2010 Sermon Series

Jesus in the Gospel of John

Easter Sunday – Sunday, April 4

The Resurrection and the Life

John 11:25-26 and 20:1-2, 19-20

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”

¹ Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed 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.” ¹⁹ When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Monday, April 5 – Mary Magdalene. In this week’s readings we’re going to savor the Easter story and study it in more detail. In each of the four gospels, Mary Magdalene is mentioned as being present to discover the empty tomb. Read Luke 8:2-3 where she is among the women who supported Jesus. Some in the early church believed she was also the woman described in Luke 7:36-50. Read this passage. Whether she had been a prostitute or had only been “demon possessed” she would have still been utterly transformed by Jesus and his love. How does faith in Christ and experiencing his love change us? With her background in mind, read John 20:1-18. Why did Mary come to the tomb while it was still dark? Describe her emotional state at each point in this story. Why did the disciples apparently not believe her story of the resurrection? How do you identify with Mary and her experiences?

Tuesday, April 6 – Peter and John. The last time we see Peter in the gospel of John, prior to the resurrection, is in John 18:15-18 and 18:25-27. Read these passages. How do you think Peter felt following his denial, especially in the hours after Jesus’ crucifixion? When John was writing his gospel, there were some followers of Jesus who had denied their faith in order to avoid excommunication from the synagogue or persecution from the Romans. How would Peter’s story have helped them? In what ways have you denied Jesus Christ either by your actions or your words? Read John 20:1-9 looking to see what you might learn about Peter from this passage. We’ll read about Peter’s restoration later in the week. John is “the other disciple” mentioned here (as the narrator, he does not use his own name and speaks of himself in the third person.) Notice that he believes when he sees the grave clothes in the tomb – but what does he believe? He doesn’t yet understand about the resurrection, but the grave clothes are clearly a sign for him that Jesus has conquered death. If someone had stolen Jesus’ body they would not have taken him away naked, but would have left the grave clothes on him.

Wednesday, April 7 – The Disciples and Thomas. Notice in the story that only Peter and John had the courage to run to the tomb. The other disciples had been afraid to leave their hiding place, lest the Jewish leaders arrest them also and crucify them. Read John 20:19-23. What were the disciples feeling before seeing Jesus? What did Jesus offer them? How do we find peace through faith in Christ’s resurrection? Notice the re-creation motif that John has hinted at throughout chapter 20: Creation brought light out of darkness, as Mary Magdalene came to the tomb while it was dark, but soon discovered that Jesus, the light of the world, had overcome the darkness. Creation took place on the first day of the week, as did the resurrection. Adam and Eve were created and placed in a garden, and Jesus was buried and resurrected in a garden. God “breathed” into Adam the breath of life and Jesus breathes on the disciples the Holy Spirit. What might John have meant for us to understand about the importance of the resurrection by making these parallels and leaving these clues? Read John 20:24-31. Why did John include this story about Thomas? How might it have been meant to help us? Notice the crowning statement of the gospel about the true identity of Jesus if found in verse 28. Finally, read the theme verses of the gospel – verses 30-31. What does this mean?

Thursday, April 8 – The Miraculous Catch of Fish. Read John 21:1-14. Why does John tell us this story? Have you ever felt like you had fished all night and caught nothing? What does this story teach us about life lived in obedience to Christ? Notice which disciple first is able to tell that this is Jesus! The number of fish caught (153) probably has significance but scholars are uncertain today – but the idea of the fish likely was pointing toward the mission of the church – to be fishers of people – and a pointer toward the success the church would have in reaching people. What do you learn about Jesus and about the disciples here?

Friday, April 9 – Peter and John’s Fate. Read John 21:15-25. Note the number of times Jesus asks Peter this question, the number corresponds to the number of times Peter denied Jesus. What is Peter to do as his mission from God? What does this mean? How will Peter die? Tradition says that he was crucified upside down. Scholars believe this last section was added to the gospel after John’s death. Why? What have you learned in our study of John’s Gospel.

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Sermon Notes