Month: June 2021

 20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” ³ Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. ⁴ The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.
⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, ⁷ and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples returned to their homes.

¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; ¹² and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “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, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” 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, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). ¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘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 that he had said these things to her.

¹⁹ When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. ²¹ Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
²² 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, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

²⁴ But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” ²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” ²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

³⁰ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. ³¹ But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.  NRSV

Get into the Word

1. Who is the first person to visit Jesus’ tomb? What does she notice about it? How does she respond?

2. Who are the next people at the tomb?  Why do you suppose the first disciple didn’t enter the tomb? What do they see once inside the tomb? How do they interpret this?

3. Why do you think Mary stays at the tomb after the disciples leave? What happens to her as a result? How does she react to the others at the tomb?

4. Why do you think Mary doesn’t realize who she is talking with? What happens when Jesus speaks to her? Why does he tell her not to cling to him?

5. Who does Mary tell about her encounter with Jesus? How do you suppose they reacted to her story? 

6. Who does Jesus appear to next?  How do the disciples react? What does Jesus say to the disciples? What does he give them? 

7. Why does Thomas not believe the other disciples? How does Jesus deal with this situation? What point does Jesus make about belief?

8. What point does John make about Jesus’s resurrection appearances

Get Personal

How do you react when your life suddenly goes in an unexpected direction? Are you aware of God’s presence during the turmoil? How do you recognize his presence and “Peace”?

20:1.  Mary Magdalene — had been a follower of Jesus from early in his ministry. She was also one of the women at the crucifixion and burial of Jesus.  (The other Gospels include Mary the mother of James and Salome [Matt 28:1, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:10].)
20:6. Linen wrappings — the position of the wrappings and face cloth indicates someone was unusually neat in placing them, or that Jesus rose out of the wrappings without disturbing them.
20:8.  Believed . . . — John acknowledges that, even though Jesus had discussed his resurrection with them, the disciples still did not understand the spiritual reality and significance. Luke describes one situation at 18:31-34. 
20:10. Went home — John and Peter may believe that something extraordinary happened to Jesus, but they still don’t understand the full meaning of 

the resurrection – after all, they saw Lazarus comeback to life [John 11:1-15]. 
20:19. Locked — the Greek word used here and verse 20 actually means “shut” without any inference of locking or barring entrance.
20:21. Sending — Jesus gives the disciples the Holy Spirit and commissions them all equally. They are to announce the work of the Holy Spirit in forgiving sins.
20:22. Breathed on them — an echo of Genesis 2:7, when God breathed life into Adam.
20:24.  Didymus — means “twin.”
20:30-31.  Miraculous signs — John clearly wants his readers to understand that Jesus did many other signs, but these are the ones he has chosen to write about so “you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah.”

19 So they took Jesus; ¹⁷ and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. ¹⁹ Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹ Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” ²² Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” ²³ When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴ So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,
“They divided my clothes among themselves,
and for my clothing they cast lots.”
²⁵ And that is what the soldiers did.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

²⁸ After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹ Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. ³² Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. ³⁵ (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) ³⁶ These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” ³⁷ And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”

³⁸ After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. ³⁹ Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. ⁴⁰ They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴² And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.  NRSV

Get into the Word

1. What happened just prior to the soldiers taking Jesus? Why would Pilate choose such a title for Jesus? How did the Jews react? Why would they be upset? What is Pilate’s response? 

3. What are the soldiers doing during the crucifixion? Why would they divide up Jesus’ clothing? How do you suppose they felt about these events [check Luke 24:47]?

4. Who else was present at this time? Why would they be at the crucifixion? How does Jesus respond to their presence? What do you think they were feeling as they watched?

5. Why does Jesus say he is thirsty? What do the soldiers do in response? What did Jesus mean when he said “It is finished?”

7. What happens after Jesus dies? Why did the soldier pierce Jesus’ side? Why does John make such a point of the Old Testament verses?

8. Who assists in burying Jesus? Why do you think they weren’t present at the cross? What makes them get involved at this point? 

Get Personal

What is the strongest image for you when you think about the crucifixion? How does God help you understand the meaning of Jesus’ death in your own life? How do you share this with other people?

Golgotha — the Aramaic word for “skull” as the place Jesus was crucified, (the Latin word for skull is “calvaria” which led to “Calvary”).
19:17. Carrying the cross — the Romans required the person to carry the cross bar to his own execution; there would have been a number of upright posts (probably about 10 feet high) dug in at the site. The victim was attached to the bar with nails through the wrists, then hoisted up onto the post.
19:18. Two others — the other Gospel writers identify these two as “criminals,” (which fulfills Isaiah 53:12).
19:19. Inscription — Romans often required the condemned person to carry a placard indicating why he was being crucified.
19:21. Priests said — the priests still refuse to recognize who Jesus is and seek to diminish the “title;” but Pilate is through giving in to them.
19:23. Crucified — it was neither a pretty nor a speedy method of execution, some records indicate the person could remain alive for nine days. Usually the person died of asphyxiation when he could no longer hold his head up and keep his airway open to breath.

19:26. Here is your son — part of “honoring your father and mother” was to care for them in their old age. Jesus’ mother was probably a widow at this time and he gives his disciple the burden of her care (even though she had other sons).
19:29. Hyssop — the plant is referred to in several passages from the Law regarding sacrifice and cleansing: Exodus 12:22, Leviticus 14:4-7, and Numbers 19:14-18, as well as Psalm 51:7: Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 
19:30. It is finished! — the Greek word can also mean “it is accomplished” or “it is paid.”
Gave up his spirit — Jesus is in charge even of his death.
19:38. Joseph . . . Nicodemus — both members of the Sanhedrin and secret followers of Jesus. Though they did not support him openly during his life, they went to considerable expense and risk to give him a proper burial.
19:40. Custom of the Jews — wrapping the body with cloth soaked in spices and a temporary burial on the same day. After a year the bones would be placed in a ceremonial box in a family tomb.

