WilliamBarclay'sDailyStudy

Bible
John20
Verses131
Chapter20
BEWILDEREDLOVE(John20:110)
20:110Onthefirstdayoftheweek,veryearlyinthemorning,
whileitwasstilldark,MaryfromMagdalacametothetomb
andshesawthestonetakenawayfromthetomb.Sosheran
andcametoSimonPeter,andtotheotherdisciplewhomJesus
loved,andshesaidtothem:"TheyhavetakentheLordaway
fromthetomb,andwedonotknowwheretheyhavelaidhim."
SoPeterwentoutwiththeotherdisciple,andtheysetoutfor
thetomb.Thetwowererunningtogether.Theotherdiscipleran
onaheadfasterthanPeter,andhewasthefirsttocometothe
tomb.Hestoopeddownandhesawthelinenclotheslying
there,buthedidnotgoin.ThenSimonPetercame,following
him,andhewentintothetomb.Hesawthelinenclotheslying
thereandhesawthenapkin,whichhadbeenuponJesus'head,
notlyingwiththerestofthelinenclothes,butlyingapartfrom
them,stillinitsfolds,byitself.Sothen,theotherdisciple,who
hadarrivedfirstatthetomb,wentintoo,andhesaw,and
believed.Forasyettheydidnotrealizethemeaningof
scripture,thatJesusshouldrisefromthedead.Sothedisciples
wentbacktotheirlodgings.
NooneeverlovedJesussomuchasMaryMagdalene.Hehaddonesomethingfor
herthatnooneelsecouldeverdo,andshecouldneverforget.Traditionhasalways
haditthatMarywasascarletsinner,whomJesusreclaimedandforgaveand
purified.HenryKingsleyhasalovelypoemabouther.
"MagdalenatMichael'sgate
Tirledatthepin
OnJoseph'sthornsangtheblackbird,
'Letherin!Letherin!'
'Hastthouseenthewounds?'saidMichael,
'Knowestthouthysin?'
'Itisevening,evening,'sangtheblackbird,
'Letherin!Letherin!'
'Yes,Ihaveseenthewounds,
AndIknowmysin.'
'Sheknowsitwell,well,well,'sangtheblackbird.

'Letherin!Letherin!'
'Thoubringestnoofferings,'saidMichael,
'Noughtsavesin.'
Andtheblackbirdsang,'Sheissorry,sorry,sorry.'
'Letherin!Letherin!'
Whenhehadsunghimselftosleep,
Andnightdidbegin,
OnecameandopenedMichael'sgate,
AndMagdalenwentin."
Maryhadsinnedmuchandshelovedmuchandlovewasallshehadtobring.
ItwasthecustominPalestinetovisitthetombofalovedoneforthreedaysafter
thebodyhadbeenlaidtorest.Itwasbelievedthatforthreedaysthespiritofthe
deadpersonhoveredroundthetombbutthenitdepartedbecausethebodyhad
becomeunrecognizablethroughdecay.Jesus'friendscouldnotcometothetombon
theSabbath,becausetomakethejourneythenwouldhavebeentobreakthelaw.
Sabbathis,ofcourse,ourSaturday,soitwasonSundaymorningthatMarycameto
thetomb.Shecameveryearly.Thewordusedforearlyisproi(Greek#4404)which
wasthetechnicalwordforthelastofthefourwatchesintowhichthenightwas
divided,thatwhichranfrom3a.m.to6a.m.ItwasstillgreydarkwhenMarycame,
becauseshecouldnolongerstayaway.
Whenshearrivedatthetombshewasamazedandshocked.Tombsinancient
timeswerenotcommonlyclosedbydoors.Infrontoftheopeningwasagroovein
thegroundandinthegrooveranastone,circularlikeacartwheelandthestone
waswheeledintopositiontoclosetheopening.FurtherMatthewtellsusthatthe
authoritieshadactuallysealedthestonetomakesurethatnoonewouldmoveit
(Matthew27:66).Marywasastonishedtofinditremoved.Twothingsmayhave
enteredhermind.ShemayhavethoughtthattheJewshadtakenawayJesus'body
that,notsatisfiedwithkillinghimonacross,theywereinflictingfurtherindignitieson
him.Buttherewereghoulishcreatureswhomadeittheirbusinesstorobtombsand
Marymayhavethoughtthatthishadhappenedhere.
