainder of his life. 7
Part Three: Luke 24:44 53 Jesus Gives the Great Commission; Ascends into Heaven The above passage in Luke s account along with Mark 16:14 20 and Matthew 28:16 20, are references to the Lord s final words issuing the instruction to go forth and preach the gospel message. Luke s account mentions Jesus saying, These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me. Matthew mentions that some still doubted Him. Luke adds that Jesus opened the eyes of their understanding so they might comprehend the Scriptures. 1. According to Luke 24:44 53, what specifically, did Jesus enlighten them about? a. v. 46: b. v. 47: c. What did He then declare them to be? v. 48 d. What final pivotal instruction did He give them? Why? v. 49 Matthew s account adds the following: All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28). 2. Then Jesus walked them out as far as Bethany, and lifted up His hands and blessed them. As He did, what took place before their very eyes? v. 51 3. The end of the story is not the end at all, it is really the beginning. What did the Lord s followers then proceed to do until the great moment in Acts 2 when the promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled to them? vv. 52 53 Selah ~ The last thing the Lord did was to bless His followers, and the first thing they did was to worship Him! Today He would ask you: are you worshiping Him with your life? Is the Gospel of good news being spread by you from your Jerusalem out into the world? 8
Behold & Be Transformed What did you see as you beheld God s Son? How does beholding (looking upon) Him, motivate you to change your thoughts, habit, attitude, speech or actions? Pause... What is the most significant lesson you have learned this week? Ponder... How will you put it into practice? Pray... Write out your prayer and be specific. 2013 Janis J. Vance, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. 9
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