Class Notes from Sunday, March 27

The resurrection appearances of Jesus, John 20-21

Tom led the class. We got through Chapter 20 and will complete Chapter 21 on 4/3.

The gospel writer views Jesus death very much as a victory. At the time the disciples did not understand that victory until after Jesus death when He had resurrected. Further, the Holy Spirit, while foretold, was not present until after Jesus resurrection.

The Empty Tomb, John 20:1-10

Mary arrives while still dark, during the last watch of the night, proi (3 AM to 6 AM). Here we sees John's emphasis of darkness as un-belief.

The beloved disciple is first back to tomb. Stops but Peter charges in. They find the burial clothes rolled up and folded neatly. There is no mention of the stone having been moved. The beloved disciple sees the folded clothes and that is when he believes that Jesus has resurrected. When Lazarus raised from the dead, he came from the tomb still wrapped in the burial clothes. Here we see Jesus burial clothes are neatly folded. If grave robbers or "the Jews" had stolen the body, they would have likely done it in haste and not have neatly folded the clothes. This observation is presumably revealed to the beloved disciple, purportedly John the gospel writer, that Jesus was now resurrected in body.

Reason for detail here about observations is that Jesus knew that everyone would come to believe the resurrection through different means.

Mary in the Garden, John 20:11-18

We see Mary weeping and crying suggesting she has no concept of the resurrection. Two angels appear, which is similar to the account in Luke. Jesus also appears but Mary does not recognize him at first. There has been much discussion between theologians that either Jesus appearance is altered. However, most assumed that Mary is so wrapped up in grief and crying she does not recognize.

A difficult package here is when Jesus tells Mary not to hold onto him for he has not ascended to the Father. Meanings are varied. One which we discussed in class is that Jesus is telling Mary that is is a new day, do not cling to the past. The Greek words used here are "me aptou" which means don't touch me. Very similar to this is "me ptoou" which means don't be afraid. It is possible that the Greek was mis-translated.

Closed room appearances, John 20:19-29In the first appearance, Thomas was not there. Also, in the early church the impression was that Jesus there in spirit only. This is the doctrine of docetism. However, John the gospel writer makes clear that Jesus there in bodily form and that this is a physical resurrection.

Jesus breathes on the disciples and they receive the Holy Spirit. Some say this is when the disciples became apostles. See our previous posts on this here.

Key passage from Jesus which is transitional in nature.

²⁹Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

Here we see Jesus making the transition to evangelism and gaining believers through faith even though they have not seen.