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Jesus replaces Thomas’ doubt with faith. We are able to see Jesus’ remarkable work in people’s lives through Thomas’ doubt, Jesus’ compassion, and our belief. It is good to understand Thomas’ doubt. His doubt was sin, since he Jesus was under no obligation to prove himself to Thomas. However, When Thomas realized that Jesus had fulfilled his promises, Thomas |
十二弟子のひとりで、デドモと呼ばれているトマスは、イエスがこられたとき、彼らと一緒にいなかった。25 ほかの弟子たちが、彼に「わたしたちは主にお目にかかった」と言うと、トマスは彼らに言った、「わたしは、その手に釘あとを見、わたしの指をその釘あとにさし入れ、また、わたしの手をそのわきにさし入れてみなければ、決して信じない」。26 八日ののち、イエスの弟子たちはまた家の内におり、トマスも一緒にいた。戸はみな閉ざされていたが、イエスがはいってこられ、中に立って「安かれ」と言われた。27 それからトマスに言われた、「あなたの指をここにつけて、わたしの手を見なさい。手をのばしてわたしのわきにさし入れてみなさい。信じない者にならないで、信じる者になりなさい」。28 トマスはイエスに答えて言った、「わが主よ、わが神よ」。29 イエスは彼に言われた、「あなたはわたしを見たので信じたのか。見ないで信ずる者は、さいわいである」。 |
John 20:19-23
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.”
After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples. In every New
Testament account of his appearance, he commissions his disciples to
carry on the ministry that he began during his time here on earth.
Throughout this age, he continues his work in the world through his
people.
The disciples, and all other Christians, are given a message of peace.
As they have found peace with God, so they must take this message of
peace to other people in the world.
Jesus sends out all of his followers as he had been sent. Just as
Jesus obeyed the Father, so Jesus’ followers are to obey all of his
commands. Jesus was sent from heaven to earth to bring the message of
salvation to men. His followers, though they are no longer a part of
the world in an important sense, are sent back into the world to bring
it the message of salvation. Jesus, the Son of God, had the fullness
of the Holy Spirit resting upon him throughout his ministry.
Likewise, the followers of Jesus are called the children of God, and
they have the Holy Spirit living within them. The picture is one in
which Jesus sends his followers as his representatives to a lost
world.
John 20:11-18
Those who love Jesus the most diligently are often the ones that
receive the greatest rewards from him. Mary Magdalene loved Jesus
with all of her heart, mind, soul, and strength; and she was given the
great blessing of being the first to see him risen from the grave.
The story of Mary’s love for Jesus began long before the crucifixion.
Jesus had worked a remarkable act of grace in her life, saving her
from seven demons that controlled her. It is true that those who have
been saved from something terrible will often have a great love for
the person that saved them. Mary had this sort of a love. She helped
to support Jesus’ ministry financially, she was there at the cross
when he died, and she put spices on the grave later on. She loved her
savior more than life itself.
Jesus rewarded Mary’s love for him in several ways. All of Jesus’
followers were upset because of his death, but Mary was the first to
be reassured that her fears were needless. From this, we learn that
our fears are often needless as well.
Jesus rewarded Mary by reminding her that he was God as well as man,
and that he would soon ascend to be with God the Father. There, he
would make sure that she would have a home in heaven (John 14:2), send
the Holy Spirit (John 16:7), and ultimately return to earth again to
raise the dead (John 14:3). He will do the same for all of us who
love him as well.
Jesus rewarded Mary by his kind and gracious words. Though she had
doubted him, he lifted her up again and did not judge her for her
sins. He sent her to go and tell the disciples (who had doubted him
as well) about his resurrection, so that they would be encouraged. By
his death, he is able to forgive the sins of all who love him.
John 20:1-10
The followers of Jesus were very confused. Even though Jesus said
he was going to die and be resurrected, they could not accept that it
would actually happen. Their culture did not permit them to believe
that the Messiah would be defeated. After Jesus died, they did not
know what to do. This passage of scripture marks the beginning of
radical change in their lives. God is beginning to remove their
confusion and replace it with understanding.
The passage focuses on two of Jesus’ followers, Peter and John.
They ran to the tomb and saw the traditional linen cloths and spices
laying there, but there was no body. Gradually, the light finally
dawned on John: His master had risen from the dead. His life was
changed, and your life will be changed if you can understand what he
understood.
The resurrection is important to our faith, because it assures us
that our Savior has conquered sin and death in our behalf. It is
important to our witness to others, because it allows us to tell the
world that Jesus has proven that he is able to give eternal life. No
other religion can say this. It is also important to our hope, since
we know that we will be raised like he was raised.
