Lesson 55: John 20:19-31 - Jesus’ Appearance to His 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.”
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.”
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.
Jesus was busy that Sunday after He rose from the dead. First, He had comforted Mary Magdalene who had stayed near the tomb when the others left. Then, as we read in Luke 24, He walked much of the 6 miles between Jerusalem and Emmaus with two disciples, explaining from Scriptural prophecies how all these things had happened just as God had predicted them in the Old Testament. Now, in these verses, Jesus came to comfort His disciples.
The disciples, afraid and hiding behind locked doors, suddenly had a visitor – Jesus! And He spoke peace to them. He returned to His disciples a week later when they were all present, because He cared even about Thomas who wasn’t sure he believed the other disciples’ report about seeing Jesus alive.
John also tells us who were not there with them. He wrote the gospel of John so WE could believe Jesus is truly God as Jesus had claimed all through this book.
*What have you read in this book which makes you believe Jesus is truly God?
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.”
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.”
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.
Jesus was busy that Sunday after He rose from the dead. First, He had comforted Mary Magdalene who had stayed near the tomb when the others left. Then, as we read in Luke 24, He walked much of the 6 miles between Jerusalem and Emmaus with two disciples, explaining from Scriptural prophecies how all these things had happened just as God had predicted them in the Old Testament. Now, in these verses, Jesus came to comfort His disciples.
The disciples, afraid and hiding behind locked doors, suddenly had a visitor – Jesus! And He spoke peace to them. He returned to His disciples a week later when they were all present, because He cared even about Thomas who wasn’t sure he believed the other disciples’ report about seeing Jesus alive.
John also tells us who were not there with them. He wrote the gospel of John so WE could believe Jesus is truly God as Jesus had claimed all through this book.
*What have you read in this book which makes you believe Jesus is truly God?