ItwasasituationMaryfeltthatshecouldnotfaceherselfsoshereturnedtothe
citytoseekoutPeterandJohn.Maryisthesupremeinstanceofonewhowenton
lovingandbelievingevenwhenshecouldnotunderstandandthatistheloveand
thebeliefwhichintheendfindsglory.
THEGREATDISCOVERY(John20:110continued)
OneoftheilluminatingthingsinthisstoryisthatPeterwasstilltheacknowledged
leaderoftheapostolicband.ItwastohimthatMarywent.Inspiteofhisdenialof
JesusandastorylikethatwouldnotbelonginbeingbroadcastPeterwasstillthe
leader.WeoftentalkofPeter'sweaknessandinstability,buttheremusthavebeen
somethingoutstandingaboutamanwhocouldfacehisfellowmenafterthat
disastrouscrashintocowardicetheremusthavebeensomethingaboutaman
whomotherswerepreparedtoacceptasleaderevenafterthat.Hismoment's
weaknessmustneverblindustothemoralstrengthandstatureofPeter,andtothe
factthathewasabornleader.
So,then,itwastoPeterandJohnthatMarywentandtheyimmediatelysetoutfor
thetomb.TheywentatarunandJohn,whomusthavebeenayoungermanthan
Petersincehelivedonuntiltheendofthecentury,outstrippedPeterinthis
breathlessrace.Whentheycametothetomb,Johnlookedinbutwentnofarther.
Peterwithtypicalimpulsivenessnotonlylookedin,butwentin.Forthemoment
PeterwasonlyamazedattheemptytombbutthingsbegantohappeninJohn's
mind.IfsomeonehadremovedJesus'body,iftombrobbershadbeenatwork,why
shouldtheyleavethegraveclothes?

Thensomethingelsestruckhimthegraveclotheswerenotdishevelledand
disarranged.TheywerelyingtherestillintheirfoldsthatiswhattheGreekmeans
theclothesforthebodywherethebodyhadbeenthenapkinwheretheheadhad
lain.Thewholepointofthedescriptionisthatthegraveclothesdidnotlookasif
theyhadbeenputoffortakenofftheywerelyingthereintheirregularfoldsasifthe
bodyofJesushadsimplyevaporatedoutofthem.Thesightsuddenlypenetratedto
John'smindherealizedwhathadhappenedandhebelieved.Itwasnotwhathe
hadreadinscripturewhichconvincedhimthatJesushadrisenitwaswhathesaw
withhisowneyes.
Thepartthatloveplaysinthisstoryisextraordinary.ItwasMary,wholovedJesus
somuch,whowasfirstatthetomb.ItwasJohn,thedisciplewhomJesuslovedand
wholovedJesus,whowasfirsttobelieveintheResurrection.Thatmustalwaysbe
John'sgreatglory.Hewasthefirstmantounderstandandtobelieve.Lovegavehim
eyestoreadthesignsandamindtounderstand.
Herewehavethegreatlawoflife.Inanykindofworkitistruethatwecannotreally
interpretthethoughtofanotherperson,unlessbetweenusandhimthereisabondof
sympathy.Itisatonceclear,forinstance,whentheconductorofanorchestraisin
sympathywiththemusicofthecomposerwhoseworkheisconducting.Loveisthe
greatinterpreter.Lovecangraspthetruthwhenintellectisleftgropinganduncertain.
Lovecanrealizethemeaningofathingwhenresearchisblind.Onceayoungartist
broughtapictureofJesustoDoreforhisverdict.Dorewasslowtogiveitbutatlast
hedidsoinonesentence."Youdon'tlovehim,oryouwouldpainthimbetter."We
canneitherunderstandJesusnorhelpotherstounderstandhim,unlesswetakeour
heartstohimaswellasourminds.
THEGREATRECOGNITION(John20:1118)
20:1118ButMarystoodweepingoutsideatthetomb.Asshe
weptshestoopeddown,andlookedintothetomb,andshesaw
twoangelssittingthereinwhiterobes,oneatthehead,andthe
otheratthefeetoftheplacewhereJesus'bodyhadbeenlying.
Theysaidtoher:"Woman,whyareyoucrying?"Shesaidto
them:"BecausetheyhavetakenmyLordaway,andIdonot
knowwheretheyhavelaidhim."Whenshehadsaidthis,she
turnedround,andsawJesusstandingthere,anddidnotknow
thatitwasJesus.Jesussaidtoher:"Woman,whyareyou
crying?Whoareyoulookingfor?"She,thinkingthathewasthe
gardener,saidtohim:"Sir,ifyouarethemanwhohasremoved
him,tellmewhereyouhavelaidhim,andIwilltakehimaway."
