This week we shall finish the study
of the Gospel of John.
“The Preparation” had become a technical term for the “Preparation for the Sabbath” that is Friday, and according to the Jewish law the dead body of an executed criminal was not to remain all night “on the tree” (Deuteronomy 21:23), but was to be buried that same day. (NICNT, John, 722)
(1) How does the request to remove the dead bodies from the cross speak to the double standard of the Jews in terms of not wanting to desecrate their land?
(2) The breaking of the legs presumably would speed up the death of the crucified ones so that they would not be able to breathe; and the flow of blood and water from Jesus’ body also seems to indicate the fact that He was dead. What is the significance of the following details?
a. The fact that Jesus’ legs were not broken (see Ps. 34:20; Exod. 12:46; Num. 9:12 about Passover regulations)
b. The piercing of the side of Christ (see Zech. 12:10)
(3) As this incident so described is peculiar to John’s Gospel, what reasons does he give for including this account in his writing? (Jn. 19:35-36)
(4) Does the reading of this account strengthen your faith? Why or why not?
(5) What risk were Joseph and Nicodemus taking in asking for Jesus’ body for a proper burial?
(6) What might have motivated them to do so now?
(7) 75 pounds of embalming spices seemed quite excessive (but fit for a king’s burial, see 2 Chr. 16:14). How would you compare this embalming of Jesus when He was dead to the anointing by Mary when He was alive in John 12:1ff?
(8) The colt Jesus used to enter Jerusalem was one that no one had ridden on (Mk. 11:2), and now He was buried in a tomb that no one had ever used. Do you think they were mere coincidences? What might be the message behind them?
(9) When we read the last few words of this chapter, we might get a sense that Jesus finally rested! But how different was this rest from that of the death of any human being?
(10) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Can you imagine what Mary Magdalene and the other women must have gone through in the last two nights leading up to this morning?
(2) Why did these women run to the tomb so early by themselves? (see Note below)
(3) Who was Mary Magdalene? (See Lk. 8:2)
(4) Based on what Mary told Peter and John, what did she think had happened?
(5) It is rather unusual for John to write this account all in the present tenses (although the NIV translates all the verbs in the past tense). Can you imagine why?
(6) John describes the burial cloth as “folded up”. What might the significance be?
(7) Peter and John ran to see what happened. They saw and believed the words of the women, but not Christ’s resurrection. Why? Did Jesus not tell them of it in advance many times? Which of the following might be the reason?
a. Their spirits were simply too shattered.
b. They felt completely betrayed by Jesus.
c. They felt guilty of their own betrayal of Jesus.
d. They were too afraid of the Jews (20:19).
e. They were too “slow of heart” (Lk. 24:25).
f. It was simply too incredible.
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
Note:
Perhaps, it is helpful to set out the order of events on Easter morning by combining the accounts of the four Gospels.
- In the early morning, the women went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His body. (Mk. 16:2-3)
- Three of the women were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James) and Salome and they were followed by other women. (Mk. 16:1 and Lk. 24:10)
- The three women found that the stone had been removed by an angel. (Matt. 28:2).
- Mary Magdalene hurried to tell Peter and John, who then ran toward the tomb. (Jn. 20:2-4)
- Then, Mary (the mother of James), Salome and then the other women arrived at the tomb, entered it and saw angels who assured them Jesus had risen. They ran in joy and fear back to inform the disciples. (Matt. 28:8)
- Peter and John arrived and saw the empty tomb without understanding and left. (Jn. 20: 4-10)
- Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb (outrun by Peter and John) and stood there weeping, and Jesus revealed Himself to her. (Jn. 20:11-18)
- As the other women returned to tell the disciples, Jesus appeared to them. (Matt. 28:9-10)
(1) Why did the two disciples decide to go home?
(2) Why did Mary Magdalene decide to stay at the tomb, all by herself?
(3) Why were the angels there in your opinion? What were they there for?
(4) Why didn’t they simply tell Mary what had happened? Instead they asked her why she was crying? Wasn’t it obvious?
(5) What did Mary address Jesus as in v. 13?
(6) Why didn’t she recognize Jesus?
(7) Why did Jesus also choose to ask instead of tell her the truth?
(8) What did she intend to do with Jesus?
(9) What did Jesus ask Mary to tell the disciples? What is the significance of His words?
(10) Tactically, what should be more important: Appearing to the disciples first or to Mary first? Why then did the Lord choose to appear to Mary first?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Can you imagine what might the disciples be discussing before Jesus’ appearance to them, following the report of the women and of Peter and John?
(2) Since Jesus said, “Peace be with you” to them at least twice, it would not be a standard greeting. How important were such words to the disciples at the time, and what might it mean to them to see Jesus even though the doors were locked?