^{18         28} Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. ²⁹ So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” ³⁰ They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” ³¹ Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” ³² (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)

³³ Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” ³⁷ Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” ³⁸ Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. ³⁹ But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰ They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ² And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. ³ They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. ⁴ Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” ⁵ So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” ⁶ When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” ⁷ The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”

⁸ Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. ⁹ He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” ¹¹ Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” ¹² From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.”

¹³ When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” ¹⁵ They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” ¹⁶ Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.  NRSV

Get into the Word

1. Where did the Jews take Jesus after he was questioned by the high priest? Why did they take him there? What do you suppose John and Peter were doing at this point?

2. What is Pilate’s initial reaction to the situation? How do the Jews respond? How does Jesus respond? What do you think Pilate was feeling?

3. How does Pilate begin his questioning of Jesus? Why do you think he started as he did? How does Jesus respond to Pilate’s questions? How does this dialogue compare to other conversations Jesus had with the Jews?

4. What is Pilate’s conclusion about Jesus? How does Pilate try to end the confrontation? Why is he not successful? What does Pilate do after the Jews reject his suggestion? Why do you think he humiliated Jesus at this point? Why does Pilate try to get rid of the situation and free Jesus?

5. What claim do the Jewish leaders make against Jesus? How does Pilate react to this new situation? How does Jesus deal with the turn of events?

What kind of power is Pilate talking about? What kind of power is Jesus referring to? Do you think Pilate understands the difference?

7. What is ironic about the Jews final statements about Jesus and Caesar?

Get Personal

If you had a chance to interview Jesus what questions would you ask? How would such an interview help you in your walk with Christ?

18:28. Early in the morning — Jewish law prohibited night trials.
18:29. Accusation — Rome did not have prosecutors as we do; charges were brought by a person against another person.
18:31. We are not permitted — Rome did not grant the Jews the right to execute anyone, so the Jews had to appeal to Pilate to carry out their action against Jesus. |
18:32. Fulfill — Rome used crucifixion to execute criminals, and several prophecies speak of the Messiah’s death [check out Zech 12:10 and Deut 21:23]. 
18:33. Summoned Jesus — even though Pilate had the absolute right to decide a case, he decides to investigate the situation. The Jews charged treason: Jesus’ claim to be “king” usurped Caesar’s position.,
18:36-37. Kingdom — Jesus is talking about the spiritual kingdom, but Pilate can only think about kingdoms of this world.
18:39. Custom that I release — Pilate is clearly looking for a way out

of this situation when he offers to release Jesus. But the Jews saved an actual revolutionary rather than a savior.
19:1. Flogged — a number of Old Testament verses look ahead to Jesus’ agony: Isaiah 50:6 is a well-known example.
19:4. No case — Pilate tries one last time.
19:7. Law — the Jews were referring to Leviticus 24:16: Anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death. 
19:10. Refuse to speak — Pilate’s must consider the political consequences in Rome. (In fact, Pilate’s political supporter fell from Tiberius’ favor in the fall of 31 C.E., which Pilate may have known.)
19:13. Stone Pavement — probably similar to the raised platform speakers and judges use today. 19:14. Day of Preparation for Passover — more irony because one of the tasks for Preparation Day was to slaughter the sacrificial lamb for the Passover – a symbol of Christ as our sacrifice.
19:15. No king — the Jews hated Rome.

18:1. Kidron Valley — the Greek word means “dark” or “gloomy.” 
Olive grove — this is the “garden” of Gethsemane referred to in the other Gospels. Interestingly John neither names the place, nor does he relate Jesus’ agony as he faced the certainty of his death and sacrifice [check Matt 26:36-46, Mark 14:14-42, Luke 22:39-46].
18:3. Roman soldiers and Temple guards — obviously the Jewish leaders have already talked with the Romans about Jesus; and the Romans wanted to keep things under control, just as the Jews have Temple guards to secure their role.
18:8. I AM he — Jesus uses the same Hebrew word as he has before [8:58] – the same name that God gave when Moses asked [Exodus 3:14].
18:10. Slashed — Peter starts well, defending Jesus, but Jesus tells him to refrain. (Luke records that Jesus healed the slave’s ear [Luke 22:50-51].)
18:11. Cup of suffering — the only reference to such a cup in John’s Gospel. The Old Testament used the cup as a symbol of God’s “wrath” [check Ps 75:8; Isa 51:17; Jer 25:15; Ezek 23:31-34].
18:13. Annas . . . Caiaphas — Annas had been the high priest, but when he was removed from the position by the Roman governor, his sons and son-in-law succeeded him. When Jesus was arrested, Caiaphas was the actual high priest. The fact that the Jewish soldiers

took Jesus to Annas first demonstrates that he continued to have great influence.
18:14. Better that one man should die — Caiaphas said this in a meeting of Jewish leaders [11:49-52] – evidently without realizing the irony of his words.
18:15. Another disciple — probably John, which explains how the disciples (and we) know about the “trial” that took place inside the house.
18:17. I am not — this is the first of Peter’s denials that Jesus predicted [13:37]. The irony is that in all three instances Peter was really not in any danger because the questioners were not really in a position to harm him. 
18:20. I have spoken openly — Jesus echoes several psalms and prophets with his declaration to Annas: I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. [Ps 40:10]; and I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, “Seek me in chaos.” I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right, [Isa 45:19].
18:21. Why are you asking me? — Jesus reminds Annas that this procedure is contrary to Jewish law, which required at least two witnesses to declare that a charge was accurate or true. The Jews are asking Jesus to testify against himself.