Jesussaidtoher:"Mary!"Sheturned,andsaidtohimin
Hebrew,"Rabbouni!"whichmeans,"Master!"Jesussaidtoher:
"Donottouchme!ForIhavenotyetascendedtotheFather.
Butgotomybrethren,andsaytothemthatIamgoingto
ascendtomyFatherandyourFather,tomyGodandyour
God."MaryofMagdalacametothedisciples,tellingthem:"I
haveseentheLord,"andtellingthemwhathehadsaidtoher.
Someonehascalledthisstorythegreatestrecognitionsceneinallliterature.To
MarybelongsthegloryofbeingthefirstpersontoseetheRisenChrist.Thewhole
storyisscatteredwithindicationsofherlove.Shehadcomebacktothetombshe
hadtakenhermessagetoPeterandJohn,andthenmusthavebeenleftbehindin
theirracetothetombsothatbythetimeshegotthere,theyweregone.Soshe
stoodthereweeping.ThereisnoneedtoseekforelaboratereasonswhyMarydid
notknowJesus.Thesimpleandthepoignantfactisthatshecouldnotseehim
throughhertears.
Herwholeconversationwiththepersonshethoughttobethegardenershowsher
love."Ifyouarethemanwhohasremovedhim,tellmewhereyouhavelaidhim."
ShenevermentionedthenameofJesusshethoughteveryonemustknowofwhom
shewasthinkinghermindwassofullofhimthattherewasnotanyoneelseforher
inalltheworld."Iwilltakehimaway."Howwasherwoman'sstrengthtodothat?
Wherewasshegoingtotakehim?Shehadnoteventhoughtoftheseproblems.Her
onedesirewastoweepherloveoverJesus'deadbody.Assoonasshehad
answeredthepersonshetooktobethegardener,shemusthaveturnedagaintothe

tombandsoturnedherbackonJesus.Thencamehissingleword,"Mary!"andher
singleanswer,"Master!"(Rabbouni(Greek#4462)issimplyanAramaicformof
Rabbi(Greek#4461)thereisnodifferencebetweenthewords).
SoweseethereweretwoverysimpleandyetveryprofoundreasonswhyMarydid
notrecognizeJesus.
(i)Shecouldnotrecognizehimbecauseofhertears.Theyblindedhereyessothat
shecouldnotsee.Whenweloseadearone,thereisalwayssorrowinourhearts
andtearsshedorunshedinoureyes.Butonethingwemustalwaysrememberat
suchatimeoursorrowisinessenceselfish.Itisofourloneliness,ourloss,our
desolation,thatwearethinking.Wecannotbeweepingforonewhohasgonetobe
theguestofGoditisforourselvesweweep.Thatisnaturalandinevitable.Atthe
sametime,wemustneverallowourtearstoblindustothegloryofheaven.Tears
theremustbe,butthroughthetearsweshouldglimpsetheglory.
(ii)ShecouldnotrecognizeJesusbecausesheinsistedonfacinginthewrong
direction.Shecouldnottakehereyesoffthetombandsohadherbacktohim.
Againitisoftensowithus.Atsuchatimeoureyesareuponthecoldearthofthe
gravebutwemustwrenchoureyesawayfromthat.Thatisnotwhereourloved
onesaretheirwornoutbodiesmaybetherebuttherealpersonisintheheavenly
placesinthefellowshipofJesusfacetoface,andinthegloryofGod.
Whensorrowcomes,wemustneverlettearsblindoureyestogloryandwemust
neverfastenoureyesuponthegraveandforgettheheavens.AlanWalkerin
Everybody'sCalvarytellsofofficiatingatafuneralforpeopletowhomtheservice
"Wasonlyaform,andwhohadneitherChristianfaithnorChristianconnection.
"Whentheservicewasoverayoungwomanlookedintothegrave,andsaid
brokenly:'Goodbye,father.'ItistheendforthosewhohavenoChristianhope."But
forusatsuchatime,itisliterally"Adieu!""ToGod!"anditisliterally"Untilwemeet
again."
