1. John 20 & 21 The Words of Resurrection

2. 21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18)

3. Comfort Belief Faith

4. Words Of Comfort 1 After this, Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means. (Luke 8)

5. Luke tells us that she was among a group of “women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out.” The number seven is symbolic of perfection and suggests that her former life was characterized by complete subjection to the terrible, tortuous tyranny of the devil. In appreciation for the miracle of new life, these women break with social customs of the day and are not shy about demonstrating their gratitude and devotion to Jesus. Not only do they join Jesus’ band of followers, they also generously give out of their own resources to provide for Jesus and the twelve in order that the cleansing, saving life of God’s kingdom might be freely given to others. Mary is an icon of devotion. (Brian Morgan, “The First Day of Forever”)

6. 1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!’ (John 20) An Empty Tomb

7. 11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away,’ she said, ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ 14 At this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realise that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’ 16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned towards him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’). (John 20)

8. Words Of Belief 24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.’ (John 20)

9. Faith Encounter 26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said,‘Peace be with you!’ 27 Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.’ 28 Thomas said to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’ 29 Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’ (John 20)

10. Though he was invited to do so, it is not clear that Thomas ever touched Jesus. I think that seeing and hearing him was enough. The Lord of the universe had come that night primarily to pull him close. Such love both answers doubts and silences them. And Thomas uttered extraordinary words of faith, My Lord and My God! (Steve Zeisler, “The Transformation of Thomas”)

11. Thomas responds with one of the great Christological confessions in the NT: “my Lord and my God.” The confession is addressed not to God but to Jesus. And it is personal, indicated by the person pronoun “my.” Thomas addresses Jesus as “Lord,” which becomes an early post-resurrection title for Jesus. He also addresses Jesus as God, i.e., not only does he believe in the resurrection but he also grasps the deepest meaning, that Jesus is God. (John Hanneman, “Resurrection Blessings”)

12. People sometimes think that doubt is the opposite of faith. But that’s not true. Doubt is the opposite of certainty. Certainty is what we have when there are no unanswered questions, when everything fits into a box. Faith is what we have in the midst of questions and disappointments. Faith is what we have when we trust a God whom we know, but we don’t completely understand. Faith is asking God to help us answer our questions and meet us in our disappointments. The resurrection gives us comfort because it means that death has been defeated. The resurrection gives us faith because it proved that Jesus is who he says he was. No one has ever risen from the dead. Except for Jesus. Everything we believe hinges on this one, singular, remarkable historical event. (Paul Taylor, “The Words of Resurrection”)

13. Words Of Purpose 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the cock crows today, you will disown me three times.’ 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly. (Luke 22)

14. 9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. (John 21) John says the disciples see a “charcoal fire.” Why would he be so specific in defining what they see? What does a charcoal fire have to do with this scene? John used these words (actually, it’s one word in biblical Greek) in one other scene in his gospel. When Peter disowned Jesus, Peter was standing near a “charcoal fire” (John 18:18). For Peter, the charcoal fire marked the scene of his failure. (Scott Grant, “Breakfast On The Beach”) Restored From Failure

15. 15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’ 16 Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’ 17 The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep. (John 21)

16. When the Lord reenacts this gruesome memory, Peter is fully restored. He doesn’t have to beg or plead with Jesus for forgiveness; it is a gift, just like the bread and the fish. When Peter is restored his memory is healed. The image of a charcoal fire is transformed from a place of shame to a place of affirmation and redemption. But not only is Peter restored, he is re- commissioned. Three times he is charged to feed and care for the flock. “The threefold denial is wiped out and forgiven in the threefold commissioning.” Peter is not only called to evangelistic ministry, hauling in nets of fish, but to pastoral ministry: to tend and to feed. The grieved and humbled Simon is charged with shepherding, guiding, guarding, and nourishing the flock, which belongs to Jesus. (John Hanneman, “Restored From Failure”) Feed My Sheep

17. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’ (John 21) Following Jesus

18. God is a forgiving God, not a punishing and condemning God. God is more eager to forgive than we are to be forgiven. He draws us to himself, forgives our waywardness, and heals our memories. He takes images and places of failure and sin and transforms them into places of reconciliation and joy. And not only does Jesus restore us, he calls us into his kingdom service. He wants to use us and put us to work. Our past never determines our future. Our failures may put us on the bench for a while but they are never final when we are in God’s hands and our eyes are on the cross of Christ. (John Hanneman, “Restored From Failure”)

19. RESPONSE