The resurrection is the high point to the cross. John gives his witness of this central event of history. Praise the Lord for resurrection power and authority.
John 20: The Resurrection
1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away 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 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.
4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,
7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.
8 Then the other disciple, who had 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 went back to their homes.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.
12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one 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 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she 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 Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for 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 that he had said these things to her.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
21 Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending 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, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."
Jesus and Thomas
24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, 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 in his hands the mark of the nails and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe."
26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although 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, and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve 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 believed."
The Purpose of This Book
30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;
31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Things to think about…
1. It is interesting that when Mary came to the tomb and saw the stone rolled away her first response after running back to Peter and John (the disciple whom Jesus loved) was to say, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb”, John 20:2. She is speaking of the Romans. The Romans were the ones called to guard the tomb and the Jewish hierarchy sent them because they believed the disciples would take Jesus and hence promote a resurrection deception. All this points to more evidence for the miracle, truth and power of the resurrection. Jesus Christ rose by the power of the Holy Spirit. On Mary’s testimony Peter and John rise and go. John was a faster runner, but Peter was bolder, as such John hesitates at the entrance, but Peter enters the tomb first. Peter is the one who needs to believe so a full transformation can take place in the heart of the man who had said three times “I do not know the man”. Note that when John goes in. He didn’t see the resurrected Christ, but saw that He wasn’t there and it simply says “he saw and believed;” vs 8. May we all have this resolve to simply believe without seeing.
2. If only Peter and John had hung around, they would have experienced first-hand the resurrected Christ. It says, “they went back to their homes”, vs 10. “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb”, vs 11. Not only did she see 2 angels, but Mary Magdalene who lingered at the tomb had the privilege of being the first eyewitness to the resurrection, John 20:11-18. Jesus always draws out the true heart by getting people to confess. Remember he did it with the woman at the well in John 4, with the woman with a flow of blood in Luke 8:43-48 and here with Mary Magdalene by saying “"Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?", Jn 20:15. She assumes he knows who she is speaking about because everyone knew about Jesus and the recent events. She simply asks him where he is. Jesus relieves her angst and simply calls her by name, “Mary”. What an honour. Jesus calls us by name and bestows upon us the blessing of His presence. The trouble oftentimes is that we do not want to wait for Him to appear. In your prayer time today – linger, wait until He visits you and gives you a personal word of encouragement.
3. Look at these words in John 20:19-23. Jesus’ first words are “Peace be with you”, He says it twice, vss 19, 21 each time He appears to them, vss 26. Jesus not only wants us to have His peace but that we also have full assurance of His resurrection. Jesus shows the disciples His hands and side, John 20:20. They believe and then He breathes on them and they receive the Holy Spirit, John 20:22. Note this was before the general outpouring at Pentecost. All disciples of Christ receive and are filled with the Holy Spirit. If your life lacks influence, power, or boldness, the Holy Spirit is your answer. May the breath of life fill you with His comfort, direction and power today.
4. Thomas said he would not believe until he saw Christ’s hands and side - as did all the other disciples, Lk 24:38-41. Note Jesus said to Mary Magdalene not to touch him, but Jesus asks Thomas to touch him. The difference being that Jesus had been to the Father and received his glorified body, not just his earthly resurrected body. Remember He said to Mary the reason she couldn’t touch Him was that He had not been to the Father, Jn 20:17. Jesus reappears 8 days later and even before Thomas asks again, Jesus recalls the conversation Thomas had with the disciples and said to him to do what he requested over a week before, vs 25. I.E to put his fingers in the nail marks and his hand in His side. The first blessing of the Holy Spirit is that they believe in Christ. This is the same for us. But the presence, influence and power of the Holy Spirit should be evident in every believer’s life. This is why it is necessary to “be (be being) filled with the Holy Spirit”, Eph 5:18.
5. What is the reason John is writing His gospel? The answer is found in John 20:31 “so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”. May this be enough for you today and that eternal life be yours by believing in Jesus is the Christ. May others see the influence and power of your testimony that they too ask for the hope that is within you, that they may believe in the name of Yeshua.
Vision statement for CBC
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Prayer points
1. Pray for Dave Pellowe as he ministers to us this Sunday on Church and State.
2. Pray for Mathys as he travels to South Africa to lay his mother to rest
3. Pray for peace as Iran war begins again
4. Pray for Venezuela continues to know healing and grace over the coming weeks as they recover.
5. Nigeria must be delivered from Fulani jihadists. Pray for those poor Christians – the widows and orphans.
6. For peace in Ukraine. May Russia see the folly of continuing this war and relent of the bloodshed – mainly from the Russian side.
7. Pray for the Sacred Minds podcast and our online ministry
8. Pray for One for Israel and their witness in this time of challenge and conflict.
9. Pray for the church in Australia that it focuses on Christ, His Word and holiness.
10. Pray for our leaders in Australia that they press in closer to Christ.
11. The Royal Commission that the Jewish people will feel safe in Australia.
12. Pray for new people to step into ministries at CBC – eg worship, café, Kids@church, sound/technical, giving, podcast.
13. Reform and Revival over our city and country.
14. Finances to cover our needs
15. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise God for the new visitors on Sunday.
2. Praise God for His word having an impact on Sunday, may we honour Him this week. Bring a testimony of grace next week.
3. Work done at the church on the working bee.
4. Praise the Lord for children and grandchildren 😊.
5. Praise the Lord for the message of the “I am’s” on Sunday.
6. Praise the Lord for the encouragement the Word of God brought people over the weekend.
7. Praise God for ministries – Life Groups, Prayer meetings, Kids@Church, Worship, Technical, administration
8. Café team every week. Thankyou to all those who serve and bring food. Especially Fiona, Maddie and Suzy and those who supply it every week Eg Ros - Milk.
9. Worship, Admin and Technical teams – Peter, Nita, Brendon, AJ, Suzy, Maddie, Mathys, Doug.
10. Kids Church teachers – Jacqueline, Maddie, Elise, and Fiona
11. The Lord’s faithfulness this year to CBC and all who have served in ministries
12. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Prayer meeting – Wed 5:30pm.
2. Dave Pellowe from Church and State preaching 26th July.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
4. Tune in again this week on our YouTube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
Catechism questions for July...
Q. 3. Why did God make you and all things? A. For his own glory.