SHARINGTHEGOODNEWS(John20:1118continued)
Thereisoneveryrealdifficultyinthispassage.Whentherecognitionsceneis
complete,atfirstsight,atallevents,JesussaidtoMary:"Touchmenot,forIhave
notyetascendedtotheFather."JustafewverseslaterwefindhiminvitingThomas
totouchhim(John20:27).InLukewereadofhiminvitingtheterrifieddisciples:"See
myhandsandmyfeet,thatitisImyselfhandlemeandseeforaspirithasnot
fleshandbones,asyouseethatIhave"(Luke24:39).InMatthew'sstoryweread
that"theycameupandtookholdofhisfeetandworshippedhim"(Matthew28:9).
EventheformofJohn'sstatementisdifficult.HemakesJesussay:"Donothold
me,forIhavenotyetascendedtotheFather,"asiftosaythathecouldbetouched
afterhehadascended.Noexplanationofthisisfullysatisfying.
(i)Thewholematterhasbeengivenaspiritualsignificance.Ithasbeenarguedthat
theonlyrealcontactwithJesusdoesinfactcomeafterhisAscensionthatitisnot
thephysicaltouchofhandtohandthatisimportant,butthecontactwhichcomes
throughfaithwiththeRisenandEverlivingLord.Thatiscertainlytrueandprecious
butitdoesnotseemtobethemeaningofthepassagehere.
(ii)ItissuggestedthattheGreekisreallyamistranslationofanAramaicoriginal.
JesusofcoursewouldspeakinAramaic,andnotinGreekandwhatJohngivesus
isatranslationintoGreekofwhatJesussaid.ItissuggestedthatwhatJesusreally
saidwas:"HoldmenotbutbeforeIascendtomyFathergotomybrethrenandsay
tothem..."ItwouldbeasifJesussaid:"Donotspendsolonginworshippingmein
thejoyofyournewdiscovery.Goandtellthegoodnewstotherestofthedisciples."
Itmaywellbethatherewehavetheexplanation.TheGreekimperativeisapresent
imperative,andstrictlyspeakingoughttomean:"Stoptouchingme."Itmaybethat
JesuswassayingtoMary:"don'tgoonclutchingmeselfishlytoyourself.Inashort
timeIamgoingbacktomyFather.Iwanttomeetmydisciplesasoftenaspossible
beforethen.Goandtellthemthegoodnewsthatnoneofthetimethatweandthey
shouldhavetogethermaybewasted."Thatwouldmakeexcellentsense,andthatin
factiswhatMarydid.
(iii)Thereisonefurtherpossibility.Intheotherthreegospels,thefearofthosewho

suddenlyrecognizedJesusisalwaysstressed.InMatthew28:10Jesus'wordsare:
"Donotbeafraid."InMark16:8thestoryfinishes:"Fortheywereafraid."InLuke
24:5itissaidthattheywere"frightened."InJohn'sstoryasitstandsthereisno
mentionofthisawestrickenfear.Now,sometimestheeyesofthescribeswho
copiedthemanuscriptsmademistakes,forthemanuscriptswerenoteasytoread.
SomescholarsthinkthatwhatJohnoriginallywrotewasnotME(Greek#3361)
HAPTOU(Greek#680),Donottouchme,but,ME(Greek#3361)PTOOU(Greek
#4422),Donotbeafraid.(TheverbPTOEIN(Greek#4422)meanstoflutterwith
fear.)InthatcaseJesuswassayingtoMary:"Don'tbeafraidIhaven'tgonetomy
FatheryetIamstillherewithyou."
NoexplanationofthissayingofJesusisaltogethersatisfying,butperhapsthe
secondisthebestofthethreewhichwehaveconsidered.
Whateverhappened,JesussentMarybacktothediscipleswiththemessagethat
whathehadsooftentoldthemwasnowabouttohappenhewasonhiswaytohis
fatherandMarycamewiththenews,"IhaveseentheLord."
InthatmessageofMarythereistheveryessenceofChristianity,foraChristianis
essentiallyonewhocansay:"IhaveseentheLord."Christianitydoesnotmean
knowingaboutJesusitmeansknowinghim.Itdoesnotmeanarguingabouthimit
meansmeetinghim.ItmeansthecertaintyofexperiencethatJesusisalive.
THECOMMISSIONOFCHRIST(John20:1923)
20:1923Lateonthatday,thefirstdayoftheweek,whenfor
fearoftheJewsthedoorshadbeenlockedintheplacewhere
thediscipleswere,Jesuscameandstoodinthemidstofthem,
andsaid:"Peacebetoyou."Andwhenhehadsaidthishe
showedthemhishandsandhisside.Sothedisciplesrejoiced
becausetheyhadseentheLord.Jesusagainsaidtothem:
"Peacetoyou.EvenastheFathersentme,soIsendyou."