(3) How significant was it for Jesus to show “the nail marks in His hands” and the scar on His side to the disciples?
(4) Are these scars of defeat or of victory?
(5) Consider the following things that Jesus did right at His first appearance to all the disciples, things all within the context of their being commissioned:
a. What is meant by “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you”? Does it refer to “what”, “how” or “why”?
b. How significant is the receiving of the Holy Spirit by the disciples (especially in light of their being sent)?
c. V. 23 appears to link the commission to “forgiveness”. How are the two related?
d. On what is forgiveness based throughout the teaching of the Scriptures? (See 1 Jn. 1:9)
(6) What might be the reason that Thomas was not there a week ago with the disciples? Why did he refuse to believe the collective witnesses of so many disciples? What might be his reasoning?
(7) Do you think Thomas did put his fingers into Jesus’ hands and side? Why or why not?
(8) How would you have responded if you were Thomas? Why did he say, “My Lord and My God”? What did he mean?
(9) Why are those who believe without seeing blessed? In what sense are they blessed? Are you?
(10) At these words, John draws a conclusion to his Gospel account:
a. What is the purpose of the writing of the Gospel of John?
b. Do you think the Gospel of John has served his purpose? Why or why not?
(11) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
John pointed out that this was the third appearance of Jesus to the disciples (v. 14). It seems that this particular appearance took place within the context of Jesus’ command in Matthew 28:7, 10; Mark 14:28.
(1) There were only seven disciples mentioned here, where might the rest be?
(2) Simon said, “I’m going out to fish”. Did he mean to do it for fun, to kill time while waiting for Jesus, or to attempt to return to his former profession? (Note that he appeared to be using nets to catch a full load and not for "recreational fishing".)
(3) How similar was the whole setting with that in Luke 5? Was it accidental?
(4) Since they did not recognize Jesus or His voice, what made John suddenly realize, “It is the Lord” ?
(5) Why did Peter jump into the water and yet when he and the other six disciples reached the shore, they dared not to talk to Jesus? Do you think they even looked directly at Jesus? Why or why not?
(6) Why did Jesus choose to repeat this miracle of Luke 5?
(7) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Given the preceding context, what might be the most likely conclusion about what Jesus meant by “more than these”? Can you list two possibilities?
(2) Jesus has purposely changed Simon’s name to Peter in John 1:42. Why did He choose to call him Simon as He questioned him three times? What might be the message?
(3) Irrespective of what language Jesus actually spoke in, John, as inspired by the Holy Spirit, clearly uses a play on words here with the word “love” as follows:
a. 1st question: “Do you love (agape) me?”
Peter’s reply: “I love (phileo) you.”b. 2nd question: “Do you truly love (agape) me?” Peter’s reply: “I love (phileo) you.”
c. 3rd question: Jesus changed to asking, “Do you love (phileo) me?”
Peter’s reply: “I love (phileo) you.”
While modern scholars try to downplay the difference between the use of the two words “agape”, God’s kind of love, and “phileo", personal affection, the play on words cannot be mistaken (see Meditative Reflection article of today). What might this tell you, both about Jesus and Peter?
(4) Why did Jesus respond to Peter’s replies with the emphasis on the feeding or taking care of His sheep?
(5) Why was Jesus so concerned if Peter loved Him, especially with “agape” love?
(6) If the Lord asks you today the same question, what would your answer be?
(7) While Jesus responded to Peter's answers to His questions with feeding of His sheep, what do you think He expects of you today?
(8) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?
(1) Why did Jesus say, “Follow me” to Peter? Had he not followed Jesus for three years already? Did it not mean he might have stopped following? What really had happened to Peter?
(2) In repeating His call to Peter, why did He have to foretell Peter’s future in v. 18?
(3) What was Peter’s immediate reply to this repeated call? What does it tell you about Peter, even at this time?
(4) What was Jesus’ reply to Peter’s response to His call? What was Jesus’ emphasis?
(5) Reflect on this third appearance of Jesus: What, in your opinion, was the core reason for Jesus’ 3rd appearance? What was its significance?
(6) From the last two verses of the entire gospel (21:24-25), write down in your own words the concluding points of John about his gospel:
a. Who was John? How special was he among the disciples?
b. Why was he qualified to write this gospel?
c. How did he qualify the contents of his gospel?
d. What was the purpose of his writing? (Refer back to 20:30-31)
(7) Reread John 1:1-14, and summarize the main points of John’s witness or testimony.
(8) Do you think he has presented a powerful enough testimony to back up all the points he has made?
(9) What is the main message to you today and how may you apply it to your life?