26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then He *said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” Theme: Three crucial aspects of belief in the resurrection you must understand, so you will serve Christ with full devotion.
The Familiar Setting v.26 I. The necessity of belief v.27
A. Necessary for salvation B. Necessary for service
II. The confession of belief v.28
III. The blessing of belief v.29
A. The significance of the first witnesses and their writings B. The superiority of faith over personal experience or hard evidence
19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and *said to them, “ Peace be with you.”
20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
23 If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”John 20:19-25 (NASB)
Theme: Five reasons why the resurrection of Jesus from the dead should motivate you to be His witness …. so you will
I. The context for Jesus’ appearance to the disciples
v.19a
II. The consolation Jesus gives to the disciples
v.19b
III. The confirmation Jesus offers the disciples
v.20
IV. The commission of Jesus to the disciples
vv. 21-23
A. The apostolic anointing
v.22
B. The apostolic privilege
v.23
V. The consensus of the disciples reported to Thomas
11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb;
12 and she *saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.
13 And 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.”
14 When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” 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.”
16 Jesus *said to her, “Mary!” She turned and *said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).
17 Jesus *said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene *came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
Theme: Four import perspectives of the resurrection of Jesus Christ so you can be a conduit of this joy to the world
I. Hope Concealed … the distress of the resurrection
vv. 11-15
II. Hope Revealed … the discovery of the resurrection
v.16
III. Hope Understood … the demand for the resurrection
v.17
IV. Hope Announced … the directive of the resurrection
v.18
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.
2 So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
3 So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.
4 The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first;
5 and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there; but he did not go in.
6 And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there,
7 and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.
8 So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.
9 For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.
10 So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
Theme: Four preliminary reasons why you should believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead so you may be saved.
1. The discovery of Mary establishes that the tomb is empty vv. 1-2
2. The discovery of the disciples eliminates that the body is stolen vv. 3-7
3. The testimony of John encourages that you believe in this event v. 8
4. The testimony of Scripture ensures that the resurrection must happen v. 9
38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but a secret one for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate granted permission. So he came and took away His body.
39 Nicodemus, who had first come to Him by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds weight.
40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.
41 Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.
42 Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.
Theme: Three elements of devotion to Jesus Christ so you know what it costs to be His disciple.
Risk: Notice the request v.38
Expense: Observe the burial vv.39,41
Consider: Consider the business of caring for the body vv.40,42
John 19:31-37 (NASB)
31 Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32 So the soldiers came, and broke the legs of the first man and of the other who was crucified with Him;
33 but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.
34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.
36 For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “Not a bone of Him shall be broken.”
37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”
Introduction:
Theme: Three features of Jesus’ death necessary to establish Christianity so you will be confident in your faith.
Background: The brutal end of crucifixion vv. 31-32
The Jewish Custom v. 31a
The Roman Crueltyvv. 31b-32
Called crurifragium
I. The proof of His death leads to the need for His resurrection vv. 33-34
II. The testimony of John to His death leads to belief in Him v. 35
III. The fulfillment of Scripture in His death leads to assurance of God’s plan of salvation vv. 36-37
a. Jesus is the Passover lamb of Exodus 12:46
b. Jesus is the prophesied Lord of Zechariah 12:10
23 The soldiers therefore, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece.
24 They said therefore to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be;” that the Scripture might be fulfilled, “They Divided My outer Garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.”
25 Therefore the soldiers did these things. But there were standing by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!”
27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own household.
28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished, in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I am thirsty.”
29 A jar full of sour wine was standing there; so they put a sponge full of the sour wine upon a branch of hyssop, and brought it up to his mouth.
30 When Jesus therefore had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head, and gave up His spirit.
Theme: Two examples of the central role Scripture plays in the crucifixion of Christ so you will live faithfully in times of trial.
I. Jesus fulfillment of Scripture in the crucifixion is a motivation for Christian confidence. – vv. 23-25a, 28-29
A. The soldiers’ activity fulfilled Psalm 22:18
B. Jesus’ thirst fulfilled Psalm 69:21
You can rest assured of God’s purposes in the midst of your most difficult trials.
II. Jesus’ obedience to Scripture in the crucifixion is a model for Christian living. – vv. 25b-27, 30
A. Honoring your father and mother is a command, not an option. – Exodus 20:12/Ephesians 6:2
B. Accomplishing redemption is the ultimate example of obedience. – Isaiah 53:4-6, 10-12; Philippians 2:8, 1 Peter 2:21; 3:17-18
28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, and it was early; and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium so that they would not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.
29 Therefore Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?”
30 They answered and said to him, “If this Man were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him to you.”
31 So Pilate said to them, “Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law.” The Jews said to him, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death,”
32 to fulfill the word of Jesus which He spoke, signifying by what kind of death He was about to die.
33 Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?”
34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”
35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?”
36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”
37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”
38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, “I find no guilt in Him.
Theme: Four crucial features of Jesus’ kingship you must understand so you will live as His loyal subjects.
(Due to an audio technical error, the first minute and a half had to be edited out. Sorry for the inconvenience.)
John 18: 15-18,25-27 (NASB)
15 Simon Peter was following Jesus, and so was another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and entered with Jesus into the court of the high priest,
16 but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and brought Peter in.
17 Then the slave-girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.”
18 Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself.
Peter’s Denial of Jesus
25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it, and said, “I am not.”
26 One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?”
27 Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
Introduction:
Theme: Three important lessons learned from Peter’s denials of Christ so you will be prepared to confess Him in times of testing.
The Setting for the Denials: vv.15-16
The Record of the Denials: vv.17-18,25-27
The First Denial: vv.17-18
The Second Denial: v.25
The Third Denial: vv.25-27
Three Lessons Learned from the Denials
1.Who Denies Christ?
2.What are some ways people deny Christ?
3.What are some reasons why people deny Christ?
12 So the Roman cohort and the commander and the officers of the Jews, arrested Jesus and bound Him,
13 and led Him to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year.
14 Now Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was expedient for one man to die on behalf of the people.
The High Priest Questions Jesus
19 The high priest then questioned Jesus about His disciples, and about His teaching.
20 Jesus answered him, “I have spoken openly to the world; I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together; and I spoke nothing in secret.
21 Why do you question Me? Question those who have heard what I spoke to them; they know what I said.”
22 When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, “Is that the way You answer the high priest?”
23 Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify of the wrong; but if rightly, why do you strike Me?”
24 So Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.