Whenhehadsaidthis,hebreathedonthemandsaidtothem:
"ReceivetheHolySpirit.Ifyouremitthesinsofany,theyare
remittedifyouretainthemtheyareretained."
Itismostlikelythatthedisciplescontinuedtomeetintheupperroomwherethe
LastSupperhadbeenheld.Buttheymetinsomethingveryliketerror.Theyknew
theenvenomedbitternessoftheJewswhohadcompassedthedeathofJesus,and
theywereafraidthattheirturnwouldcomenext.Sotheyweremeetinginterror,
listeningfearfullyforeverysteponthestairandforeveryknockatthedoor,lestthe
emissariesoftheSanhedrinshouldcometoarrestthemtoo.Astheysatthere,
Jesuswassuddenlyintheirmidst.Hegavethemthenormaleverydayeastern
greeting:"Peacebetoyou."Itmeansfarmorethan:"Mayyoubesavedfrom
trouble."Itmeans:"MayGodgiveyoueverygoodthing."ThenJesusgavethe
disciplesthecommissionwhichtheChurchmustneverforget.
(i)HesaidthatasGodhadsenthimforth,sohesentthemforth.Hereiswhat
Westcottcalled"TheCharteroftheChurch."Itmeansthreethings.
(a)ItmeansthatJesusChristneedstheChurchwhichisexactlywhatPaulmeant
whenhecalledtheChurch"thebodyofChrist"(Ephesians1:231Corinthians
12:12).Jesushadcomewithamessageforallmenandnowhewasgoingbackto
hisFather.Hismessagecouldneverbetakentoallmen,unlesstheChurchtookit.
TheChurchwastobeamouthtospeakforJesus,feettorunuponhiserrands,
handstodohiswork.Therefore,thefirstthingthismeansisthatJesusisdependent
onhisChurch.
(b)ItmeansthattheChurchneedsJesus.Apersonwhoistobesentoutneeds
someonetosendhimheneedsamessagetotakeheneedsapowerandan
authoritytobackhismessageheneedssomeonetowhomhemayturnwhenheis
indoubtandindifficulty.WithoutJesus,theChurchhasnomessagewithouthim
shehasnopowerwithouthimshehasnoonetoturntowhenupagainstitwithout
himshehasnothingtoenlightenhermind,tostrengthenherarm,andtoencourage
herheart.ThismeansthattheChurchisdependentonJesus.

(c)Thereremainsstillanotherthing.ThesendingoutoftheChurchbyJesusis
paralleltothesendingoutofJesusbyGod.Butnoonecanreadthestoryofthe
FourthGospelwithoutseeingthattherelationshipbetweenJesusandGodwas
continuallydependentonJesus'perfectobedienceandperfectlove.Jesuscouldbe
God'smessengeronlybecauseherenderedtoGodthatperfectobedienceandlove.
ItfollowsthattheChurchisfittobethemessengerandtheinstrumentofChristonly
whensheperfectlyloveshimandperfectlyobeyshim.TheChurchmustneverbe
outtopropagatehermessageshemustbeouttopropagatethemessageofChrist.
Shemustneverbeouttofollowmanmadepoliciesshemustbeouttofollowthe
willofChrist.TheChurchfadswhenevershetriestosolvesomeprobleminherown
wisdomandstrength,andleavesoutofaccountthewillandguidanceofJesus
Christ.
(ii)JesusbreathedonhisdisciplesandgavethemtheHolySpirit.Thereisnodoubt
that,whenJohnspokeinthisway,hewasthinkingbacktotheoldstoryofthe
creationofman.Therethewritersays:"AndtheLordGodformedmanofdustfrom
theground,andbreathedintohisnostrilsthebreathoflifeandmanbecamealiving
being"(Genesis2:7).ThiswasthesamepictureasEzekielsawinthevalleyof
dead,drybones,whenheheardGodsaytothewind:"Comefromthefourwinds,O
breath,andbreathupontheseslainthattheymaylive"(Ezekiel37:9).Thecomingof
theHolySpiritislikethewakeningoflifefromthedead.Whenhecomesuponthe
Churchsheisrecreatedforhertask.
