Jesus really was raised from the dead. The tomb really was empty on Easter morning. Jesus’ followers really did meet him alive again. The resurrection did happen. The best historical explanation for the origin of Christianity is that it really is true. Jesus is alive today!
John records four resurrection appearances of Jesus – the first three of which are in this passage. In these appearances we see not only some of the evidence, but also some of the results of the resurrection.
Awe and amazement
There is something indefinably firsthand about the account of Jesus's appearance to Mary. There is nothing quite like it in all ancient literature.
In the culture of the day, a woman’s testimony would not have been considered as weighty as that of a man. If the disciples had been making this up, they would not have devised the first appearance as being to Mary Magdalene.
Jesus does not make a triumphant appearance to signify his victory. He appears to Mary – the loved one, the forgiven one – alone in a garden, with gentle love.
This shows a huge amount about Jesus’ respect for women. By this act, and others during his life on earth, he laid the foundation for a revolution in the world’s attitude to women. Sadly, it has taken 2,000 years and we are still not there yet.
Jesus does not ask Mary what she is looking for. He asks, ‘Who is it you are you looking for?’ (v.15).
Mary’s response is one of awe and amazement. As she realised it was Jesus, she cried out in Aramaic, ‘“Rabboni!” (which means Teacher)’ (v.16).
He explains to her that she must not try to hold on to him (v.17). She must begin a new, more internal relationship with the risen Jesus, he in her and she in him (which will be fulfilled with the gift of the Spirit).
It is not enough to know the evidence of the facts of the resurrection. We need a personal encounter with the resurrected Jesus.
Joy and peace
The world is desperately searching for happiness and peace of mind. The supreme source of joy and peace is a relationship with Jesus.
Mary rushed off to tell the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord!’ (v.18). Jesus’ appearance to the disciples brought them overwhelming joy (v.20). Three times he says to them, ‘Peace be with you!’ (vv.19,21,26) – the inner peace that flows from his presence.
Faith in Jesus brings joy and peace to all who believe. Jesus said to Thomas, ‘Blessed and happy and to be envied are those who have never seen me and yet have believed’ (v.29, AMP).
In this short encounter, Jesus transformed the group of frightened, confused individuals into a community of love, joy and peace.
Purpose and power
Jesus gives them a new sense of purpose: ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’ (v.21). The resurrection is the message of hope for the world. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. There is life beyond the grave. This gives your life on earth a whole new meaning and purpose. You are sent out by Jesus to proclaim this message to the world.
Finally, he also gave them power. He ‘breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven”’ (vv.22–23). The Holy Spirit provides the strength and authority for you to forgive.
The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to you. He gives you the power of his Holy Spirit and the power of his word to declare the message of God’s forgiveness to human beings. This is the message that brings eternal life.
Respect and reverence
Thomas was a cynic; sceptical and full of doubt. I think I would probably have had the same response as him when he said, ‘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 it’ (v.25).
He must have felt so humbled when Jesus appeared to him and said, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe’ (v.27).
The wounds of Jesus are there for all time to reveal the humble and forgiving love of Jesus. Jesus accepts Thomas just as he is. He accepts his challenge without complaint or criticism.
Do not feel guilty about having doubts. Like Thomas, be honest about your doubts and bring them to Jesus. When Jesus answered his doubts, Thomas’ response was the pinnacle of respect, reverence and awe. He said, ‘My Lord and my God!’ (v.28). From a place of having doubted, Thomas makes perhaps the strongest statement of Jesus’ divinity in all of the Gospels. He is the first person to look at Jesus and call him ‘God’. He said, in effect, ‘Wow!’
Jesus went on to tell him that belief leads to blessing (v.29). In fact, it leads to life. Belief and life go hand in hand in John’s Gospel (v.31), because, if you believe in Jesus you have life. This is real life of high quality, an abundant life (10:10) that goes on forever (3:16).
John’s whole reason for writing his Gospel was 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’ (20:31). The resurrection is the basis of our hope for life before death, as well as beyond it.