Some Thoughts on John

Artist: Simon Dewey

“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” John 20:19

It struck me as I read this recently how the early disciples must have been feeling.
Let’s consider their experiences with Him during these three years. They had just spent three years with Christ, seeing Him do all kinds of miracles. He healed lepers, gave sight to the blind, cast out devils, raised the dead;(curses from God, incurable things) things that they might have considered impossible until they met Him. All of a sudden, this man, who could disappear from the midst of an angry crowd that wanted to stone Him (John 8:59), lets Himself be taken, beaten by Jews and Romans, and then crucified as a common criminal.
Let us consider their upbringing. They were born and raised in the tradition of the Jews. Thus, their whole lives they had been taught of a Messiah was one who would come and overthrow the Roman Empire. He would be a Captain, a mighty man of war, the Lord of Hosts who would fight the battles of the Jews and emerge victorious. (See BD Messiah) Though it had become more clear to them that His role might have been different, they likely still had that in their minds. And though He spoke of His own death, few, if any, probably completely understood it. (Consider the account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-21)

What had happened? How could all of these things come crashing down so suddenly? Hadn’t He just been received in Jerusalem with waving palm fronds, people throwing their cloaks at His feet? Where was the hope that He would be recognized as the King He was? It had been so real just days ago. And now, here they were, gathered still in faith, yet surrounded by fear and uncertainty.
Temporal: What will happen to our families?
Physical: What will happen to us? The Jews hated them and probably had some very creative ways planned to show it (Stoning of Stephen as an example).
Emotional: Their Friend, the best Man they had ever known, the epitome of Goodness, had just been killed in front of them. That alone is enough to weigh down a man’s soul.
Spiritual: Was He the Messiah? What does all of this mean now? What was the purpose of all He taught? What had He said about rising again? I don’t even remember….


Christ understood all of this, so when He stood and said, “Peace be unto you”, He really meant it. His very presence, plus this declaration, was the answer to all the questions and uncertainties they had been feeling. This was, for them and for us, a moment of deliverance. This moment was what changed Peter, John, and the other disciples. They went from hiding “for fear of the Jews”, (John 20:19) to openly healing a man lame from birth, teaching in the Temple, boldly testifying of Christ before the Sanhedrin, and refusing to be silenced by their threats (Acts 3; 4:21,29-30). For them, His resurrection meant hope where hope was dead, light where pitch black darkness had reigned, understanding took the place of confusion, and love cast out fear.  They understood more that He had come to overthrow not the Roman Empire, but something much larger (death, uncertainty, fear).

This makes me think about the impact of the Resurrection in my life. In a predominantly Christian nation many of us just accept that Christ was resurrected, and that is about it. But in church we discussed why it is important to remember that this is literally an act of God. (THE act of God)
What kind of change can be made in my life from allowing the Resurrection of the Savior to truly impact me. What uncertainties and doubts could it remove, as it did for these early disciples.
It’s still something I am trying to wrestle with and grasp. But I feel and believe now that the Resurrection offers more than just a promise that we will live again. I believe it may offer a promise that we may live.