(iii)Jesussaidtothedisciples:"Ifyouremitthesinsofanyone,theyareremittedif
youretainthem,theyareretained."Thisisasayingwhosetruemeaningwemustbe
carefultounderstand.Onethingiscertainnomancanforgiveanyotherman'ssins.
ButanotherthingisequallycertainitisthegreatprivilegeoftheChurchtoconvey
themessageofGod'sforgivenesstomen.Supposesomeonebringsusamessage
fromanother,ourassessmentofthevalueofthatmessagewilldependonhowwell
thebringerofthemessageknowsthesender.Ifsomeoneproposestointerpret
another'sthoughttous,weknowthatthevalueofhisinterpretationdependsonhis
closenesstotheother.
TheapostleshadthebestofallrightstobringJesus'messagetomen,because
theyknewhimbest.Iftheyknewthatapersonwasreallypenitent,theycouldwith
absolutecertaintyproclaimtohimtheforgivenessofChrist.Butequally,iftheyknew
thattherewasnopenitenceinhisheartorthathewastradingontheloveandthe
mercyofGod,theycouldtellhimthatuntilhisheartwasalteredtherewasno
forgivenessforhim.Thissentencedoesnotmeanthatthepowertoforgivesinswas
everentrustedtoanymanormenitmeansthatthepowertoproclaimthat
forgivenesswassoentrustedalongwiththepowertowarnthatforgivenessisnot
opentotheimpenitent.ThissentencelaysdownthedutyoftheChurchtoconvey
forgivenesstothepenitentinheartandtowarntheimpenitentthattheyareforfeiting
themercyofGod.
THEDOUBTERCONVINCED(John20:2429)
20:2429ButThomas,whoiscalledDidymus,oneofthe
Twelve,wasnotwiththemwhenJesuscame.Theother
disciplestoldhim:"WehaveseentheLord."Hesaidtothem:
"UnlessIseetheprintofthenailsinhishands,andputmy
fingerintheprintofthenails,andunlessIputmyhandintohis
side,Iwillnotbelieve."Eightdayslaterthediscipleswereagain
intheroom,andThomaswaswiththem.Whenthedoorswere
locked,Jesuscameandstoodinthemidstofthem,andsaid:
"Peacebetoyou."ThenhesaidtoThomas:"Stretchoutyour
fingerhere,andlookatmyhandsstretchoutyourhandandput
itintomysideandshowyourselfnotfaithlessbutbelieving."
Thomasanswered:"MyLordandmyGod!"Jesussaidtohim:
"Youhavebelievedbecauseyouhaveseenme.Blessedare
thosewhohavenotseenandwhohavebelieved."
ToThomastheCrosswasonlywhathehadexpected.WhenJesushadproposed
goingtoBethany,afterthenewsofLazarus'illnesshadcome,Thomas'reactionhad
been:"Letusalsogo,thatwemaydiewithhim"(John11:16).Thomasneverlacked
courage,buthewasthenaturalpessimist.Therecanneverbeanydoubtthathe

lovedJesus.HelovedhimenoughtobewillingtogotoJerusalemanddiewithhim
whentheotherdiscipleswerehesitantandafraid.Whathehadexpectedhad
happened,andwhenitcame,forallthathehadexpectedit,hewasbrokenhearted,
sobrokenheartedthathecouldnotmeettheeyesofmen,butmustbealonewith
hisgrief.
KingGeorgetheFifthusedtosaythatoneofhisrulesoflifewas:"IfIhaveto
suffer,letmebelikeawellbredanimal,andletmegoandsufferalone."Thomas
hadtofacehissufferingandhissorrowalone.Soithappenedthat,whenJesus
camebackagain,Thomaswasnotthereandthenewsthathehadcomeback
seemedtohimfartoogoodtobetrue,andherefusedtobelieveit.Belligerentinhis
pessimism,hesaidthathewouldneverbelievethatJesushadrisenfromthedead
untilhehadseenandhandledtheprintofthenailsinhishandsandthrusthishand
intothewoundthespearhadmadeinJesus'side.(Thereisnomentionofany
woundprintinJesus'feetbecauseincrucifixionthefeetwereusuallynotnailed,but
onlylooselyboundtothecross.)
AnotherweekelapsedandJesuscamebackagainandthistimeThomaswasthere.
AndJesusknewThomas'heart.HerepeatedThomas'ownwords,andinvitedhimto
makethetestthathehaddemanded.AndThomas'heartranoutinloveand
devotion,andallhecouldsaywas:"MyLordandmyGod!"Jesussaidtohim:
"Thomas,youneededtheeyesofsighttomakeyoubelievebutthedayswillcome
whenmenwillseewiththeeyeoffaithandbelieve."
