Daily Devotions
John
John 20:19-31 "AN IMPORTANT CHANGE OF NOMENCLATURE"
Day 337 – John 20
AN IMPORTANT CHANGE OF NOMENCLATURE
If we were to look at the way John wrote his Gospel, we would notice that prior to the resurrection event, he used the name “Jesus” very frequently. The following texts may be cited to demonstrate this observation.
THE USE OF THE INFORMAL NAME “JESUS”
1. In the calling of the Disciples
“The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee,
and He found Philip and said to him, ‘Follow Me.'”
John 1:43; (cf. John 1:47, 50)
2. In the performance of the first miracle at Cana of Galilee
“Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding …”
John 2:2
3. In the celebrated conversation with Nicodemus
“This man came to Jesus by night …”
John 3:2
4. In the conversation with the Woman of Samaria
“Jesus answered and said to her …”
John 4:10
5. The healing of a lame man in Jerusalem
“Jesus said to him, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk.'”
John 5:8
6. The feeding of the five thousand
“And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the Bread of Life …'”
John 6:35
7. Ministry in Jerusalem at a Feast of Tabernacles
“Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone
thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.'”
John 7:37
8. In the case of the woman caught in adultery
“And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I
condemn you; go and sin no more.'”
John 8:11
9. In the healing of the man born blind
“Now as Jesus passed by, He saw
a man who was blind from birth.”
John 9:1
10. At the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem
“And Jesus walked in the Temple …”
John 10:23
11. In the miracle where Lazarus was raised back to life
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life …'”
John 11:25
The above does not suggest that John never used other titles. He was called, “Rabbi” or “Teacher” (John 3:2). He was also sometimes called “Lord” (John 9:38), though infrequently.
THE USE OF THE TITLE “LORD”
It seems significant, that in John 20, the title “Lord” was used again and again when referring to Jesus. Consider the following texts:-
1. The concern of the women on the disappearance of the body of Jesus
“They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb …”
John 20:2
2. Mary Magdalene’s lament
“Because they have taken away my Lord and
I do not know where they have laid Him.”
John 20:13
3. Mary’s testimony before her fellow-disciples
“Mary Magdalene came and told the
disciples that she had seen the Lord …”
John 20:18
4. The Appearance of Jesus to some of the Disciples
“Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.”
John 20:20
5. The testimony of the Disciples shared with Thomas
“We have seen the Lord.”
John 20:25
6. Thomas’ confession of faith
“My Lord and my God!”
John 20:28
It would appear that John’s use of the title “Lord” with reference to Jesus was deliberate. Throughout the Gospel, he described the life of a person who seemed to be but an ordinary man. However, this man seemed to wield extraordinary powers.
Who was this Man? The multitudes could not figure Him out fully. The Pharisees saw Him as nothing more than just an ordinary person. They believed that his powers did not necessarily come from God, but from the devil.
John’s own personal belief was that Jesus was none other than “The Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31). Throughout his Gospel, John sought to demonstrate and prove that Jesus was both Son of Man and Son of God!
CORRECT TO OWN JESUS AS “LORD”
John showed that the Disciples owned Jesus as more than their Teacher. He was their Lord as well. He had more than proven Himself worthy to be called “Lord”. However, owning Jesus as Lord was not a matter of according Him a title.
To own Jesus as Lord required faith, knowledge and finally submission. All the disciples had to struggle until each one came to his own personal decision to embrace Jesus as the Lord of his life. Is Jesus the Lord of your life?