Daily Devotions
John
John 20:1-10 "THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS"
Day 326 – John 20
THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
If John had ended the writing of his Gospel with the death and burial of Jesus, his book would have been a testimony of a great tragedy! A great Man, a compassionate Healer, a powerful Teacher had His life rudely terminated in the prime of His life! What a tragic end!
But John did not end the writing of his Gospel on this note! He couldn’t! He had the most baffling and astounding conclusion ever! He just had to write about the Resurrection of Jesus!
He knew that this part of the Gospel was difficult to write! If people had difficulties in believing the life of Jesus he was writing, they would find it even more difficult to believe in the conclusion of his Gospel. But a fact was a fact. Truth was truth! Jesus did rise from the dead! And John was compelled by personal conviction and faith to write what he knew to be true!
THE HONEST DOUBTS OF THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS
John knew that the average person would struggle with the doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus! The Disciples of Jesus themselves had trouble comprehending and accepting this truth! It took a lot of convincing from Jesus, before they finally came around!
All the Gospel writers noted ruefully that the Disciples whom you would have expected to believe in His resurrection, had the hardest time convincing themselves that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead!
Somehow, their belief in the teachings of Jesus did not include His resurrection! It wasn’t that Jesus had not taught them properly. They just couldn’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus!
NO THOUGHT OF THE RESURRECTION AT ALL
Each Gospel writer had his own perspective to share concerning the resurrection of Jesus. John singled out Mary Magdalene for special mention. We read,
“Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene
went to the tomb early, while it was still dark,
and saw that the stone had been taken away
from the tomb.”
John 20:1
While John singled out Mary for special mention, we must not think that she was the only one who went to the garden tomb of Jesus. Let us take a look at the other Gospels for further information concerning this visit to the tomb of Jesus.
Matthew had this to say,
“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week
began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
came to see the tomb.”
Matthew 28:1
Mark concurs and adds the following perspective.
“Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene,
Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought
spices that they might come and anoint Him. Very
early in the morning, on the first day of the week,
they came to the tomb when the sun had risen.”
Mark 16:1-2
Luke noted simply that the women Disciples were the first people to arrive at the tomb of Jesus.
“Now on the first day of the week, very early in
the morning, they, and certain other women with
them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which
they had prepared.”
Luke 24:1
In none of the Gospel accounts, was there the slightest hint that the Disciples had any thought about the possibility of the resurrection of Jesus! The men Disciples had not even attempted to visit the tomb. The arrest of Jesus was so traumatic that they fled from Him! None of the men Disciples were mentioned at all, with the exception of John the Apostle! The women had come to the tomb early so that they could anoint Jesus. They must have felt that they wanted to anoint the body of Jesus, because the preparation for His burial had been done so hastily! The Sabbath was drawing so close that there just wasn’t the time to prepare Him for His burial properly! Thus they felt that they must prepare spices to anoint the body of Jesus! This plan to anoint Jesus indicated that they did not believe that He would be resurrected at all!
Mark made an interesting note in his Gospel. The women Disciples were talking among themselves concerning the dilemma that awaited them. They had seen the tomb that Jesus was laid in! It was sealed by a great stone. There was also a Roman guard set up to prevent the Disciples of Jesus from attempting to steal the body of their beloved Master, as the chief priests and the Pharisees had warned Pilate!
“And they said among themselves, ‘Who will roll
away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?'”
Mark 16:3
We have another remark here that confirms the fact that the Resurrection of Jesus was not a story conjured by the Disciples! The women Disciples knew their limitations. They did not possess the strength to roll away the stone at the mouth of the cave! The men Disciples had not come with them to the tomb! How would they be able to anoint Jesus, if they couldn’t even roll away the stone from His tomb?