ThecharacterofThomasstandsoutclearbeforeus.
(i)Hemadeonemistake.HewithdrewfromtheChristianfellowship.Hesought
lonelinessratherthantogetherness.Andbecausehewasnottherewithhisfellow
ChristianshemissedthefirstcomingofJesus.Wemissagreatdealwhenwe
separateourselvesfromtheChristianfellowshipandtrytobealone.Thingscan
happentouswithinthefellowshipofChrist'sChurchwhichwillnothappenwhenwe
arealone.Whensorrowcomesandsadnessenvelopsus,weoftentendtoshut
ourselvesupandrefusetomeetpeople.Thatistheverytimewhen,inspiteofour
sorrow,weshouldseekthefellowshipofChrist'speople,foritistherethatweare
likeliestofalltomeethimfacetoface.
(ii)ButThomashadtwogreatvirtues.Heabsolutelyrefusedtosaythathe
understoodwhathedidnotunderstand,orthathebelievedwhathedidnotbelieve.
Thereisanuncompromisinghonestyabouthim.Hewouldneverstillhisdoubtsby
pretendingthattheydidnotexist.Hewasnotthekindofmanwhowouldrattleoffa
creedwithoutunderstandingwhatitwasallabout.Thomashadtobesureandhe
wasquiteright.Tennysonwrote:
"Therelivesmorefaithinhonestdoubt,
Believeme,thaninhalfthecreeds."
Thereismoreultimatefaithinthemanwhoinsistsonbeingsurethanintheman
whogliblyrepeatsthingswhichhehasneverthoughtout,andwhichhemaynot
reallybelieve.Itisdoubtlikethatwhichintheendarrivesatcertainty.
(ii)Thomas'othergreatvirtuewasthatwhenhewassure,hewentthewholeway.
"MyLordandmyGod!"saidhe.TherewasnohalfwayhouseaboutThomas.Hewas
notairinghisdoubtsjustforthesakeofmentalacrobaticshedoubtedinorderto
becomesureandwhenhedid,hissurrendertocertaintywascomplete.Andwhena
manfightshiswaythroughhisdoubtstotheconvictionthatJesusChristisLord,he
hasattainedtoacertaintythatthemanwhounthinkinglyacceptsthingscannever
reach.
THOMASINTHEAFTERDAYS(John20:2429continued)
WedonotknowforsurewhathappenedtoThomasintheafterdaysbutthereisan
apocryphalbookcalledTheActsofThomaswhichpurportstogivehishistory.Itis
ofcourseonlylegend,buttheremaywellbesomehistorybeneaththelegendand
certainlyinitThomasistruetocharacter.Hereispartofthestorywhichittells.

AfterthedeathofJesusthedisciplesdivideduptheworldamongthem,sothateach
mightgotosomecountrytopreachthegospel.IndiafellbylottoThomas.(The
ThomistChurchinSouthIndiadoestraceitsorigintohim.)Atfirstherefusedtogo,
sayingthathewasnotstrongenoughforthelongjourney.Hesaid:"IamanHebrew
manhowcanIgoamongsttheIndiansandpreachthetruth?"Jesusappearedto
himbynightandsaid:"Fearnot,Thomas,gothouuntoIndiaandpreachtheword
there,formygraceiswiththee."ButThomasstillstubbornlyrefused."Whitherthou
wouldestsendme,sendme,"hesaid,"butelsewhere,foruntotheIndiansIwillnot
go."
ItsohappenedthattherehadcomeacertainmerchantfromIndiatoJerusalem
calledAbbanes.HehadbeensentbyKingGundaphorustofindaskilledcarpenter
andtobringhimbacktoIndia,andThomaswasacarpenter.Jesuscameupto
Abbanesinthemarketplaceandsaidtohim:"Wouldestthoubuyacarpenter?"
Abbanessaid:"Yes."Jesussaid,"Ihaveaslavethatisacarpenter,andIdesireto
sellhim,"andhepointedatThomasinthedistance.Sotheyagreedonapriceand
Thomaswassold,andtheagreementran:"I,Jesus,thesonofJosephthe
carpenter,acknowledgethatIhavesoldmyslave,Thomasbyname,untothee
Abbanes,amerchantofGundaphorus,kingoftheIndians."Whenthedeedwas
drawnupJesusfoundThomasandtookhimtoAbbanes.Abbanessaid:"Isthisyour
master?"Thomassaid:"Indeedheis."Abbanessaid:"Ihaveboughttheefromhim."
