The Strand Study Bible

JOHN JOHN The evidence of His suffering was a scarred resurrected body (Jn 20:26-27) to which He would forever be confined ( I Cor 15:28 – point #1). Immediately after this incident with Mary, CHRIST returned to the FATHER and then returned to earth where He showed Himself to the other woman who had been with Mary earlier that morning (Mk 16:1 and Lk 24:10), and they clung to Him with great delight (Mt 28:9-10). That afternoon Jesus would show himself to the two disciples on the Emmaus road (Mk 16:12-13 and Lk 24:13-35), and they too would cling to Him as they constrained Him to stay with them (Lk 24:29). Then later that evening, Jesus would meet with ten of the eleven disciples, Thomas being absent (Mk 16:14, Lk 24:36-43, Jn 20:19-25). One week later, Jesus would meet with all eleven disciples (Jn 20:26), and would ask Thomas to touch his hands and His side (Jn 20:27). Touching Jesus is as important to us “as touching us” is important to Him (Jn 10:3-4,14). 20:17b Notice carefully the statement that Jesus made here in John 20:17. He never said, “ I ascend unto our Father and our God .” He clearly said: I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. The relationship in which men stood to God is to be greatly distinguished from the relationship in which Jesus stood to God. While it is true that Jesus taught his disciples to address God in prayer as “ Our Father ” (Mt 6:9), He never used that phrase to include himself. He spoke of God as “ my Father ” and “ your Father, ” but never as “our Father.” Jesus made it crystal clear that he had a different relationship with the Father than we do. His relationship, according to the Bible, was one of equality with Divinity. The Jews caught the implication, called it blasphemy, and sought to have him killed on more than one occasion (Mk 2:1-7 and Jn 5:17-18 & 10:30,33). 20:17 c Whereas “ my FATHER ” is the language of deity ( Jn 5:17,18 a & 10:30,33 and Phil 2:6 ), “ my GOD ” is the language of humanity and thus inequality with deity (due to the price of sin - Mt 27:46 ). To be sure, Jesus never sacrificed His deity (His equality of essence - Jn 17:5) at Calvary, only certain aspects of His eternal authority ( I Cor 15:28 ). NOTE - – Jesus is not saying here that He has a God, as some cults teach ( Eph 1:17 ). The FATHER , the SON , and the HOLY SPIRIT are three distinct, co-eternal persons, called the Godhead ( Gen 1:1c , 26a , Deut 6:4 and Rom 1:20b ). They are all equally God and each O N E is worthy of our worship ( Jn 4:20-25 & 9:35-38 and Acts 5:4 ). 20:23 What Jesus committed to his disciples here was the right to declare, in His name, that forgiveness of sins ( they are remitted ) was possible through the acceptance of what He would do through the Gospel (Mt 16:19 & 18:18). The Bible does not teach that certain men have the right to act as mediators - to forgive or not to forgive sins. The Bible speaks plainly - only God can forgive sins (Isa 43:25 and Mk 2:5-7). 20:24 If you’ll note, Thomas “ was not with them. ” Those who stay on a spiritual schedule, never miss out on the spiritual opportunities God has for them. THE ADAGE IS TRUE: You never know what you miss until you miss 20:25 Apparently God left the “ print of the nails ” in Jesus’ hands and the scar in His side as proof of His identity. Thomas responded in verse 28 by worshipping Jesus as God. 20:29 Sadly, there are some believers, like Thomas, that have to “see” a miracle before they “become” the miracle they need to be for God ( Jn 4:48 ). If you’ve been birthed into the family of God via the Gospel, then you “are” the miracle ( Gen 4:1a ). You don’t need to “see” a miracle in order to “be” the miracle. Robert R. Gustafson in Authors of Confusion notes: The truth of the matter is that as Christians we must not seek an emotional experience to give us proof or awareness of God, for clearly such experiences can be and are misleading. 2 1766

1 Powell, Ivor. John’s Wonderful Gospel , Grand Rapids, MI, Kregel Pub., 1962. Print. 2 Gustafson, Robert R. Authors of Confusion , Tampa, FLA, Grace Pub., 1971 . Print.