AndThomassaidnothing.Butinthemorningheroseearlyandprayed,andafterhis
prayerhesaidtoJesus:"Iwillgowhitherthouwilt,LordJesus,thywillbedone."It
isthesameoldThomas,slowtobesure,slowtosurrenderbutoncehissurrender
ismade,itiscomplete.
ThestorygoesontotellhowGundaphoruscommandedThomastobuildapalace,
andThomassaidthathewaswellabletodoso.Thekinggavehimmoneyinplenty
tobuymaterialsandtohireworkmen,butThomasgaveitallawaytothepoor.
Alwayshetoldthekingthatthepalacewasrisingsteadily.Thekingwassuspicious.
IntheendhesentforThomas:"Hastthoubuiltmethepalace?"hedemanded.
Thomasanswered:"Yes.""When,then,shallwegoandseeit?"askedtheking.
Thomasanswered:"Thoucanstnotseeitnow,butwhenthoudepartestthislife,
thenthoushaltseeit."AtfirstthekingwasveryangryandThomaswasindangerof
hislifebutintheendthekingtoowaswonforChrist,andsoThomasbrought
ChristianitytoIndia.
ThereissomethingverylovableandveryadmirableaboutThomas.Faithwasnever
aneasythingforhimobediencenevercamereadilytohim.Hewasthemanwho
hadtobesurehewasthemanwhohadtocountthecost.Butoncehewassure,
andoncehehadcountedthecost,hewasthemanwhowenttotheultimatelimitof
faithandobedience.AfaithlikeThomas'isbetterthananyglibprofessionandan
obediencelikehisisbetterthananeasyacquiescencewhichagreestodoathing
withoutcountingthecostandthengoesbackuponitsword.
THEAIMOFTHEGOSPEL(John20:3031)
20:3031Jesusdidmanyothersignsinthepresenceofhis
discipleswhichhavenotbeenwritteninthisbook.Thesehave
beenwrittenthatyoumaybelievethatJesusistheAnointed
One,theSonofGod,andthatbelievingyoumayhavelifeinhis
name.
Itisquiteclearthatasthegospelwasoriginallyplanned,itcomestoanendwiththis
verse.John21:125istoberegardedasanappendixandanafterthought.
Nopassageinthegospelsbettersumsuptheaimofthewritersthanthis.
(i)Itisquiteclearthatthegospelsneversetouttogiveafullaccountofthelifeof
Jesus.Theydonotfollowhimfromdaytodaybutareselective.Theygiveus,not
anexhaustiveaccountofeverythingthatJesussaidordid,butaselectionwhich
showswhathewaslikeandthekindofthingshewasalwaysdoing.
(ii)ItisalsoclearthatthegospelswerenotmeanttobebiographiesofJesus,but
appealstotakehimasSaviour,MasterandLord.Theiraimwas,nottogive
information,buttogivelife.ItwastopaintsuchapictureofJesusthatthereader

wouldbeboundtoseethatthepersonwhocouldspeakandteachandactandheal
likethiscouldbenoneotherthantheSonofGodandthatinthatbeliefhemightfind
thesecretofreallife.
Whenweapproachthegospelsashistoryandbiography,weapproachtheminthe
wrongspirit.Wemustreadthem,notprimarilyashistoriansseekinginformation,but
asmenandwomenseekingGod.
OnanyviewJohn21:125isastrangechapter.Thegospelcomestoanendwith
John20:131andthenseemstobeginagaininJohn21:125.Unlesstherehad
beencertainveryspecialthingsthathewantedtosay,themanwhoputthegospel
intoitsfinalformwouldneverhaveaddedthischapter.WeknowthatinJohn's
gospelthereareoftentwomeanings,onewhichliesonthesurface,andadeeper
onewhichliesbeneath.So,then,aswestudythischapter,wewilltrytofindoutwhy
itissostrangelyaddedafterthegospelseemedtohavecometoanend.
Barclay'sDailyStudyBible(NT)
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BibliographyInformation
Barclay,William."Commentaryonjohn20"."WilliamBarclay'sDailyStudyBible".
"http://www.studylight.org/commentaries/dsb/print.cgi?bk=42&ch=20&vs=1".1956
1959.
20012015,StudyLight.org
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